Mei's guitar

Mei and Danial have been best friends since primary school. This year their birthdays are on the same day, next Friday.

Mei has only twelve ringgit. She counts the coins again and again, but there is no more.

Danial has one thing he loves more than anything: an old watch from his grandfather. It still works, but the strap is broken, so he keeps it in his pocket. Every day he takes it out and looks at it. To him it is precious, worth more than any money.

Mei has one thing she loves too: her guitar. She plays it every night.

On Saturday she walks past a music shop. In the window there is a sign.

Mei stops. She does not want to sell it. She hesitates at the door for a long time, not sure what to do. Then she goes home and gets the guitar.

Her mother tries to persuade her to keep it. "Think again, Mei," she says. But Mei has decided. She is determined, and nothing will stop her now.

The shop owner is kind and generous. He gives her more money than she expected: two hundred ringgit.

In a small shop near the market, Mei finds the perfect present: a beautiful leather strap for an old watch. She buys it.

At home her room feels empty without the guitar. Is she ashamed of what she did? No. She is a little sad, but she is also excited. Danial will be delighted, so happy that he cannot speak.

But on the other side of the city, Danial is standing outside a shop too. In his hand is his grandfather's watch.