“Gummy Bear Friends,” Friend, April 2026, 18–19.

Gummy Bear Friends

By Norman Hill

Rowan wanted to be Ernest’s friend, but he didn’t know what to say.

A true story from the USA.

Illustration of sad boy reaching in concern toward a sad boy sitting on the grass outside, with a patter of gummy bears floating in the background

Rowan watched as Miss Brody invited a new student to stand at the front of the classroom.

“This is Ernest,” Miss Brody said. “He just arrived in Hawaii from a country called Ukraine. He doesn’t speak any English. Will you all be kind and make friends with him?”

Rowan and his classmates nodded.

Ernest was looking down and frowning. He was the only person wearing long pants and a long-sleeved shirt.

Rowan wondered what it would be like to move to a new country and not speak the language. It sounded scary!

At recess, Rowan saw Ernest walk to a spot by himself while the other kids ran off to play together. He was still frowning.

Rowan wanted to be friends with him, but he didn’t know what to say. How could they be friends if they didn’t speak the same language?

After school, Rowan went home and asked Dad for help. “Can you help me look up how to say things in Ukrainian?” Rowan asked. “There’s a new boy in our class who doesn’t speak English.”

Dad nodded. “Of course.”

First, they looked up how to say, “It’s lunchtime.” Rowan listened to the answer. “Nastav obidniy chas.” Rowan tried saying it a few times. It was hard! So he looked up how to say “hello.”

“Pryvit,” the voice on the computer told him. That was easier. Rowan replayed the word over and over and practiced saying it.

The next day during recess, Rowan found Ernest sitting alone on the grass again. Rowan stood next to him and smiled. “Pryvit!” he said in a loud voice. He hoped he said it right.

Ernest smiled and handed Rowan a gummy bear.

Rowan sat next to Ernest and said pryvit again. Then he said, “Hello.”

“Hello,” Ernest said slowly. He gave Rowan another gummy bear. It smelled like oranges, and it was delicious and chewy.

Illustration of boy giving a gum bear to a boy who has his arm around him

Rowan drew four lines in the dirt next to them to make a tic-tac-toe grid. He taught Ernest how to play. It was hard to explain since they didn’t speak the same language. Sometimes Ernest drew X’s when it wasn’t his turn. But Rowan didn’t mind. He just wanted to make a new friend.

Every day that week, Rowan played with Ernest at recess. They shared gummy bears and played games together.

One day at home, Dad asked, “How’s the new boy in your class? Did you practice the words you learned?”

“Yes! His name is Ernest,” Rowan said. “We play games at recess, and he gives me gummy bears.”

Dad smiled. “That’s awesome.” He sat next to Rowan on the couch. “Ernest and his family are refugees. They come from a country far away. Elder Kearon said that Jesus Christ was a refugee as a boy and asked us to be friends when we meet people from other countries. What do you think it takes to be a good friend?”

Rowan thought for a second. “It takes some love and finding a game to play together,” he said. “Then, others can join in and play the game too and get to know each other.”

Dad pulled Rowan in for a hug. “You are following Jesus and doing what the prophets ask us to do,” he said. “And now you have a new friend.”