Let's start from the beginning:
I've never had very many friends, mainly because I've been homeschool most of my life. I didn't have any real friends, not even in my ward, until I was about 12, and even then it was only one. So when I moved to Utah with my family when I was 13, it was a great big shock when almost everyone became friends with me. One girl stood out to me the most.
At the time she was a MiaMaid, which means she was either 14 or 15. I can't remember exactly how old she was. She was always drawing in class, and she made an effort to befriend me, even though I was only a Beehive. I made friends with almost everyone in the ward's young womens group, but she's the one that stuck with me the longest. I still can't figure out why.
During high school, she had a job walking dogs for a neighbor. Sometimes she would invite me along. We would talk about story ideas, we would take each other on adventures (though it was mostly her taking me,) and we would always have fun.
I started going to high school the second semester of my junior, and by this time she was about to graduate (or had already graduated, correct me if I'm wrong). I also had gotten a job working at a local Subway (hated it by the way), and so we didn't hang out all that much any more.
Apparently she felt bad about it, because one day while I was at work she stopped by and said that she had left something for me at my house, and that she had given it to my mom. I thought it was nice of her, and thought about it the rest of work until I got home.
Mom was in her room, and when I asked her about it she handed me three candy bars/small bags of skittles tied together by the string of a balloon. (I can't remember the color any more...) Along with the candy and balloon there was a note, saying that she felt bad about not spending more time with me. I was happy, but thought that was it.
I headed downstairs to my room, and dropped my bag on the floor and didn't even notice anything different about my room for a few seconds. When I did, I was stunned.
The room was covered with treats, oatmeal cream cookies (which to this day remain my favorite store bought cookies), and at least one bag of smoothie flavor skittles, my favorite (did you know they don't sell them anymore?!?) There were more balloons, and it all looked very festive.
I actually cried.
Normally, I'm not a crier. I don't cry at movies (unless I force myself to), I don't cry when I'm in pain, and I really just don't like crying in general. But seeing all that candy and balloons, and realizing how my friend felt about me, made me cry. (happy tears of course)
I don't think I ever told her that. Well, now I did.
Even though I moved away from that home, we still kept in contact, still did things together, and about the middle of last fall, I started hanging out with her every Saturday.
The latest great thing my best friend has done for me? She helped edit my novel. She spent a long time on it, just to help me make it better, time she could have spent doing other things, especially since she's in Japan.
Her name will be the first name in the acknowledgments when my novel is published.
1 comment:
That was wonderful of you, thanks, little sister! It's always kinda happy to hear other people talk about me, although it surprises me too (I'm sure we all feel the same, ne?).
As for the start of things, when you came into Young Women's I just thought, "Ah, that one's a keeper." I haven't changed my mind since. We shall be best friends and adopted sisters forever!
Now I miss you all over again! I can't wait until August!
PS I had graduated by the time you started coming to school proper, by the way, which is why we only hung out occasionally at lunch, before seminary (back when you only came for seminary). I would have taken so many classes with you had we timed it right!
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