Chapter 14

My Best Friend

I suppose a logical place to start is by telling you that my best friend is Aroea Joy Borntreger. We met when I moved into this school district (in seventh grade), but our relationship was a little slow to develop. At first, we were merely acquaintances, we were in the same science class anyway. All I knew was that she was a girl who went by AJ rather than her real name; and I suppose about all she knew about me was that I was a guy (go figure), and most people called me Kermit. I danced with her a couple of times at dances that year, but nothing really started until around New Year’s Eve. I called her for the first time, which was kind of scary, but I’m glad I did. We talked for a bit, just about everything, and then eachother, and I had so much fun just being able to talk to someone. A funny thing happens when you don’t get in touch with people for awhile, you get scared, and don’t want to anymore. At least, that’s the way it was with me. I just let it go for a week, a couple weeks, a month, two months; and then I’d call, mustering up every bit of courage I had, for, what would she say, me not having kept in touch? I soon found that it was okay. And the next time, I enjoyed the phone call even more. But then time would again pass, and I again would become apprehensive about calling. Soon, I got over this however, and she became my favorite person in the world to talk to. We began to develop a trust, and a confidence between eachother. I soon began to call her and talk with her about any problems I had, and she was able to do the same.

Though we have always been good friends, this year is the one where we really became best friends. You see, I work at Donutland about three nights a week, and while I "work" I call people, because I’ll get about five customers in as many hours. The person I began to call the most was Aroea. And throughout the course of this year so far, we really have become the best of friends. We know we can share anything with eachother, and we also know that what we say stays there. This past Christmas, we decided to have our own little gift exchange. The deal was each would write a new poem, and give something of themselves. I gave her the poem "Sometimes I Cry," and at the end of the year, she will get a completed copy of my memory book. I also sent along all of my poetry. She gave me a poem with a little note attached, and a lock of her hair, tied with a green ribbon, both of which I carry with me wherever I go. There is nothing I wouldn’t share with Aroea. I can confide in her, and she in me. (And she can also tell me all of the stories about cramps that she wants). I bring her a cream-filled long john just about every morning, because I know she doesn’t always eat breakfast, and whenever we see eachother, we run up and give eachother a big hug.

Friendship is about love. It is about a shoulder to cry on, and giving yours as well. It means perhaps listening more than you talk, it means helping out with problems. It is about being there for eachother, and it is so special, and so great when you can find someone like that, because you’ll never lose that. I know that no matter how far away we get, we will still be there for eachother. I’ll still be able to call that number and find someone who will listen, someone who cares, someone who will help. There is no one in the world I’d rather spend my time with, and there’s no one else with whom I could feel comfortable sharing what we do. That’s why she’s my best friend. (Oh and P.S. and all that stuff, but if Jason Marmur gets married, and Aroea isn’t by the time she’s 27 or so, then she’ll marry me).