Sandy Supposes....

Mon Ami

PROMPT March 11th

What qualities do you look for in a friend? Are there any qualities you avoid? What qualities about yourself do you think make a good friend?

         

         

         

         

         Nancy and I met when we were both five and in kindergarten. I suppose that became our common ground. We were both girls, we were both the same age, and we were both new to school. I don't recall that first eureka moment 'cause we were not in close proximity because of our surnames and the alphabet. We would not have been next to each other in a line up. Maybe when we realized we were sorta neighbours we decided that made sense for ease of visiting.

         Neither of us were nappers and we squirmed on our sleep mats. Why sleep? Surrounded by other kids, she and I sought mischief. Quiet time felt like a waste of time. We would speak to each other and be promptly shushed. We would try humming since actual singing had been banned. We could and did amuse ourselves with funny faces. Our feet would tap on the floor. It seemed like forever before we'd be permitted to rise to our feet.

         At recess outdoors, Nancy and I ran in numerous games of rowdy tag. We sang and skipped rope. If we were lucky, we'd snag seats on a swing and pump furiously in our stretch to reach the sky.

         I remember our teacher introducing an arts/craft in which we'd be cutting with scissors. Before we could cut and decorate the beautiful construction paper, we had to show our skill by first cutting the intended shape from newspaper. Alas, I remained the only student sitting at that practice table until Nancy rescued me. At the time I gratefully accepted her help never realizing how she must have struggled being left-handed. Sitting next to her as we learned to write, we'd bump elbows, my right jabbing her left. We'd laugh about it.

         We had the gift of gab and giggles in common. 'Chatty Cathies', 'gabby girls', we heard it all.

         After school, we rode our bikes. Together we explored as far as we could pedal.

         We remained friends up to and through high school.

          Our friendship continues today, but we live hundreds of miles apart. I married and had children before she did. Nancy remained in our hometown area while I moved several times. Family obligations kept us busy and separated over the years. For a time, we kept up a correspondence. Nowadays, we communicate via Facebook.