Ice cream and dairy products? Nope, an actual person. One of my very first friends that I can remember. Her name is Melody. I just wanted to write this down somewhere so that I have it to remind me of how goofy I was as a kid.
*Let me preface this by giving you some background on myself. I was in
foster care. I had been placed in about half a dozen homes by this
point. My normally gregarious personality was replaced by an insecure
and meek kid who could barely eek out a hello to the teacher. I knew no
one and was in a completely different socioeconomic area with a
completely different demographic* I remember it pretty well. I had just started a new school. I came into the school year about a month or two after school had already started. Yeah, nothing like being the new kid after school has already been in session a while. I was walking home from school by myself. I was kind of a daydreamer and was in my own little world when I noticed a girl a little older than me kind of walking quickly behind me. I got nervous and panicked, so I walked faster. She walked faster behind me. I got a little more nervous and started walking like the mom walkers at the mall. I looked out of the corner of my eye. Oh no, she walked at full brisk pace. I started jogging. She started jogging. I kept thinking, "What is up with this person!"(I was only six at this point, yes six, I skipped ahead two grades) Finally I looked behind me and realized she was catching up. At this point I broke into a full run. I heard her yelling out, "Hey, wait a minute!" Finally, I ran out of steam and she caught up to me. She introduced herself and we were friends from that day. Melody, if you ever read this. I want you to know you were my first and my best friend. You took my eccentricities in stride and never poked fun at or laughed at me for being different. I wish I had kept in touch with you after we moved apart, but I am still thinking about you to this day and wishing you every success! Thank you for being my first real friend.
I think about her often(and also laugh to myself about how silly that scene must have been) I had another really good friend who I think about a lot as well. A boy name Mel. He was awesome. He reminded me of Encyclopedia Brown. That kid was sharp! He was a really kind little boy and we were in class together. I don't know what happened to him or to Melody. But they touched my life forever. I think I will probably remember them unto my death. They just made me feel like I mattered and made it more bearable to go to school everyday. To a six year old transplant it meant everything in the world to be accepted by and befriended by two kids who could have pushed me to the outside for fear of what people may think of them. Mel, thank you for being my friend and just always pushing me to be more curious. I don't think you realized how very much I needed a friend and that your character and even your integrity would remain a testimony for me forever.
I know we hear a lot about bullies and I am not saying we shouldn't do more to keep that from happening, but I think too it is important to focus on the good relationships we do have and encourage young people to find them and build them up with others. I know that having a few good friends in school made those days when I was being picked on and made fun of truly liveable. My question to you out there is this: Did you have any school friends who you still think about even though the friendship has faded? I'd love to hear about it so shoot me a comment.
Blessings,
3viee
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