To Danielle.... :)

So dani! Today in creative writing today we had an exercise of character development and perspective! We were told to write about an incident that seemed like such a big deal to you when you were a little kid.... and show how when you think about it now, it seems a little ridiculous and dramatic. :P
But when I wrote it, it kinda made me feel like there was more than just vain little kid crap in it. :) I feel like it was probably the biggest turning point that spun me in a new direction... even if it was... 3rd grade. :P hehe....


To my best friend.
:)


(True Story)

It was third grade.
The worst year of my childhood.
I had only one friend. A 'best' friend.
Apparently the meaning of that statement was unknown to me at that time.
That 'best' friend influenced me like nothing I understood.... not until much much later.
I was timid, I was shy, I was easily influenced as a little 3rd grader. And that certain 'best' friend--only friend--took advantage of that fact.
I was her sidekick.
She pushed me around and told me to say and do things I didn't think to refuse; like repeat insults to the other girls, like how to say swear words, and how to turn up my nose.
She even taught me to glare.
You know that way you narrow your eyes? Yea--just like that.

Now my sister was in a different class, with different friends.
Every time she saw me during recess she never missed a chance to tell me to stop being mean to her friends.
Yes. I was the evil twin.
She was a good big-sister-by-three-minutes. She invited me to go play with her during recess.
I itched to go--I knew what I was doing was wrong, I didn't want enemies. I wanted more friends...
Not just one.
But that one 'best' friend... she told me if I went, she wouldn't be my friend anymore.
I was scared to lose my only friend.
So I didn't go.

Third grade went on.
And the day came when my 'best' friend drew the line.
She said something. Something bad.
The teacher heard.
And she pointed her finger at me.

Now, looking back on the incident, what she said wasn't even that big of a deal. All she said was "So and so is the worst teacher in the world!"
So what? It was her opinion. (And my opinion too. Still is.) That teacher scared the living daylights out of me.
For good reason.
I got in big trouble.
That was my worst nightmare as a little third grader.
She yelled at me out in the hall. Everyone in class could hear--including my 'best' friend.
It traumatized me.
It was horrible.
I'd never been yelled at like that before.
After my lecture--eyes red, short little gasps sucking through puffy lips--I thought at the time I'd never be able to get over it. Every time I even thought of it my heart would skip a beat and my insides would flush hot, a mixture of shame and chagrin.
But now I grin back at the memory.
Because of that incident, I've stayed with a much more respectful group of friends.
I took a turn at a very early age.
I was spun in the right direction.

That day I went to recess and I found a single girl.
She was crying alone.
She was just like me.
I sat down next to her, as blunt as ever...
And just said "Hi."

That girl moved away in 4th grade.
We still see each other almost every weekend.




LoVe YoU
DaNi C

YoU TaUgHt Me ThE ReAl MeAnIng
Of A BeSt FrIeNd.