Blue-Bear

I just learned that Daddy got a job in a place called Lonely Meadows. I have to leave my friends behind, and I won’t ever see Bill again. I just hope that the school isn’t bad. I will miss Autumn Elementary, and all my friends there. Also, this is the last page in your book so I can’t write to you about Lonely Meadows, bye.

Sammy set down her diary she had gotten when she first started Autumn Elementary. She had written in it often, and told it about every adventure she had with her best friend Daniel. They had grown up together, built pinecone forts in the fall, tried to dig their way to China, and wore matching costumes at Halloween. She would miss him, and wanted him to come with her to Meadow Elementary, but knew he had to stay with his own family.

“So you won’t even be able to come to my sixth birthday party?” Daniel asked Sammy on the bus after Sammy told him the horrible news of her moving to Lonely Meadows.

“No, but I made you a birthday present.” Sammy dug through her backpack and took out a piece of construction paper, and a present wrapped in newspaper. She handed him the piece of paper, and he read it out loud.

I hope you will have a good birthday. I am sorry I am moving away. I will miss you a lot, but I hope you will like your birthday present. Daddy says once we’re moved in, you can come visit us.

Daniel smiled and said, “So you mean I will get to see your new house?” Sammy nodded and passed him the present. Daniel tore through the newspaper and held up a teddy bear made of cloths.

“My mom helped me sew it and draw the design on the cloth, but I stuffed it and cut out the design all by myself.” Sammy smiled; she was very proud of herself.

“Pinky promise.” Replied Daniel, as they locked their pinkies together.

“Samantha! Come downstairs right this instance!” Samantha turned off her iPod and threw it on her bed. She walked downstairs to see her mother holding up a dirty plate.

“A dirty plate…” replied Samantha in an are-you-kidding-me-you-don’t-know-what-a-dirty-plate-is kind of way.

“Yes, I know that, now why is it here???” asked her mom. “You were supposed to dishes before I got home, did you even look at your chores?!?”

Samantha rolled her eyes and took the plate from her mom, and walked towards the kitchen to do dishes. In the middle of loading the dishwasher, her father walked in, carrying the mail. “You got a call from Daniel Rogers today.” Samantha looked puzzled.

Her father looked surprised, and repeated, “Daniel Rogers, you don’t remember him?”

“No, obviously not, can you tell me who he is?” asked Samantha, really frustrated at this point.

“No, I will not. I want you to call him back; maybe you’ll recognize your best friend then.”

Samantha rolled her eyes, and took the post-it note from her dad with Daniel’s number on it. A boy about her age answered the phone.

“Hey, were you trying to call me earlier?” asked Samantha, trying not to sound like she had no idea who he was.

“So how’ve you been doing the past couple years?” Samantha was confused. Who was this guy? How does he know my name?

“Pretty good… I’m sorry if this sounds rude or anything, but WHO ARE YOU?!?” Samantha was getting very annoyed with this mystery guy.

Daniel sounded taken aback. “So you weren’t kidding? You seriously don’t remember me…. Daniel Rogers, your best friend at Autumn Elementary? The one you made a blue bear out of cloths when you moved.” Memories started to flow into Samantha’s head and the barrier that had grown over the years blocking her childhood away had broken down. Memories of digging to China, building forts, sleepovers, telling ghost stories, and finally saying good-bye to him filled her mind.

“No, I haven’t. But I never thought you would actually forget me…” Samantha looked at the floor.

“Yeah, sorry about that… ever since I moved here I completely forgot about Autumn Elementary and our adventures.” Samantha smiled. “But trust me, it won’t happen again.”

“A lot different than I expected. It’s flooded with people; I don’t know how it could’ve gotten its name. You should come visit sometime; you’d really enjoy it.”

“Dad! Daniel’s coming over next Friday!” Her dad smiled and told her it was fine.

“Hey Daniel! Samantha is in her room, I’ll go get her. Why don’t you make yourself at home?” Samantha’s mom walked up the steps to find Sammy.

A few minutes later, Samantha descended the steps and sat down on the couch across from Daniel. “Hey!” She said. “Do you want anything to drink…or eat?” Daniel chuckled.

“Nothing much… mainly chores and track team.” Their conversation was more like two businessmen talking to each other than two best friends who hadn’t seen each other in eight years.

“You sure you don’t want anything to drink?” asked Samantha, a humorous tone in her voice.

Daniel’s face broke into a smile and he said, “Since you obviously are paranoid about me dying of thirst, sure.” Samantha laughed and they both got up and walked to the kitchen.

“We have Coke, Mountain Dew, Dr. Pepper, water, milk, and orange juice…” Sammie said as she crouched down next to the mini-fridge.

“I’ll take a Coke.” Said Daniel as Samantha grabbed two cokes out of the fridge. They went outside and sat on the stone wall behind Samantha’s house. They talked until late afternoon, when the sun beat down on their faces, and they were both sweating.

“Do you know what’s really fun to do on a hot summer day?” Samantha asked Daniel as she slowly inched towards the hose.

“No… what?” Samantha picked up the hose and blasted Daniel with ice cold water. Daniel jumped up and snatched the hose out of Sammie’s hands, and turned it around so Sammie was soaked. After about ten minutes of a water-fight, both Daniel and Sammie were drenched to the bone. They went inside laughing and dripping.

“Well I guess every now and then your inner-toddler side shows.” Said Sammie’s father as he walked into the kitchen finding both Daniel and Sammie drenched, and the hose stretched out in the backyard.

Both Sammie and Daniel laughed. “You know you want a hug…” Sammie smiled and chased her father around the kitchen, water flying everywhere.

And so my story ends happily, with two friends reunited because true friendship is never forgotten.