Prologue: My Best Friend
When I was young, I had a best friend. We grew up together for five years; we were barely apart during every minute. We had become friends on my second birthday, which also happened to be the first day of day care at the Loving Mother's Day Care Center. Even though I already had two older brothers, he was more like a brother to me than either of them.
When we were seven, he pulled me aside one day during an intense game of tag. He had worry on his face. He told me he was moving to Michigan (since he was seven he said it like "Mit-i-gan") and would not be coming back. We cried together in the corner of the class every day. We didn't learn a single thing for the rest of the year.
Summer normally brought happiness and joy in the freedom of doing whatever you want with your day, but for me, it was only one step closer to saying goodbye to my best friend forever. Two weeks after summer vacation began, he and I stood on the edge of the driveway saying goodbye and hugging over and over again never wanting to stop.
His favorite bear dangled at his side. He never let go of it (he even had it in the bathroom when he bathed). He pulled away from me and held Mr. Minipoofynessinerfinstein in both hands. He slowly forced his arms forward, thrusting the bear with an abnormally large name at me. My eyes welled up with tears as I slowly caressed the bear's leg with one hand and with my other hand gently lifted it from his grasp. I hugged it close to my chest as tears splashed on its soft, brown fur. He began to cry as well.
His father put an arm around him and pulled him away from the driveway he would never step foot on again. He looked back one last time at the house, at the girl, at his old life. He disappeared behind the door of the black car. That was the last time I saw him.
I would not give up. Even as the car drove off I ran along the sidewalk beside the car calling his name. I probably would have followed him all the way to Mit-i-gan if my parents hadn't caught up to me first. They held me close, kissing my head with each heaving sob. Eventually I was able to calm down enough to look down at the bear. It had a note attached to its neck I didn't notice before. I pulled it off the neck of the bear and stared down at it through teary eyes. I had to wipe away the tears before it became legible.
EMILIE, I LOVE YOU –JIM