Chapter 2: Types of Friendships
The second weekend of September 2016 still felt like summer. I was on my way back to Sarah, James, and Henri's new apartment in Oakland, just as I was getting ready to take a trip straight to the Monroeville Mall there. "It's great to see my good friends again," I happily greeted my friends. "It's great to see you, too, Angel," Sarah told me. "Let's go inside and we can talk some more," James suggested. We then took the elevator to my friends' room. "It's been many years since we were all good friends with each other," I reminded everyone. "Uh-huh," Henri agreed, "and I'm a big boy now." "How exactly would you identify our friendship, Angel?" James asked me. "That's a good question, James," I told him. "We are all good friends to some degree." I then cleared my throat. "I would consider a friend to be a person attached to another by feelings of affection or personal regard, as well as gives assistance and is a supporter. They can also be on good terms with another, and not hostile." I paused for a bit. "And, friendship is a friendly feeling or attitude with kindness or help being given to someone, as well as a state of mutual trust and support." "Very good, Angel," James complimented. "The types of friendships can be acquaintances, like you, Henri, bonded friends, like you, James, and best friends, like you, Sarah," I described to everyone. "Aw, that's very sweet, Angel," Sarah complimented. "What do you guys think would make a good friend?" I asked everybody. "If a friend is honest, not one-sided, and shares similar interests that you do," Henri replied. "If he is an active listener, gives advice, is trustworthy, and doesn't put anybody in danger, like me," James replied. "If she is nice, supportive, and willing to help," Sarah replied. "Let's think of some experiences from our childhood in which this applied to us, like wasn't there a time when you invited me and Angel to a baseball game at your high school, James?" "Yes, I did," James then remembered. "It was a clear and mild April evening my freshman year of high school." "I believe that it was later in my 3rd grade year that we all became best friends," I reminded everyone. "We went from acquaintances to close friends to best friends." "I also remember that same year, we got our first taste of summer in late May, and Sarah did not want to go outside because it was too hot," James stated. "I made plans to help you and Henri sell lemonade, because we all have a shared interest of warm weather," Angel stated. "You like warm weather, too, Angel?" James asked. "I did not know that." "Sarah, even though you were my best friend, I had to respect your opinion about what type of weather you prefer, and if you wanted to sit inside in your fancy sundress doing geography homework attempting to stay cool, that was fine with me!" "Thank you, Angel," Sarah replied. "I like fall best." "Well, I am more of a summer person," James admitted. "Come to think of it, it is still a hot day out today, and it is September 10!" "This reminds me of the other years in a stage like this one," I remarked. "What are you talking about, Angel?" James asked. "2002 was a hot summer in the Pittsburgh area, and that was just prior to our meeting. 2006 was a hot summer, and that was when you graduated high school. 2010 was a hot summer, and that was when we graduated from CMU!" "How do you remember all this stuff, Angel?" Sarah asked me. "I just look this stuff up, that's all," I explained. "Of course, as I stated before, 2010 was the winner!" "Why do you say that, Angel?" Henri asked. "Oh, just based on the number of days we hit 90 degrees and all. Examples include July 23-24 and August 11. This summer was nothing like the years when we were all friends. Now, the 90s years in this stage were a little different- 1992 was abysmally cool, and 1998 was closer to average!" "Okay then," Sarah agreed. "But let me tell you something: I hope this is the last of the sweltering heat for the year in this unusually hot summer I managed to survive." "So, you're not a fan of summer heat, Sarah?" I then asked. "Nope, I look forward to fall weather, the leaves changing color, sunny, crisp mornings, warm cashmere sweaters, and drinking warm apple cider by the fire," she then told me. "I see how people can like things and still be friends with each other," I pointed out. "We couldn't cook anything since it was too hot, and I convinced Sarah to go to a Chinese buffet restaurant with me," James told us. "I didn't feel like going anywhere, so I convinced him to just bring the food here." "Boy was it a nightmare for us to sleep that night," Henri remembered. "It is getting to be that time of year where I don't have to use the air conditioner to sleep anymore." "Speaking of which, would you three like to meet me and my new friends from Pittsburgh at the Monroeville Mall later today, or not?" I asked. "That's okay, Angel," Sarah told me. "We're all busy. But, you go ahead and have fun, okay?" It was about time for me to go wait for my bus. "Okay guys, I will see you later," I told everyone. "Bye!"