FRIENDSHIP

"In the cookie of life, friends are the chocolate chips."-unknown

January, 1979

Joss just loved snow. Her parents didn't seem to share the same joy. But John did. They had gotten a huge snowstorm and school was out. They've been outside playing in it for the last two hours. First, they finished making a snowman but then she demanded a snowwoman because ladies were just as important. Of course, John didn't object because he never did. She liked that about him. But then there were so many things she liked about John. He was funny. And John was better than girls because he didn't worry about his clothes getting dirty, and she loved playing in the mud. Joss still beamed at how happy John was at that fact.

But after they made a snowman and snowwoman they tried to make a snow dog but it didn't look so much like a dog so they decided to build their snow couple a place to live.

"JOHNNY! TEN MINUTES MORE AND THAT'S IT!"

John's head snapped up when he heard his mom's shout from a couple houses down. Joss pouted. Only ten more minutes but the snow couple's house was only half finished!

"We better hurry." John murmured. They had been pushing it. His mom had wanted him inside for a while and he asked for ten more minutes twice now.

"Try to ask for more time. Our snow-people will freeze outside!" she exclaimed as they hurried to finish one side.

John laughed. "Joss, they're snow-people, they're made of snow."

"So!"

"So, they are meant to be cold." he admitted as he straightened. They both looked at their people. After they were made she had gone inside to grab her mama's ugly floppy hat and pink frilly scarf, and nabbed her papa's flannel shirt and spare glasses to dress them up. "In fact I don't think they need a house," he added thoughtfully.

Her eyes grew large. She stamped a snow boot into the snow. "They do to deserve a house! They'd be homeless without one," she exclaimed.

"Joss, I got to go. That was my mom's 'this-is-it' voice. I won't get another ten minutes and we can't finish their house."

"Mama's boy!" she said, in anger.

John's eyes flashed. "Wimpy girl…"

"Take that back!" she huffed.

"You first…"

"No you!" she yelled.

"No you!" John yelled back. He turned and then went to storm off for his house.

Joss glared at his back. "You can't leave Mr. and Mrs. Snowman!" she cried and then crouched down and balled up some snow and heaved it at him. At eight, John was bigger than her but that meant he was also an easy snowball target.

The snowball hit him smack in the butt. Joss felt a bubble of laughter and let it out as she giggled as he grabbed his butt and turned to look at her. "I hit your butt. I throw better than you." she said amongst her giggles.

She screamed jovially as he ran towards her. Joss ran from the front yard into the back with John nipping at her heels. Only problem with him being bigger meant he was also faster.

"Gotcha!" he shouted with triumph as he tackled her into the snow and began shoveling snow onto her. She had her little mittens up protecting her face but she shouldn't have worried because John didn't go near the face. He was piling snow on top of her.

"Stop!" she cried with laughter.

He did, after a few more good scoops. He sat back onto his haunches and stared down at her. "This is a cease fire for now but if you don't take back the mama's boy comment I will have to arm myself." he stated as he picked up some snow into his gloved hand, and then looked back at her. Mischief sparkled in his eyes.

"Never!"

He drizzled the snow over her and she shook her head as it fell softly on her face, but not much, and then stuck her tongue out to catch some of the flakes. Then realizing she was enjoying this, he stopped and then stood.

She gnawed her little bottom lip, worried he was really mad at her. "I'm sorry I called you a name."

"You're not a wimpy girl," he said in way of an apology.

Maybe she was because she didn't know if she could unbury herself from the mountain of snow on top of herself. But just before she even had to ask, John started removing the snow from on top of her and then helped her to her feet. It was another thing she liked about John, he always knew when she wanted his help.

They trudged through the snow together to get back towards the gate when her mama's head peeked out from the door. "Hey kiddos' do you two want some hot cocoa?" she offered.

Joss nodded enthusiastically. But John shook his head. "Thank you Mrs. Alice but my mom gave me my final warning," he spoke as he headed for the gate, missing Joss's crestfallen face.

"We can call her and see if she minds."

John wasn't pushing his luck. He shook his head. "I think it's best if I go home. See you tomorrow, Joss," he called out and raced away.

Joss watched as he went and then burst into tears. "Oh honey, what's wrong?" mama asked as she helped her inside.

"H-he's mad at m-me!" she cried as she stood and let her mama take off her snow jacket, mittens, and snow boots in the den. She then helped remove Joss's snow-overalls and then picked her up. Joss burrowed in her mama's warmth and cried her little heart out. "He h-hates me!"

"Baby, it will be okay. You two are friends, and friends are always there for each other. Even if John is mad at you, then you two will talk it out." her mama said soothingly. But that didn't make Joss feel any better. Joss was set down on the couch and her mama sat beside her with her arm around her. "Let me ask you this?—does John lie to you?"

"No," Joss said with a hiccup. She didn't want to lose her only friend. She shouldn't have been mad at him for needing to go home but she hated when he left. She liked playing with him.

Her mother was quiet for a moment. "Okay, so if he doesn't lie that means when John said he'd see you tomorrow then he must mean that."

"But why didn't he want to have hot cocoa with me?"

Mama wiped her face for her. "His mama was calling for him home, Joss. Just like you listen to me and papa, John listens to his mama and papa. You should always listen to adults, honey, even when you want to do something else. John can have hot cocoa with us another time. But if you are worried, you can give him a quick call to make sure he's not mad at you."

She nodded. Mama stood and went to go call John's house. She sat and listened earnestly as her mama talked. Joss was heartbroken when her mama hung up without giving her the phone. "MAMA! You said I could talk to John! You said!" she cried, feeling a rush of tears again.

"Hush baby, they're coming over. Margaret is bringing John and we are all having some hot cocoa together, and we can play a game together." she explained gently as she cupped her cheek.

"Really?"

"Really,"her mom assured sweetly. Joss brightened immediately. "And while they're here I think John's mom and I need to explain what friendship means. Friends fight but they work things out because their friend matters to them."

"John and I are going to be friends forever!" Joss announced as she turned and raced to go potty.

Alice watched as she went and laughed. "No baby, I think you are going to be in love with John forever," she said to herself and then headed to door when the doorbell rang.

AN: Loved writing this chapter :) Thank you for the birthday wishes! I had a wonderful and quiet birthday.

Thank you for reading!