Chapter 5: One Final Review
The second Saturday in December 2017 was cold when I met up with my childhood friends Sarah, James, and Henri at their apartment in Oakland for breakfast, along with my other best friend, Carly Shay and her parents, Sam and Freddie. "Hi, guys!" I greeted my friends. "Hi, Angel!" Sarah greeted back. "How would you like to learn how to make those waffles we made back in September?" James asked. "That would be great," Henri agreed. "I can finally learn how to make them. Can Mr. Benson make them, too?" "Of course, Henri," Mr. Benson agreed. "Sarah, can you show me how to make the fruit salad?" Carly asked. "Of course, Carly," Sarah replied. "Since you have the hard-boiled eggs to cook, James, can you teach me how to cook the center-cut bacon?" Mrs. Shay asked. "Absolutely, Mrs. Shay," James replied. "Wait a minute, what will I do?" I asked everyone. "You can just serve us some milk and yogurt, Angel," Sarah told me. "Okay then," I replied. "I will do that." Before I poured the milk and served the yogurt, I supervised everybody cooking: Henri making whole-wheat waffles and Mr. Benson making white waffles, James cooking hard-boiled eggs and Mrs. Shay cooking center-cut bacon, and Sarah chopping apples, bananas, and grapes, and Carly chopping strawberries, cherries, and watermelon. "We have talked about so many of my childhood memories regarding health and wellness this fall that I want to mention one more," Sarah told us. "What is that, Sarah?" I asked. "How important it is to save and recycle the Earth," Sarah pointed out. "It is also another one of the reasons why I like fruits and vegetables so much." "That's a good point, Sarah," I agreed. "Can you believe that I got a D on my Earth Day project?" Sarah agreed. "You got a D?" Carly asked. "I thought that you were a high honors student." "Well, I used all different types of health to realize the potential for my Earth Day project: physical, mental, social, emotional, environmental, intellectual, spiritual, occupational, and financial," Sarah explained to us. "Not to mention, I got awarded Freeport High School Salutatorian my senior year of high school!" "Who got Valedictorian?" I asked. "This student named Deborah Samson," Sarah explained. "Oh right," Carly remembered. "The lady who works at Frick Park?" "She actually works at Frick and Schenley Park now, too," Sarah continued. "So, Schenley Park is west of Squirrel Hill, and Frick Park is east?" Carly asked. "You're right, Carly," I agreed. I clapped my hands together. "Let's all sit down and eat breakfast while playing this great Review Game based on Jeopardy," I announced. The categories were Dimensions of Wellness, Examples of Wellness, Emotional Health Topics, Who to Go to For Help, Eating Habits: This or That, and Social Health Topics. Sarah was Team Broccoli, James was Team Banana, Henri was Team Lemon, Carly was Team Strawberry, Mrs. Shay was Team Tomato, and Mr. Benson was Team Onion. Sarah ended up winning the game, and James was in second place. "Wow, Sarah," Carly remarked. "No wonder you got awarded High School Salutatorian!" "Even with the Earth Day hiccup," I reminded my best friend. "Do you girls want to play Scrabble?" Sarah asked me and Carly. "Sure," I replied. "We love that game," Carly agreed. Carly and her parents also brought some more snacks for us to enjoy: Oatmeal Creme Pies, pretzels, carrot sticks, chocolate chip cookies, and veggie straws. While Sarah, Carly, and I played Scrabble, James, Henri, Sam, and Freddie were getting ready to play one of James's favorite games, Marvel Pictorial. "This morning of board games is great," Carly told us, "but I still wish we had some pizza and ice cream like we had when I was meeting Angel up at Edinboro University." "I don't think we can have all those kinds of food right now," Sarah explained. "Especially since we all had a big breakfast." "I'm really gonna miss you, James, and Henri when you go on vacation to Gettysburg," I told my best friend. "You're going to Gettysburg?" Carly asked. "When are you leaving?" "Next Friday, and we don't come back until after the new year," Sarah explained. "I'm going to miss you, too," Carly admitted. "I know, sometimes I get jealous of you and we do fight a lot, as most friends do, but the truth is, I look up to you." "Really?" Sarah asked. "Uh-huh," Carly replied. "You are just like a big sister to me." "Well, that's a compliment, Carly," Sarah remarked. "Don't worry, Sarah," I reassured my friend. "The fun's not over yet. We still have Alex's Christmas party at the Stephen Foster Community Center in Lawrenceville tomorrow." "Didn't she also say something about taking us out for dinner in Edgewood?" Sarah asked. "Yes, she did," I reminded her. "I can't come because my neighbors in Squirrel Hill are having a Christmas party," Carly pointed out. "Okay," Sarah remarked. "Well, have fun!" "Alex got Valedictorian, too," I remembered. "How does that make you feel?" "I don't know, like I am kind of left out, because Sarah and Alex got valedictorian and salutatorian, and I didn't," Carly admitted. "I actually like being friends with a Valedictorian and Salutatorian," I pointed out. "They can be role models that one can look up to." "Since I am an only child with no siblings, I actually feel like Sarah is an older sister to me," Carly told us, "even though she is just 4 years older than me." "Actually, 5 years since Sarah just turned 28 years old," I corrected. "Thank you for teaching me all about health, Sarah," I thanked my friend. "Yeah, thanks, Sarah," Carly agreed. Carly, Sarah, and I then hugged. Going back to our game of Scrabble, Sarah ended up winning the game, as always. Carly got 2nd place, and I got 3rd place. "Good game, Sarah," I congratulated. Pretty soon, it was time for me to head back to Mom's apartment. "Thanks for a great morning, everyone!" I thanked my friends. "You're welcome, Angel," Sarah replied. "Bye, guys!" "Bye!"