The Seventh Day…

…the day you found your first best friend

Well, I had a lot of close friends from my childhood. One was Equenthia…she was someone who lived across the hall from my grandmother in the PJ’s. She and her brother have been lifetime friends that have extended into family…but, I don’t think she was my first BEST friend. Why? Well, we didn’t always get along…and we didn’t have the same interests that little girls tend to bond over. She was 2 years older than me and my love for certain things like Barbies and cars was lost on her. She was definitely more big sis than best friend.

I had Leah…for a time…but, Leah was later on once I was in the 8th to 9th grade.

My FIRST real memory of a best friend was Samantha Haggins.

We were in 5th grade. She came into school as a new kid. Not from Mt. Vernon. I believe she was from Amityville, Long Island. Who can forget that. I think I asked her if the town was haunted or scary. lol

I took to Samantha immediately, as she did to me. All of the other kids seemed to act funny. They had their besties already, I guess. I am almost certain that Mrs. Brown sat her next to me on purpose. 

I remember that she had the LONGEST pigtails I’d ever seen. They had to be like almost a foot and a half long. I wouldn’t be surprised if they were longer. She wore them for the most part in twos or threes. She was light and had the biggest eyes. She was very quiet. I was very loud. We were yin and yang. Perfect balance. LOL

I used to spend the night at her house often. She had Barbies and Kens, who lived in their town house and drove a Corvette. She had her own room and lived on the second floor of a yellow house almost three blocks down the street from me on 9th Avenue. Her mom had long hair as well and she had a cute little baby brother.  I don’t think Samantha and I ever had an argument or left each other’s sides. We sat together, giggled and lived in our own little world. Only once can I remember (not that there weren’t other instances, but I don’t recall) where we shared time with another girl. Tameka Williams came to Samantha’s house one day and we all played in the sprinkler. I suppose it was summer or nearing summer.

I guess it was nearing summer…because, one day in class Mrs. Brown announced, “Samantha has moved and won’t be returning to Washington Elementary…”

I bawled.

I was inconsolable. It was the worst day of my elementary life. I don’t think I was okay for a long time. No other friend compared and the other girls were each other’s favorites. I felt alone and can remember telling my grandmother that I didn’t want to go to school.

Eventually, the other girls would play with me and I felt okay. Tameka, Ayanna, Natasha and Rachel (RIP) were my school friends. At home, it was me and “Quent”…and eventually, Leah.

**I found Samantha on Facebook before publishing this. I got curious and searched her out. I THINK it’s her…but, we’ll see. I’ll be sure to keep you guys posted**

UPDATE: IT WAS HER! She remembered me and had been thinking of me, too. Facebook IS good for something, huh? LOL