Episode 48: Scene Three
Sharon looked at the last item that was out of her suitcase: a small brown teddy bear that her brother had given her for her birthday. She held it close to her chest, looking up to keep down the tears that were struggling to free themselves from her eyes.
You've gotta be strong, Sharon. You've gotta be strong.
Sharon looked around the room that had been her home for three years. She could still see the stained spot on the wall from when she'd spilled coke on the wall when she and Kate had been having a food fight in the bedroom. She saw the small dent on the wall near the window from when she had fallen and hit her head when she and Kate were playing "chicken."
With tears beginning to fall from her eyes, Sharon remembered all of the good times that she had had in the room and in the entire school.
Kate had put her hands in front of her to put distance between her and Sharon. "I'm sorry, Sharon. I never meant to lose it."
"Are you sure?" Sharon spat.
"Of course. You know I'd never do anything that I knew would hurt you. Come on, Sharon. You know you're my best friend." Sharon laughed through her tears. Back in the fifth grade, she had been ready to tear into Kate for losing the ring that a certain "Bobby King," whom Sharon happened to have an enormous crush on, had given her for Christmas. But as always, the two had made up. They had been best friends forever.
Sharon had wrapped her arms around Kate's quivering body and shushed her. "It's okay, hon. It's gonna be okay. Mikey isn't worth all these tears. He was just one of those dopey boys that are always out to hurt you. Please don't cry anymore. You're about to make me cry."
Kate had quickly looked up at Sharon. "I'm sorry. I don't wanna make you cry, because it'll make your makeup run."
"I don't wear makeup, Kate."
"Oh." Sharon smiled again. Third-grader Kate had been devastated over the loss of Kaleb Jones's affections for weeks. But like all things, they had seen each other through. Best friends forever.
"Oh my gosh," Sharon's mouth had made a giant O. "Kate I'm so sorry."
"Sorry, Sharon? I'm covered in vomit-colored paint and you're just sorry? You are so in for it."
Sharon attempted to wipe a glob of paint off of Kate's nose. "Here let me-"
Kate closed her eyes and wagged her finger. "No! Don't come a step closer to me! I'm just going to feel my way to the bathroom so that I can at least try and wash this off."
As Kate had stumbled off towards the janitor's closet instead of the restroom, Sharon couldn't help but snicker. "Wait 'til the girls hear about this one." The memory sent Sharon rolling on the floor, and this time her tears were from laughter rather than sadness. For the remaining two weeks of the sixth grade, Kate had refused to speak to Sharon. But as always, they had made up.
Best friends forever.
"I'm gonna get you, Kate! How could you lose my ring?" Sharon's voice had emulated angrily.
"He dumped me, Shar! He dumped me because he said he 'just wanted to be friends!' How could he do that?" Kate had sobbed wildly from her chair, burying her face in her arms.
"Sharon Redmon, I am going to kill you!" Kate had screeched at the top of her lungs, covered from head to toe in bright green paint.