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How did their friendships in the past help mold the women of the present? |
| [Introduction] Per the rules of Round 3 in Tourn-a-Rounds by Robert Waltz  , if you are a participant in the campfire of Just MoW  , you may not participate in this campfire. Thank you for your cooperation!Use characterization to explore the characters' present, connecting it with their stories of the past. Have fun with it! ** Images For Use By Upgraded+ Only ** Lives touch and friendships form. But, when life takes its many turns, sometimes friends grow apart, yet, the imprints of those friendships remain. This is the story of how the reunion of a group of old friends awakened their sisterhood spirit, shedding light upon their present lives. |
| The distant blow of a whistle, warning the approach of an oncoming locomotive startled June awake. She thrust forward and gripped the armrests of her seat. When her vision cleared, a wide window displayed flashing landscapes, and the vibration of rutted steel tracks murmured from below. The realization set in that the distant sound was simply the train she was traveling within. She felt a flush burn her cheeks, and she glanced around to check if she’d been watched. The passenger to her right was snoring, and the woman behind him was engrossed in a book. June exhaled and reclined against the plush seat. She stared out the window. We must be close, she thought. She gazed lazily as the buildings that seemed so far away at first zoomed by so quickly. Her mind drifted to her impending reunion. Mystic, Connecticut, she pondered. Just the sound of it was nice. It would be a quaint setting for a reunion of old friends. Sandra will likely be a perfect hostess, June thought. Before Sandra had divorced Jack, she had lived a simple life as a small town housewife and mother of four. Sandra had been the catalyst in June’s decision to start the children’s co-op nursery school that brought her group of friends together so many years before. Then, they all had in common young motherhood. Now, each with grown children, would there be any commonalities? Following her divorce, Sandra moved to Connecticut; opened a successful high-end antique store; and re-married a man of wealth. June had received beautiful Christmas cards and letters from Sandra, describing her glorious new life in New England for several years, but the correspondences stopped when June neglected to respond. But that was before. June promised herself she’d be better at keeping in touch after the reunion. She had been surprised and energized by Sandra’s email invitation. She was glad Tim had given his blessing for her to make the weekend trip and travel alone. It was not that she needed it; she’d have gone either way; she needed to get away for awhile. June reached for the new carry-on bag she purchased during her shopping spree for the trip. She reached inside to its neatly packed contents and pulled out a compact. She inspected her reflection. The years had been kind to her, except for a few furrows around her eyes. But, her eyes’ striking blue radiance still worked in her favor, masking the less conspicuous. She lifted a lock of hair away from her temple. The color was a bit darker than she’d hoped for, but it had done a marvelous job covering the objectionable gray. The sheen of her rings illuminated the small mirror. She snapped the compact shut, and returned it to its place in the bag. She lowered her chin and admired the collection of rings gracing her fingers- gracing her. Each, with a different colored gemstone, was purchased at a great discount from the department store where she had worked between jobs. Soon, the others would know she was no longer teaching and hadn’t been for years. She adjusted her rings, nervously, one at a time. Her fingers stopped at her plain gold wedding band. I’m the only one who stayed married to the same man all these years, she realized. She had given up so much for Tim. She uprooted her five children, left the nursery school she had founded, departed from the small town she’d grown to love, and left the friends she had made all to follow him, to stay with him, when he wanted to advance his career in a new city. In her old letters, Sandra had kept June updated on Brenda and Charlotte for awhile. June had taken a week off her teaching job in the city to go back and comfort Brenda immediately following the death of her husband. The farming accident had taken him suddenly, but Brenda was robust. She kept the family farm running with the help of her three boys. June hadn’t spoken to the eccentric Charlotte since her move. June rubbed an oval jade pendant that hung from a long chain around her neck. I can do this, she thought. A grin crept across her face, curious about what adventure the weekend held in store for her. June gazed out the window again. She looked forward to old buildings, gaining size as the train grew nearer, each appearing more charming with propinquity. A surge of adrenalin flooded her nerves when the train slowed, and the conductor announced, “Mystic! Mystic Station.” June smoothed her new navy outfit with clammy palms, collected her luggage, and disembarked onto the platform. Traveling down Roosevelt Avenue, June chuckled in the back of the town car. That Sandra!, she thought. It was a wonderful icebreaker to find her town car driver, holding a sign that read: JUNE THE GREAT. It was a term of endearment that Sandra used to call her, honoring her for “saving the mothers” by starting the co-op nursery school. June reveled in the words, June the Great, letting herself believe it again, for a moment. By Sandra’s instructions, June left her luggage in the car with the driver. She took a small handbag and entered the fine Stonecroft Country Inn, heading for the dining room. The dining room was charmed with antiques, a large-plank hardwood floor, and a wood-burning fireplace. June spotted two women seated at a round mahogany table, in the far corner of the room. “Juney!” a familiar voice came from the taller woman. She rose from her seat and walked toward June, embracing her. “I’m so happy to see you!” June was thankful Sandra had greeted her first, because she almost failed to recognize this aged version of her old friend. June smiled and returned the greeting. “Sandra, I am thrilled to be here. Thank you for inviting me.” June drew in a deep breathe and addressed the woman who had risen with Sandra. “Is that you, Charlotte? It’s been too long!” Charlotte embraced June and then offered her the seat beside her. June fought uneasiness, and spoke to fill a moment of silence, “It’s lovely here.” “Oh, I love this Inn,” Sandra began in a professional voice, “This was originally the site of an 1807 Sea Captain’s estate. I have an original estate paining in my store worth fifty-two thousand.” Sandra checked the time on her cell phone, and announced, “Brenda’s late. I think I’ll give her a call.” Sandra’s voice boomed as it always had. June and Charlotte knew not to try to speak over her. June fondled her pendant. Charlotte poured June a glass of wine and set it in front of her. Charlotte spied June’s necklace, and her eyes opened widely. “You still have that?” June looked down at her jade pendant and smiled up at her old friend. “You remember giving it to me? It still brings me peace.” Charlotte returned a genuine smile, “I’m glad to hear that.” |
| June tentatively sipped her wine, feeling the heat of the alcohol work its magic on her nerves. She wasn’t a drinker; she’d been sickened enough times by Tim’s bourbon inspired Jekyll and Hyde mood swings to be turned off by liquor for life. But, a nice glass of wine with old friends seemed classy, like the perfect accessory to an elegant outfit. It even tasted good. Charlotte watched June with an amused look on her face. “What?” June asked, returning the smirk. “I just can’t believe we’re together again, after all these years.” She paused. “So, tell me about your life!” June shifted her weight imperceptibly in the chair, appearing calm while panicked thoughts raced inside her brain. The truth was, she harboured shame for the life she had been living. She felt her children were her greatest achievements. She’d cloaked herself under cover of motherhood for years, laying low and living vicariously through them. Now that they were grown, she realized she didn’t remember who she once was, before Tim and the kids. Living in the rut of her long-established routine, she hated that she feared the notion of trying something new and exciting. “Well, let’s see,” she began slowly. “Tim and I still live in the city. His job is going good although his boss still won’t give him a raise. The boys are finished with school, and doing well in --” “Whoa, whoa! Stop right there.” Charlotte interrupted. “I asked about your life, not your husband’s or kids’ lives!” June swallowed another, bigger mouthful of wine. She laughed nervously, “Well, there’s not much to tell. I’m an executive assistant in a real estate office, have been for several years now.” “Oh.” They both drank from their glasses. Charlotte asked, “Is that interesting work?” June fingered her pendant and stared at her old friend. “No,” she suddenly blurted. “Actually it sucks.” The remark took June by surprise as much as it did Charlotte, and the women burst into laughter. Sandra strode up to the table then and announced that Brenda’s town car was en route. Looking over at June, she said, “Is that the jade Charlotte gave you after your kidney stone nightmare? God, that was an awful time, wasn’t it? That must have been… what? Twenty years ago?” Charlotte nodded. That jade pendant had special meaning for her, too. The night she’d given it to June, she’d gone home to find a note from her husband saying he’d left her. Looking back, it was the best thing he’d ever done for her, but at the time she was devastated. “Twenty two years ago, to be exact. I remember because that’s how old Danny and The Secretary’s daughter is now.” |
| All three women looked at the table. “Like I said, ‘that was an awful time’,” Sandra concluded, breaking the awkward silence. “That’s right, Juney,” Charlotte said, reaching out to pat her hand. “We didn’t come to rehash the past; we came to share the present and talk about the future. Perk up,” she smiled broadly and raised a mischievous eyebrow. “I’m not going to give that lying, cheating, two-timing, weasel another thought, except to say: his secretary-turned-mistress-turned-wife got what she deserved. Five years into their ‘blissful’ marriage, she was pregnant with twins when Danny left her for his new pregnant secretary!” Always the diplomat, Sandra changed the subject. “So, what were you two talking about a moment ago?” “June was telling me about her not-so-exciting job as Executive Assistant at a Real Estate Firm!” Charlotte announced. June bit her lip as Sandra replied, “When did you stop teaching?” “A few years ago Tim was laid off so I looked for a higher-paying job. I started as a secretary and moved up from there,” June answered, trying to make her story sound feasible. “I always thought I’d go back to teaching but I haven’t done it yet.” She readjusted her rings nervously. “Let’s not talk about work right now. Look! Here comes Brenda.” Sandra pointed toward the entrance lobby. Sandra strode across the dining room to greet a frail, thin woman in a burgundy pantsuit and matching hat. “What happened to her?” June whispered to Charlotte. “Brenda was always so strong and energetic.” Charlotte shrugged. “Brenda and I lost touch about eight years ago. She had been complaining of headaches for a while; her letters dwindled and finally stopped.” June gingerly hugged her old friend, frightened to squeeze too hard; she could feel the bones under Brenda’s loose-fitting jacket. Brenda took the last empty place and the table, declining Charlotte’s offering of wine. June’s head was spinning with questions and possibilities. She nervously reached for the jade pendant, hiding behind her menu. Peeking over the top of the leather-bound folder she caught Brenda’s eye and smiled. The waitress collected the last menu when Brenda taped her spoon on the rim of her water glass. “I have something I’d like to say,” she announced. Everyone watched as Brenda stood, holding the edge of the table for balance. “Sandra wasn’t supposed to tell anyone that this gathering was my idea,” she began. June and Charlotte looked at Sandra, who silently directed their attention back to Brenda by looking from them to her. Brenda took a sip of water and continued, “I’ve been ill for some time. Charlotte, I have to apologize to you. I stopped writing when I was diagnosed with brain cancer. I couldn’t bring myself to tell you because I knew you’d drop everything and come running, and I couldn’t let you do that.” Tears filled Charlotte’s eyes as she heard her friend’s words. Beneath the table she took and squeezed June’s hand. Trying to impress her friends suddenly paled in comparison to being real and truthful. “I wanted to see all of you once more because I don’t know how much longer I have,” Brenda finished, swaying on her feet. Sandra jumped to steady her friend and guided her back into the chair. |
| After dinner, the four women chose to spend a quiet evening in, considering the long trip had exhausted the three travelers, especially Brenda. They split into pairs, two in each town car. Charlotte rode with Brenda, and June shared her car with Sandra. Along the way, Sandra pointed out historical landmarks and revealed the market value of exquisite estates. June pretended to care, until Sandra pointed out her antique store. “There it is- my 'other home'," Sandra said, proudly. June peered through the car window, roving the store front, “Oh, Sandra, it’s really beautiful! You must be very proud.” “Well, I’m no ‘Sandra the Great’ or anything,” she mocked. “Sandra, I’m not great. I’m not even teaching anymore. I was never great.” “Are you kidding me?” Sandra looked straight at June, “You have a legacy back ‘home’! Did you know that? Did you even know that the Gingerbread House school still functions today? All of those mothers and all of those children for all of these years have benefited from your brainchild and your dedication. You were and will always be June the Great. Besides, if it weren’t for you I’d have never been inspired to—” June smirked, “to be Sandra the Great?” “Yeah,” Sandra laughed. After getting herself accustomed to the guest quarters and unpacking her suitcase, June fought the urge to lie down in the luxurious bed. Instead, she made her way to the Great Room where Sandra was serving drinks to her houseguests. They sat somberly, each lost in private thoughts of Brenda’s misfortune. Suddenly, Brenda rose from her seat and excused herself. The women sprang to their feet to help her, but Brenda crossed the room with a swiftness she hadn’t been able to muster before. “Let her go,” Sandra ordered. “She probably needs to rest. She’ll be alright-- for tonight.” The women returned to their seats and their drinks. Sandra lowered her voice and began telling the others about what she knew of Brenda’s illness. Not long into the conversation, June excused herself. June was unfamiliar with the layout of Sandra’s grand house. After wandering for a few minutes downstairs, she resolved to climbing the staircase to find the bathroom near the guest quarters. As she reached the top of the stairs, a peculiar aroma invaded her nostrils. The bathroom door was slightly ajar, and June pushed it open. There was Brenda, resting on the edge of a large hot tub, surrounded by a swirling stream of smoke. June snapped her head away, and began her retreat out of the bathroom. “You might as well just come in,” said Brenda. June turned back and stood in the doorway, looking at Brenda’s frail figure. “I hate to see you like this,” She struggled to find words, swallowing hard to fight her own weakness. “You were always the strong one.” Just then, Sandra and Charlotte entered the bathroom. “Do I smell what I think I smell?” asked Charlotte. “After my chemo, the doctor said it would help ease my pain,” Brenda answered. “I thought you were finished with you last round of chemo eight months ago?” Sandra boomed. “Like I said, it helps ease my pain.” Brenda broke a long moment of silence, “It wasn’t supposed to be like this! You are all too helpful and too quiet and too sad! Ugh!, I just wanted to live it up again- with all of you- one last time!” Charlotte walked light footed over to Brenda. She knelt down in front of her quivering frame, and squeezed her fingers around the unlit side of the burning object. Brenda released it to her friend, and Charlotte brought it to her own lips. “Charlotte! Do you really think that’s a good idea?” Sandra scolded, “Perhaps you don’t recall the incident following Danny’s departure?” “You mean the hippy dome?” Charlotte burst into laughter, “If you girls hadn’t come and dragged me out of that awful place, I’d have- I’d have—“ “You’d have turned yellow!” June felt an uncontrollable urge to join in the hilarity. Brenda giggled along, piping in, “That’s right, Charlotte! One more day in that dump and you’d have gotten Hepatitis!” Charlotte laughed until her laughs transformed into sobs, “The three of you saved me—and my baby girl, too. You kept me grounded.” She opened the toilet seat lid, and flushed away the smoldering ignominy. Sandra reached behind Brenda and turned on the hot tub faucet. “Come on, girls. Let’s relax a little!” |
| The hot bubbling water, swirling clouds of steam, and warm mulled wine created a calm and relaxing mood. Brenda sat in one corner, closed her eyes, and leaned her head back. June was shocked to see just how puny her friend had become, her collar bone stuck out so far and the flesh of her shoulder was so emaciated that the straps of her bathing suit didn’t even touch her skin. June turned her eyes away but couldn’t shake the image from her mind. “I’ll tell you what,” Brenda sighed. “Tonight we’ll talk about the bad stuff. Get it all out of your system and then let it go down the drain with the water when we’ve finished, agreed?” The four clasped each others hands in a solemn promise. “Who wants to go first?” Sandra asked, dimming the lights. June was surprised at the sound of her voice offering to go first. She hesitated, then poured out truths about her own life that she hadn’t even admitted to herself. She recounted arguments she’d had with Tim, the agony of quitting her teaching job and taking a clerk’s position at the department store. Somehow the low lights and the wine made it easier to admit her disappointment in how her life had turned out; her desire to be more than just a mother of children who no longer needed her mothering; the wife of a husband who found more pleasure in his nightly news program than in her. Charlotte took her turn, thanking her friends for being there to support her through the rough times and then standing back to give her room to grow. “I don’t know how I would have made it without all of you,” she said. “I feel so weak and dependant sometimes, but with you I’m strong. “I always wanted to be more like you,” Brenda admitted. In my eyes, June was perfect, with the perfect family. From you, June, I learned tolerance, patience, and the art of self-sacrifice on behalf of my family. You, Charlotte, were always the strong one in my mind. Sure, you had a few weak moments after Danny left, but you got up and shook the dust from your feet and went on. You always did what needed to be done and took great pride in doing it for yourself.” Sandra piped up, “We all thought you were the strong one, Brenda. Your courage to stick with the farm for the sake of your sons made me feel like a wimp whenever I cried about my divorce and how hard it was to go on. I had no idea what ‘hard’ was until I saw you go through such loss and sorrow.” Brenda slid a hand over her bald head and looked at her dearest friends. “Look at all of us,” she exclaimed. “We’re nothing but a bunch of sobbing sissies who’ve had too much to drink!” She pulled the plug and let the hot tub begin to drain. It had felt good to get their feelings out, and it felt better to think that they were washing away down the drain leaving the future open for fresh new experiences. June had been so exhausted she couldn’t recall turning back the covers and crawling between the smooth sheets. Cradled between the soft comforting layers she slept better than she had in years. When her eyes fluttered open she felt refreshed. After a delicious brunch served on the veranda by Sandra’s personal chef, the four decided to spend the rest of the day shopping in town. Sandra’s store was open and she delighted in showing her guests the beautiful items it contained. She introduced them to Margaret, her assistant, as well as to Mavis, the resident cat who had come in one winter out of the cold and decided not to leave. Curio stores and local interest shops lined the streets of Mystic, interspersed with a delicatessen, a vintage clothing store, an old fashioned ice cream parlor complete with red and white cast iron patio furniture, a tobacco store, a local-interest museum, and a very interesting Mom- and Pop-run five-and-dime with a pawn shop counter in back. June searched the contents of each store, looking for a special gift for Brenda. She knew what she was looking for but it took quite a while before she found it. Not wanting to make the others feel they had to do the same, she excused herself from the group once they had reached the back of the store. “I’m going to ask if they have a restroom,” she said. “I think I had too much coffee back at the house.” The others laughed and continued shopping. June made her purchases and tucked the small box into her purse, satisfied. Throughout the day, each of the women slipped off secretly to make small purchases the others knew nothing about, squirreling them away in their purses for later. “I could use a break,” Brenda admitted weakly. Sandra knew the perfect place just two doors down from the shop they’d left. “Give me your bags,” she said as they reached the door of the coffee shop. “I’ll call my driver and have him pick them up.” Swirled mocha cappuccinos and fresh warm gingerbread with lemon custard sauce soon filled the air with a delightful aroma. Patrons were seated by the fireplace reading magazines. Others played chess or cards. In the corner was a young man reading his poetry aloud and offering it for sale to any who wished to buy. He had each poem written in beautifully executed calligraphy on crisp parchment. His work was displayed all around the shop in an eclectic mixture of frames. Back outside, the friends strolled arm in arm through the park in the center of town. Feeling Brenda dragging a bit, they selected a shaded table in the picnic area. “My feet are killing me,” Sandra said, adjusting her shoes. “I know you stopped for me,” Brenda said, amused by her friends. “Thank you.” In the distance a child’s voice caught their attention. “Remember when we’d meet at the park with our children?” June mused. “Someday we’ll have to meet at the park with our grandchildren!” Charlotte giggled. Time passed quickly as they talked about the past and the future. “My goodness,” Brenda declared looking at her watch. “It’s almost 6:00 and I need my meds.” She opened her purse and took out a package of crackers, a pillbox, and a small bottle of water. “We can go for dinner if you like,” Sandra suggested. Brenda nodded as she swallowed her handful of pills. “We can do that,” she agreed. “Once these meds kick in, I’ll be raring to go!” Sandra chose a restaurant overlooking the town and the river. The tables were swathed in white linen clothes and topped with green and navy napkins. The gold flatware reflected the candle light, mimicking the yellow streetlights outlining the main thoroughfare below. “I had a lovely time today,” Brenda said as they finished their meal. “This was one of the best days of my life.” “Anyone up for a little window shopping?” Sandra suggested. “The shopkeepers in town are so proud of their window displays but they are best viewed at night.” The others voiced their eagerness to see the displays as returned to the waiting town car. After a leisurely stroll through town, they headed back to Sandra’s for the night. “Let’s change into more comfortable clothes and met in the family room. We can sit around the fireplace and talk for a while before bed. In her room, June ran a brush through her auburn curls and selected her mint green flannel nightgown from the closet. Before heading to the family room she took the small box from her purse, opened it, and smiled. Tucking it beneath the elastic wristband of her nightgown and stepped out into the hall and headed down the stairs. |
| The glow of the fireplace was the only light in the family room. When June reached the archway, the others were already seated around the fire. “Come, join us,” Sandra motioned for June to sit beside her on the sofa. June walked around the back of the sofa and sat down on the edge of the cushion. She tugged at her jade pendant. “Relax, June, you look nervous,” Charlotte said, handing her a cup of green tea. June released her pendant, and accepted the tea cup, “Thank you,” she answered, inhaling the soothing essence of the steamy herbal beverage and taking a sip. “Oh, Juney! Your jade looks gorgeous against the mint shade of your nightgown!” Sandra complimented. The jade glistened in the dim light of the fire. It looked brand new, as new as it had the day Charlotte gave it to her. “I have an idea,” Sandra said, rising to her feet. She walked to the corner of the room and retrieved a bundle of knit throws from a linen closet. Charlotte hopped up to help with a second downy pile, carrying it to the loveseat. “No, Charlotte, put them here,” Sandra commanded, dropping her blankets on the floor before the blazing fire. Charlotte followed Sandra’s order and added her pile to Sandra’s. Sandra pulled a few toss pillows and cushions off the sofa and arranged them in a circle around the blankets. “Make yourselves comfortable. I’ll be right back,” Sandra said, and she disappeared through the archway. Brenda helped herself to the thickest blanket and lied down on a large cushion. June stooped to choose a white crocheted afghan. She sat on the floor, draped the afghan over her legs, and leaned back against the bottom of the sofa. Charlotte unfolded a blanket, laid it flat on the floor, and lay on her belly with her chin resting in her hands. Sandra returned with a bowl of popcorn, placed it in the center of the circle, and found herself a seat on the floor. The four friends talked about their children and their grandchildren, and they mused over stories of the past, giggling like school girls. Soon, the conversations dwindled, and the four women became captivated by the fire, gazing with private thoughts of the weekend’s end and their looming morning departures. “This has been the best weekend ever,” Brenda said. Lowering her eyes and her voice she admitted, “I don’t want it to end.” Sandra, June, and Charlotte looked at each other, knowing she was speaking about much more than the weekend. “You know, Brenda, you just might survive this,” Charlotte suggested the idea none of them had considered since they’d first seen Brenda in the Stonecroft Inn dining room entrance. Brenda looked up at Charlotte in disbelief. “Charlotte could be right. Why don’t you let me and Larry help you? Larry has some connections at Boston Memorial Hospital. They have a phenomenal cancer unit. Don’t worry about your medical bills, either; they’ll be taken care of.” Brenda’s face alit, “Really? You’d do that for me?” “Of course! I would do anything I can to help you. You’re my friend,” Sandra’s eyes filled with tears. “I’ll discuss the details with Larry tomorrow when he returns from his business trip.” A loud, sudden pop of the fire turned their attention back to the fireplace. The flames rippled around the logs, reaching excitedly upward, as if in desperation to capture something new and essential. Charlotte spoke with fervor, “Brenda, please let me come and stay with you. Let me help you through this, too. I’ve got nothing holding me back. Summer is grown and happily married, living in Ohio. I can easily commute from the farm to work; it’s only a forty-five minute drive. I know your boys have the farm covered. But, I can take care of the housework and shopping for you. I’ll cook healthy meals for you. I even know a little about homeopathy. I could research some remedies that just might help you.” Brenda hesitated. The short silence was broken with Sandra’s playful travesty, “Will you chant for her, too?” Even Charlotte found humor in the sarcasm, and they all giggled, until Brenda fell silent once again. “I want you to,” Brenda began, “I mean it. I think I really want to try and fight this- anyway I can. Charlotte, I’d love it if you would come stay with me. I’ve tried to stay strong on my own, but now, I need to allow myself to lean on my friends and let them be strong for me for a while.” She struggled awkwardly to shift her weight and regain a sitting position. Charlotte rushed to Brenda’s aid, and swathed the blanket over her shoulders, “We’ll get you through it together.” Sandra offered Brenda a glass of water, adding, “We all will.” “Brenda,” June sat up on her knees, and reached for the small box she’d stashed in her nightgown wristband. “I picked up something little for you yesterday. It is something that always helps me. I don’t know why, but it has a power that eases my senses when I wear it. I want you to have your own.” She opened the lid and pulled a silver chain out of the box. A collective gasp was heard when the new jade pendant appeared, dangling from the silvery necklace. “And, remember that I’ll be there for you whenever you need me. All you need to do is call.” June dropped the beautiful jade pendant into Brenda’s boney palm. Charlotte burst into laughter. Sandra turned to her and saw she had pulled two boxes from her pajama pocket. Sandra joined in the hilarity as she pulled out her own jewelry box. June and Brenda giggled, as they realized what had happened. “You, too?” June laughed aloud. Charlotte handed a jade pendant to Brenda and another to Sandra, “I bought these because I knew how much June’s jade still meant to her after all this time, and since you two didn’t have one,...” Sandra opened her little box, and presented its contents to June: a pair of jade earrings. “For all you did for us in the past, and for being my inspiration, I bought these for you.” “They match my jade necklace!” June said joyfully. Although she had not received a gift, Charlotte sat, gleaming as she watched her friends who had been like sisters to her. After all these years, she still cherished them and honored them for making a difference in her life. Brenda noticed Charlotte’s gaze, gave her a quick smile, and tossed her a jade. The End! |
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