Finding Your Friend

Flash Fiction

Finding Your Friend

On our way to our library. It was across town, so I was only allowed to go if my older sister took me. Consequently, I got a lot of books, Nancy did not appreciate having to take me to the library, but she was the oldest of five, and Mom and Dad both had jobs. They wanted to spend weekends with all their kids, not waiting in the library while I picked books. Most of the time Nancy’s “taking care of kids “after school” was enough. I see now (not then) that taking me to the library was another chore. But I got enough books to last me a month!

Anyway, memories of one day stays with me always. In town, we had to cross a train track. There were seldom trains when we were crossing, very exciting to us both when they did.

One day at the crossing, my cart tipped and a book flew toward the tracks. Not wanting to make Nan madder, I jumped over to get it. Just then crossing bars started down.

Nan screamed at me “get back here!” but I could see the book! I kept on going… till suddenly arms were around me like a pin, pulling up. Just as we got up the train flew by. Nancy started crying.

“I’m sorry I’m sorry!” I said, flabbergasted at her crying, I’d never seen it happen before. Calming down a bit, she yelled “Don’t ever do that again!”

“I was just trying to get my book…”

“And I almost lost my favorite sister!”

I was shocked! I always thought she hated me because she had to take me to the library! Her favorite sister… I started crying.

We had a much better relationship after that day. Sixty-eight years later, we still do.