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My BFF

Staring intently into each other’s eyes, Megan and I pledged: “We are friends...through thick and thin...through the ups and the downs...you are my BFF...my best friend forever.”

That was two years ago when Megan and I were in the fourth grade, and things were different. Life wasn’t complicated. We lived next door to each other and did everything together. We were inseparable. My pesky older brother even nicknamed us “the Siamese Twins.”

Now, Megan and I are in middle school. Megan likes to hang out at the skate park while I like to hang out at the mall. Megan isn’t doing well in some of her classes, and I have a few honor classes. I love hip hop music, and Megan is into punk rock. And the worst thing of all is that life suddenly got complicated. Megan’s mom and dad divorced last summer, so now Megan spends every weekend across town with her dad. Now, we hardly ever spend any time together. We’re definitely not “the Siamese Twins” anymore.

“Hey, Jas, did you hear me?”

“Oh, sorry, Mom, what did you say?”

My mom sighed. “You seem lost in your thoughts,” she says. “What’s wrong?”

“Oh nothing…Well, just thinking about Megan,” I moan.

“Hmmm, let me guess,” Mom replies. “You’re wondering why the two of you aren’t as close as you used to be, right?”

“Gee Mom, what are you...the Amazing Kreskin? How did you know what I was thinking?”

Mom chuckles, “Oh Jasmine, I’m your mother. Listen,” she said more seriously, “change is part of growing up. You and Megan are growing-up, and you have different interests now. Plus, she adds, “You know that things are tough for Megan. Her parents just got divorced, and she has to adjust to the new living situation.”

“Mom, you’re sort of right,” I replied while thinking of my BFF pledge with Megan. “Just because we have different interests doesn’t mean that our friendship has to dissolve. I know she’s having a difficult time dealing with her parents’ divorce. Why can’t she just talk to me? She used to tell me everything,” I whined.

Mom sat quietly for a few minutes, and then her face lit up like a beam of light. “Listen, I have an idea,” she said. “Why don’t you think of something fun that you and Megan enjoyed doing together and try recreating it? You know, like a blast from the past…the good old days.”

Suddenly, ideas start racing through my mind like a swarm of excited bees. I gave Mom a big kiss on the cheek and said, “Thanks!” as I jumped off the sofa and ran upstairs to my room.

Lying in bed that night, I came up with a plan so amazing I could hardly sleep. In the morning, I sent Megan a text message: M- meet me @ the spot 2day @ 4 –J.

After school, I rushed home, changed my clothes, and grabbed my bag of surprises. I didn’t want to be late meeting Megan.

“Wassup, Jas? Why did you wanna meet here?” Megan asked, with one eyebrow raised.

I smiled. “Sprinkles, chocolate syrup, or both? This is my treat.”

She smiled. “Uh, both of course.”

“Great, grab a table while I get the sundae,” I said. “And here, go through this,” I continued Jasmine as I handed Megan a large manila envelope.

“Hey, do you want me to take that big bag you’re carrying,” Megan asked.

“No, I got it. I’ll be there in a minute.”

As I looked over at the table, I could see Megan open the envelope. She looked surprised to see the contents. There were about two dozen pictures and not just any pictures. They were all pictures from every holiday we had spent together. The Halloween when I was Thing 1, and she dressed up as Thing 2. The Christmas when I bought each of us a matching sweater and scarf set to wear with our skinny jeans. There were even pictures from the 4th of July barbecue when we had eaten way too much egg salad and couldn’t stop passing gas.

“Hey, where did you find all these old pics?” Megan asked me after she sat down at the table.

“I went through the photo album we put together last summer,” I replied Jasmine as she handed Megan a spoon.

“Mmmm, this sundae is so good,” said Megan, “I haven’t had one of these since…” her voice trailed off. “Since the day we made our pledge.”

“Meg, I know things aren’t the same, but I wanted to do something to remind us of the good times we used to have together. Your friendship still means a lot to me, and I want you to know that I’m still here for you.”

Megan gazed out of the window and then turned and said, “Well, um…I am having some trouble with my math class. Do you think you can help me out?”

“Sure, I can. But can you do me a favor and teach me how to use one of these?” I reached down, opened the big bag I had been carrying and pulled out a hot pink skateboard.

Megan started laughing and said, “Totally… I can’t wait to help out my BFF!”

The passage describes a challenging situation between two best friends.

• Discuss how the challenge between the friends was resolved.
• Describe how you think Jasmine’s mother was helpful in resolving the situation.
• Explain whether or not you think Jasmine and Megan will remain best friends forever.