The Friendship Chronicles #1- Viola
No one forgets their first best friend. Mine would be Viola Stevenson. The first time we met was in preschool. We never spoke or anything. But we were in the same class. I remembered her more from seeing her in our group yearbook picture.
Then, we reunited in the third grade when she became a new student at my prep school. She didn't remember me at all, but it was okay. We instantly clicked. Except for her spaced-out teeth, Viola was someone I wish I could have looked like back then. She was skinny, thin strawberry blonde hair, and was your classic overachiever. She was good at every sport in our P.E. class, musically trained in piano, and could easily break a board in karate.
I don't remember the conversations Viola and I had. More just the things we did together, like the time we had Chinese food at this really big restaurant to celebrate her yellow belt in karate. We also had sleepover parties where I made her watch the same movies over and over again, like Big Fat Liar and Casper Meets Wendy. Hey, I was ten!
However, there were a lot of strange things about Viola. For instance, she had a grandfather who lived in their house, but they hardly interacted. When it was her birthday, I saw that he left her a card on her bed, and she just yelled across the house, "Thanks, grandpa!" I didn't know this at the time, but her mother was a big drinker. Looking back, no one she was always so chatty with me.
Another strange quality of Viola's family was their inability to keep a pet parakeet alive. So many times, Viola or someone in her house would open up the bird's cage only for them to either fly away or drown in their pool. You'd think they'd learn the first time around about not leaving the cage door open.
Things changed between us when Viola decided to leave our prep school and go to a public school. Shutter the thought! At the time, the idea of public school haunted me. Sure, I wouldn't have to wear an ugly uniform anymore. But, being surrounded by so many kids with the sound of a loud ringing bell made me feel claustrophobic. But clearly, Viola was ready to head into that zoo.
When Viola started her public school life, I remember crying to my mom in bed, "I miss Viola!!!" But my mom would reassure me that we can call each other and visit one another. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. Viola didn't seem interested in hanging out with me. Or at least not alone. The last time I went over to her house, she had two friends she met at her new school with her. Since they preferred to treat me like I was invisible, Viola did the same.
It was the same deal when Viola had a Halloween party when she invited everyone from her school, but still didn't talk to me. I gave her a lot of props for decorating the house so hauntedly and for having a fortune teller there, who apparently told me I'd marry a Jewish man in a house made from scratch (little did she or I know I'd end up being queer). But I definitely didn't high-five her for yet ignoring me. I was seated at the table opposite hers, where I sat in total awkwardness. It was living proof that Viola had a new life and no room for me in it.
Another way I knew that my friendship between me and Viola was about to come to an end was my 12th birthday/Bat Mitzvah. I just had family and her come over to my house. Because we had nothing planned and we just hung around, she kept telling me how bored she was. I mean, I didn't know what to do about that. What was she expecting? It was a family kiddie party.
Because I wasn't necessarily a dance person, I just had my Bat Mitzvah at a boat house near an Italian restaurant. Because Viola was my only "friend" and my parents said it wouldn't be a party without a friend there, I invited her. She, of course, was bored. I didn't blame her, though, considering how bored I was at my own party. I spent majority of the party with the photographer taking awkward photos of my brace face self and pretending to enjoy the Michael Buble knockoff singer. I was embarrassed enough for both of us. We didn't talk at all throughout the party.
I didn't speak to Viola again until I was headed to the seventh grade, and I was in a sleepaway camp for the first time. My mom gave her our house's address book of places to send letters to. I was curious and skimmed over to the "V's" where I knew Viola would be. I decided to write a little letter to her, catching up on my average life and asking if she'd like to be friends again. I was surprised to see that she wrote me back! I got my best friend again!
When I came home from camp, I was quick to go on my MSN Messenger and chat with Viola. We spoke a few times. However, one thing I noticed was that I was the one who kept initiating the messages. She never did. I got turned off by that and just stopped messaging her. She naturally did the same thing.
I'll admit I was disappointed as I was hoping Viola was interested in being my friend again. But, maybe she just kept writing me because she felt obligated to or was just casual about it. Me and her went down two different lives. Difference is that I've always been the type where I don't like to let good people go. Or at least people who I thought were good. However, I wouldn't want someone to continue contacting me if it wasn't what they really wanted.
I never heard from Viola again. I'll admit that when I first got my Facebook account in 2012, I found her profile on there. She still looked the same, but obviously taller and older. She ended up doing interior designing and actually married this guy we went to elementary school with. I think she told me in one of the letters that they met each other again when they went to the same high school. But, I had no idea they dated. Much less got married. That'll be one to tell the kids.
Despite finding Viola's Facebook profile, I never friended her on there. I'm sure she could have found my profile if she searched me or through the one mutual friend we have. But, she never reached out. So, there was no reason for me to. Who knows if she even remembers me.
While I'm a bit disappointed that I couldn't call Viola the best friend I had since the third grade, I just tell myself I'm better off. She taught me the importance of not letting distance separate two people. And if you do, it shows the friendship was only one-sided and without meaning on both ends. But, Viola will always stay in my memory as my first best friend. After all, you can only have one of those.
Then, we reunited in the third grade when she became a new student at my prep school. She didn't remember me at all, but it was okay. We instantly clicked. Except for her spaced-out teeth, Viola was someone I wish I could have looked like back then. She was skinny, thin strawberry blonde hair, and was your classic overachiever. She was good at every sport in our P.E. class, musically trained in piano, and could easily break a board in karate.
I don't remember the conversations Viola and I had. More just the things we did together, like the time we had Chinese food at this really big restaurant to celebrate her yellow belt in karate. We also had sleepover parties where I made her watch the same movies over and over again, like Big Fat Liar and Casper Meets Wendy. Hey, I was ten!
However, there were a lot of strange things about Viola. For instance, she had a grandfather who lived in their house, but they hardly interacted. When it was her birthday, I saw that he left her a card on her bed, and she just yelled across the house, "Thanks, grandpa!" I didn't know this at the time, but her mother was a big drinker. Looking back, no one she was always so chatty with me.
Another strange quality of Viola's family was their inability to keep a pet parakeet alive. So many times, Viola or someone in her house would open up the bird's cage only for them to either fly away or drown in their pool. You'd think they'd learn the first time around about not leaving the cage door open.
Things changed between us when Viola decided to leave our prep school and go to a public school. Shutter the thought! At the time, the idea of public school haunted me. Sure, I wouldn't have to wear an ugly uniform anymore. But, being surrounded by so many kids with the sound of a loud ringing bell made me feel claustrophobic. But clearly, Viola was ready to head into that zoo.
When Viola started her public school life, I remember crying to my mom in bed, "I miss Viola!!!" But my mom would reassure me that we can call each other and visit one another. Unfortunately, that was easier said than done. Viola didn't seem interested in hanging out with me. Or at least not alone. The last time I went over to her house, she had two friends she met at her new school with her. Since they preferred to treat me like I was invisible, Viola did the same.
It was the same deal when Viola had a Halloween party when she invited everyone from her school, but still didn't talk to me. I gave her a lot of props for decorating the house so hauntedly and for having a fortune teller there, who apparently told me I'd marry a Jewish man in a house made from scratch (little did she or I know I'd end up being queer). But I definitely didn't high-five her for yet ignoring me. I was seated at the table opposite hers, where I sat in total awkwardness. It was living proof that Viola had a new life and no room for me in it.
Another way I knew that my friendship between me and Viola was about to come to an end was my 12th birthday/Bat Mitzvah. I just had family and her come over to my house. Because we had nothing planned and we just hung around, she kept telling me how bored she was. I mean, I didn't know what to do about that. What was she expecting? It was a family kiddie party.
Because I wasn't necessarily a dance person, I just had my Bat Mitzvah at a boat house near an Italian restaurant. Because Viola was my only "friend" and my parents said it wouldn't be a party without a friend there, I invited her. She, of course, was bored. I didn't blame her, though, considering how bored I was at my own party. I spent majority of the party with the photographer taking awkward photos of my brace face self and pretending to enjoy the Michael Buble knockoff singer. I was embarrassed enough for both of us. We didn't talk at all throughout the party.
I didn't speak to Viola again until I was headed to the seventh grade, and I was in a sleepaway camp for the first time. My mom gave her our house's address book of places to send letters to. I was curious and skimmed over to the "V's" where I knew Viola would be. I decided to write a little letter to her, catching up on my average life and asking if she'd like to be friends again. I was surprised to see that she wrote me back! I got my best friend again!
When I came home from camp, I was quick to go on my MSN Messenger and chat with Viola. We spoke a few times. However, one thing I noticed was that I was the one who kept initiating the messages. She never did. I got turned off by that and just stopped messaging her. She naturally did the same thing.
I'll admit I was disappointed as I was hoping Viola was interested in being my friend again. But, maybe she just kept writing me because she felt obligated to or was just casual about it. Me and her went down two different lives. Difference is that I've always been the type where I don't like to let good people go. Or at least people who I thought were good. However, I wouldn't want someone to continue contacting me if it wasn't what they really wanted.
I never heard from Viola again. I'll admit that when I first got my Facebook account in 2012, I found her profile on there. She still looked the same, but obviously taller and older. She ended up doing interior designing and actually married this guy we went to elementary school with. I think she told me in one of the letters that they met each other again when they went to the same high school. But, I had no idea they dated. Much less got married. That'll be one to tell the kids.
Despite finding Viola's Facebook profile, I never friended her on there. I'm sure she could have found my profile if she searched me or through the one mutual friend we have. But, she never reached out. So, there was no reason for me to. Who knows if she even remembers me.
While I'm a bit disappointed that I couldn't call Viola the best friend I had since the third grade, I just tell myself I'm better off. She taught me the importance of not letting distance separate two people. And if you do, it shows the friendship was only one-sided and without meaning on both ends. But, Viola will always stay in my memory as my first best friend. After all, you can only have one of those.
31-35, F
