Secret

It is absolutely special and wonderful to have. Tell you a secret, don’t tell anyone. Listening? Pull up your blanket, okay, here it goes. There were two girls, ages 8 and 9. Pink and green backpacks. Outfits matching the backpacks. The girl with the green secretly wanted the pink one, but her mother disapproved of anything too girly. Alas, story for another time. Regardless, two girls on their way from school. Walking and talking. Asking each other’s opinion on matters both concrete and ephemeral. Like what? You ask. You’re doubtful and inconsiderate. Shush. Give me time, the secret will come. They are walking and talking, one wants to be great musician, brilliant pianist. I will have many concerts and will invite you to all of them! She is excited as she imagines the crowds and happiness she will bring with her music. Wait, she puts her pink backpack on the sidewalk and takes a bow. Then stands for the applause of her friend. They continue along. I want to be a parachutist, a professional one! I will learn how to fly and show you how to, we will take over the sky! The girl with the green twirled and twirled, she imagined the clouds and the rushing wind, she saw small people, green hills and tiny houses. When she finished twirling, she saw her friend go quiet.

- What is it?

- Do you really think we will be able to do all that? We are going to be grown ups and we will need grown up jobs…

- Well…Your idea is grown up. There are pianists with concerts; just yesterday there was one on TV!

- I know. But what about you?

- What do you mean? Why is my idea not good?

- People can’t fly…

- So? By the time we grow up, they might. Or I WILL teach them!

The girls continued walking. Only now they both were upset with each other. A little bit, not too much. But they were bubbling inside with righteousness. The girl with the pink backpack was upset that her friend was not listening to reason, she only wanted what’s best for her. She felt grown up thinking those thoughts, I only want what’s best for you. Just like on her mother’s favorite tv show when the lady was talking to her naughty granddaughter, now, now, Margaret, put those cookies back, I only want what’s best for you. Remembering the show and the cookies that looked so good on screen, the girl calmed down and felt bad about what she said. She glanced at her friend. The girl with the green backpack was looking straight, focused on the road straight ahead, ignoring her. She was upset, since her friend was stifling her dream, so mean and unfair. Anything, anything is possible! And just when she has just been so supportive of the pianist idea. That was unrealistic, if anything was! In music class, she barely got a C, just because the teacher did not want to fail her. If someone was telling the truth, she had no talent for any instruments. Someone should tell her that. But thinking the thought so mean made her feel bad. She decided she did not want to tell the girl in pink such a thing. She was her best friend after all! She looked down and then glanced to the side. Her friend was looking right back at her, looking very sorry.

- I’m sorry I said that about your dream. People really might learn to fly or you will invent it. I do believe in you.

- I’m sorry I thought something really mean about you.

- It’s okay, I deserved it.

- Friends?

- Friends!

They continued on smiling and talking again. What do you think aliens would think of us, if they saw us? That we are very gross? Why? Well, look at us…They made their way home.

10 min and 20 years later, they still kept in touch. They are adult friends that fit each other in their busy schedule on some rare weekends. The girl in pink became an accountant, who is learning and playing guitar every other weekend. She is a beginner, but working on it, right on the verge of beautiful music and happy faces. The girl in green is an English teacher. She is also an avid hiker, climbing the mountains and once every few months banjo jumping from great heights. Sometimes, if the wind and the clouds and the distance are just right, it feels like flying.

Settle, but keep your dream alive.

Shush, that was the secret; you should’ve paid attention. Good night.