Scathingly briliant.

Click here for the challenge rules/explanation if you want to join in.

Man, there’s a whole list of people I’ve drifted away from. This girl affected me the most, though:

Dear Jeannie,

Dang girl! Why did you move to Texas? Oh yeah, to marry that guy, your third husband, I think? That didn’t last long, did it? But you stayed there in Texas. We could have both done better at staying in touch. Now it’s been so long since we talked I don’t even recall what town you moved to. Jose has stayed in touch with you occasionally, though, by phone, and he gives me updates from time to time. We keep talking about making a road trip together to see you, maybe even finding Shelly to tag-a-long, since that’s what she always did back in the day. But really, you know how life is, how would we all find a free weekend at the same time? Jose and I rarely find one day off work together as it is, and we live 20 minutes apart.

I remember very well the day we met. The 2nd week of 11th grade. You had transferred from one of your classes to one of mine. It was 3rd period. Earlier that day, after being picked on for the millionth time and finally successfully standing up for myself for the first time, I had already decided that I did not have any plans to return to school after that day. So there we are sitting right next to each other in class. I looked at you and thought “Where did that girl come from?” You looked at me and crossed your eyes at me and I laughed. All I could think of for the rest of class was leaving. When the bell rang for the end of the class, we both stood up and you spoke to me for the first time. “Do you want to skip the rest of the day with me?” You read my mind. “OK” was all I said, so we left. You said you were going over to a friend’s house that I should meet. So we walked for about 2 miles to a tiny garage apartment where there was already a party going on at 1:00 in the afternoon. And so I met your friend, Jose. By the time Jose started talking to me, I had already smoked so much pot that I had lost my ability to speak. So after him talking to me for what seemed like an hour without any response from me, he asked me “What was your name again?” and all I could say was “Muh.” To this day, sometimes when he calls me and I answer the phone, he says “Hello is this Muh? Muh? Muh?”

And apparently we exchanged phone numbers, because you called me after school the next day and asked why I wasn’t there. I told you I was dropping out, and you said “then so am I.” We were SO STUPID, Jeannie!

Within a month, the three of us were moved into your mom’s house after she moved in with her new husband. Before long we had also taken in Shelly, poor little 15-year old Shelly who’s parents left her “in the care of friends” while they moved to New Orleans to work for Jimmy Swaggert. So began the craziest two years of my life. Four teenagers living alone, what else were we expected to do but party?

We grew up and had kids and for awhile remained the best of friends. I honestly thought we would grow old together, still the best of friends. I’m sad things didn’t work out that way.

When you moved to Texas, got married, and got divorced (again) you decided to go to college…. for the next SIXTEEN YEARS. Jose tells me now that you have 3 different degrees, two of which you never used. You’re a psychiatrist now. Wait, what? ARE YOU KIDDING ME???? I always knew you needed one, but if someone had told me 30 years ago that you’d be one someday, I would have laughed until my sides hurt. I’m proud of you, though, Jeannie.

I should get your number from Jose and call you. Or maybe you should get my number and call me. I don’t know…. it might be kind of awkward now, huh?

Most days go by and I never think of you. Some days I miss you so much I cry.

Mel