MY BEST FRIEND PENNY

MY BEST FRIEND, PENNY

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It was Winter Break and I was watching T.V, when my mom and dad walked in with a horribly grim look on their face. “What happened?” I asked blindly. Mom and Dad exchanged looks then they came and sat down. “We need to talk.” A rushed sense of panic came across me. Did they know about the fight? But before I could apologize my dad uttered two words that would haunt me, destroy me for many months. “Penny…” He paused and took a breath. “Died.” No, no, no, no! This can’t be true…. then I blacked out.

“OhmygoshisshealiveisshebreathingisAliceokpleaseletherbeok!” My mother’s frantic voice sounded a thousand miles away. Black and white specks danced in my head. I didn’t move. I didn’t want to. Penny was dead. My best friend since preschool, the one who I shared all my secrets with. Who I gave my peanut butter cups to for nothing in return. Only true friends give up their peanut butter cups. We would pool together our money to buy them at the   vending machines at school. But it was all over.

Slowly, I opened my eyes and took a shaky breath. “H-how? When?” My mom and dad's relieved faces were the first things I saw. My dad told me how she died. “Penny was going to Oregon to see her family when she was in car accident.”  I couldn’t bear it any longer, I started sobbing uncontrollably. Hot tears fell down my face like a flowing river and it felt like my heart was scrunching up and my ribs were building walls around it so nothing could come and help me or save me.

For what felt like an hour I cried and cried. My mom started crying too. It was no surprise. Penny was like another daughter to her. Dad just rubbed our backs with a sorrowful face. “The fight!” I cried out, “Our stupid fight! We never made up! NO!” I knew there was nothing I could do about it. She was… gone.

Gone.

The fight happened near the end of the school year, when everyone was desperately looking for a date to the End of the Year School Party. Penny and I were never considered popular but we weren't not popular. People acknowledged us, they knew we were there. For years we had a crush on Will Byers. He was the most popular boy and many girls liked him. We would joke around about what we would say if he asked us to the dance but we never thought we would ask us.

One day after history he came and asked me to the dance. I was so flabbergasted I replied, “Do brown bears eat honey? Yes!” He laughed and then walked away. To me it all seemed like he knew that I was going to say yes. But he did so many sports and activities I wouldn’t have been surprised if he could mind read.

The news got around school fast and by next period nearly every girl knew. How? Social media? Gossip? I still don’t know. Half of the girls congratulated me like I won an award and the others glared at me if I just blinked.

                            Penny was in between.

After school we made plans to go to the movies but first we went to Jamba Juice. She asked about the dance but I could tell she wasn't happy. I don’t know why to this day I did what I did but it’s one of the biggest regrets of my life.

 I asked why she wasn't happy for me and that I would have been happy for her. She told me that it was complicated and then I exploded and poured my Jamba Juice smoothie on her then she poured hers on me and then we ended up being kicked out. Not my proudest moment.

That night I couldn’t sleep. I felt too horrible. The next few days I tried to apologize but I couldn’t. We didn’t speak to each other all summer. I never even told her that I didn’t go to the dance.

I snapped back to reality and confessed what happened to my parents. Surprisingly there was no punishment. I trudged up to my room and cried myself asleep.

    I stayed in my house watching T.V, listening to songs, and scrolling through endless pictures of us, together, until school started

 When I walked in it was like time stopped for everyone except me. All eyes on me, and not in a good way. It wasn’t because I was wearing jeans and a sweatshirt or that I didn’t brush my hair. It was because I wasn’t with Penny. Now for those kids who didn’t know that she was gone they now knew. It wasn’t us anymore. It wasn’t Penny and Alice anymore.

    Whispers flew all around me that I couldn’t stop but I could hear. “Did you hear about their fight?” “What happened to Penny?” “Did they ever make up?” I walked to my locker and then headed toward class.

The rest of the school day wasn’t much better. There were still kids gossiping. The school day flew by and finally it was time to go home.  

     I got home and walked into the kitchen. My parents weren’t home yet, they were doctors and sometimes they had to stay an hour extra. Sighing, I opened a cupboard door and got out bread planning to make a sandwich.  There was a knock at the door. K-Knock Knock Knock. It was Penny and my special knock. I rushed to the door and swung it open. It was Mrs. Raths, Penny’s mom. Quickly, she stepped back but the box she was holding nearly fell. “Hi, Mrs. R. Come inside.” She smiled her bright smile and stepped in. “Hi Alice. Can I show you something?” She looked nervous and that made me worried. “Sure.” She walked over to a table and pulled out various notes and letters, all in Penny’s handwriting. My heart nearly stopped as I reached forward for a letter then stopped. “May I?” Mrs. R nodded and I picked up the letter and read.

Dear Alice. I’m so sorry for our fight. I should have been… Then the letter stopped so I read another.

My old friend, I’m so sorry. Our fight was all my fault. I should have been happy for you. Please accept …

These were apology notes from Penny. But she got it wrong. I should've apologized.  

                                     

“Mrs. R...” Then she stopped me. “Shh… You keep these notes. I have go but I hope you can make it to the funeral.” Then she left me staring at the letters and in that moment, I felt more alone than I even had felt in my life.

It took me at least thirty minutes to go through all the letters, by the end I was in tears. If she had a few more days then we would have been friends again. Best friends.

All the sudden I knew what I had to do. A small gesture but it would make a huge difference to me and her. I knew it would.

I rushed upstairs and grabbed my phone. I scrolled through my text messages and I found Penny’s and started typing.

Dear Penny, It's all my fault and I’m so sorry. I exploded when you didn’t do anything and I jumped to conclusions. I miss you so much, I wish you were here. Your mother showed me the notes, but I didn’t deserve them. I didn’t go to the dance either. You were and are my best friend and I would never betray you. Not a day goes by when I don’t think about you. I will never forget you. My Best Friend, Penny.

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THE END