Story teller

I watched as she marched down the hallway, her curly yellow hair bobbing. “Good bye, Maggie!” she called. I managed a weak ‘bye’, but I didn’t feel like leaving now. Julia May, my best friend since I was eight years old, leaving me. Moving, far away from me with a terrible heart disease. I felt like bricks had been piled on my back. As I watched her turn to wave, I couldn’t stand it any longer. I ran with all my might straight towards her and flung my arms around her. She hugged me and asked me, “Maggie, why don’t you want me to move?”

Tears stung my eyes. “I couldn’t stand loosing you,” I sobbed.

“What do you mean?”

I looked at Julia’s happy face and asked, “Why, Julia? Why are you happy about moving? Don’t you want to stay here- with me?”

“Maggie,” Julia said as she held me arm’s length apart from her. “I want you to understand something: I am and will forever be you bestie. Forever, Maggie. That’s not just when I see you. Got that?”

I nodded. “But, why are you happy about moving?”

“Don’t you understand, Maggie? This is my opportunity.” Julia said.

“What do you mean?” I replied.

“I don’t know. Hey, you don’t need to worry. I’m fine. I’ll be fine.”

“But…” Julia held up her hand.

“No, don’t tell me. Please, Maggie, trust. That’s what I’m doing. I honestly don’t want to move, but my parents think that I should go live with Grandma May, just for a while.” The next week pasted in a flurry. I hardly had time to think. Two months after Julie had left, her mother caught up to me at church.

“Julia is coming home, and she wants you to be at our house to welcome her home!”

The gloom of the day faded in an instant. “I can’t wait!” I cried. I was so excited that Julia was coming home! The next two days pasted so slowly, that I couldn’t even stand the excitement.

“Maggie Sue, slow down. You’re driving us nuts the way you run around,” Mom scolded, but she smiled. “I know you’re excited to see her. Just remember, she’ll probably be tired when she gets home.”

“I know, Mom,” I replied. “I’m just too excited to stay still.” Finally Wednesday arrived. I waited all through the school day. At five I rode my bike to her house. I wrecked twice. Finally I arrived at their home. I raced inside, forgetting to knock. In my rush, I ran into Nate.

“Woah, watch it, man!” Nate yelped.

“Nate, when’s she coming?” I demanded. Nate turned to face me.

“They are coming home in fifteen minutes,” he said with a smile.

“I’ve never been so excited,” I said. “Just wait until you see Mom. She just about blew up from excitement. Julia has something to tell you too,” Nate laughed.

“What?” I asked.

“Um, I don’t think I, um, should tell you. I mean, um, that, um, she wants to tell you.”

“Nate, invite Maggie in!” Mrs. Jones yelled.

“Yes, ma’am!” he replied. “Miss Maggie,” Nate said turning to me. “Please enter.”

I laughed. Nate always was a polite boy, but this was too much. “Miss?” I asked. “Excuse me? I don’t think so. I’m just Maggie.”

“Alright, Just Maggie, please enter.” I ignored the ‘Smart Alek’ looks that Nate shot towards me. I entered. The rooms’ lights were so bright and cheery. Then I saw Mrs. Jones.

“Hi, Maggie,” she ran over to hug me. “I’m so happy could make it!” just then Mr. Jones walked in.

“Did I miss it?” he asked. “Where’s my baby?”

“She hasn’t arrived,” Mrs. Jones answered. We waited around for five minutes. We heard the car drive up. Two doors slammed. I held my breath. Nate flung the door open. In walked an older lady with Julia’s bags. Then walked in Julia!

“Tell her, tell her…” Mike and Tom shouted. “Tell her what happened.”

“Maggie!” Julia ran over to give me a hug. Then she gave Mr. and Mrs. Jones a hug. Nate, Mike, and Tom all got hugs too. “I didn’t tell you this when I left, but I had an operation while I was away.” I looked at her with wide eyes. “I don’t have heart problems anymore,” she finished. I was so happy that they all started laughing. “I wanted to tell you, Maggie, but you were so terribly sad and we wanted it to be a surprise.” I wiped tears from my eyes.

“Julia!” I sobbed. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

She just smiled. “I wanted it to be a surprise.”

I smiled. “It was definitely one of the greatest surprises.”