The school year had finished and it was time for summer vacation. It was something I usually looked forward to, but this year would be different. Nick and I usually spent the entire summer at the pool, the ocean, or doing something silly. But, not this year. He and the group had been doing so well, that Mr. Pearlman had sent them to Europe. I knew the day was coming that he would leave, but I never imagined how hard it would be for us.
“Don’t cry Sunny…please. I will be back. And…I promise, I will write to you everyday. I will call when I can, and I promise to get you a souvenir from each hotel, just like you asked.” He said, as he stood there looking at me.
The tears flowed freely from my eyes as I remembered how he said goodbye to me. I tried really hard not to get upset, honest, I did. But, it didn’t work. Nick was my best friend, and although I couldn’t admit it to anyone, so much more than that. He was the one person who truly understood me. I was a misfit at school. I was so lonely at school, but when I got home every afternoon, he would talk to me, and make me feel like I was the most important person in the world.
“Just promise you will write back to me. I don’t know what I am gonna do without you.” He whispered, hugging me. It was a gesture that meant so much more. To everyone else who was watching us, they just thought of it as a very friendly hug, but I knew it was so much more.
“I promise Nicky…” I swore to him, and then did our usual pinky swear to show that we meant it.
“Good…now, wipe away those tears…cuz I won’t go unless I know you are okay.” Nick said, trying to put on a smile. “And don’t forget, you and I are best friends…I love ya chica!”
“I love ya too dude…I will talk to ya soon!” I said, and then went to hug the others.
And now, here I was, sitting on my front porch, waiting for Nick. But, he would never come. “I sure do miss ya.” I said sadly, wiping the tears that were quickly forming in my eyes. I watched the other kids in the neighborhood race up and down the sidewalks on their bikes. Families walked their dogs, and took their kids to the park. And here I sat, waiting on the porch, watching for the mailman.
I had gotten a couple of letters from Nick. They were more like a quick note, as they raced from place to place. But, nonetheless, it was at least something. At least he was thinking of me. I sat up with a smile as our postman had walked up to my porch.
“Hey Sunny…looks like ya got a package today…and it is from Germany!” he said with a cheerful smile.
I jumped up and grabbed the package from him and immediately starting ripping open the packaging. “Carter…what have you done!?” I laughed as I opened up the box.
The first thing I saw was a note.
“Dear Sunny,
We are in Frankfurt right now. You know…that is a funny name. So, what do you call someone from Frankfurt? Give up? A Frankfurter!!! ** giggles ** Okay, okay…back to telling you stuff. Anyway, we are playing in kinda a big place tonight! And guess what? I get to play the drums! It is really cool. Hehehee
Well, I promised I would get you souvenirs…so, here ya go. Hope you enjoy. Oh, and Sunny, I am sorry…but Brian said I couldn’t steal the Bible from our room and put it in the box. He said that God might get angry. So, I didn’t get ya a Bible, but I took everything else I could take.
And…there is a little Beanie Baby in there. His name is Splash…he is an Orca Whale. Please take care of him. He is my favorite. So, when I get back…I will get him back from ya. That way you and I have a special connection. Take good care of Splash, and enjoy the rest of the gifts. I will try and call you soon.
I sure do miss you! (and so do the other guys.) Mr. Pearlman said we might get to come home for a week or two in about a month, but no promises. Please write to me! You know where to send it…they will give it to me.
Take care chica…and ** hugs **.
Love,
Nicky”
I smiled, trying to hold back the tears. I really did miss him, more than anyone would know. Now, I had to see what he sent me. I started to unwrap all the little gifts he got me. He had somehow gotten his hands on several small towels and soaps that they stocked the bathrooms with. He knew I liked strange stuff, so he sent me the stationary from the hotel, as well as the fly swatters, tv directories, and room service menus. He even went as far as to steal a silk flower from one of the vases in the Hilton Hotel. It was a pretty pink flower, and he attached a note to it. “To the prettiest rose in my life.”
I cried at that. “Nicky…why do you do that?!” I said out loud, very touched by his gifts, but very confused at the same time.
I sat down and had decided to write the letter back to him. I promised him that I would take very good care of Splash, and that he would go with me everywhere. I also thanked him for the rose and told him I had put it in the vase on my dresser next to the bed. I hung up all the pictures from the brochures he sent me. I put the towels and soaps in my desk drawer, hanging on to them for safe keeping,
I then closed the letter by telling him that I missed him, but hoped that everything was going really well. I was excited about hopefully seeing him soon, and that I would look forward to his call really soon.
Once the letter was done, I put it in an envelope, with a picture from
my last day at school. It was my last day of junior high, and I would
be a freshman the following year. I told my mom I would be running
down to the corner to mail the letter and walked down the sidewalk, humming
my favorite song from them.