Let Them Eat Cake

I have a close friend named Liz. She's me; we finish each others sentences, we dress the same, we have crushes on all the same guys, even our favorite bands are the same. Oh, sure, there's differences: her love of sushi, while as I can't stand the stuff. Her hair's black and blue, and mine's blond and red. I'm fire, and she's ice, but it just works. Her mom treats us like sisters, and her siblings do, too. But, unfortunately, she moved about two years ago to Oregon City, and I live in Salem.

Yesterday I went to Kenny's birthday party--Kendra is Liz's eight year old sister. Liz didn't know I was gonna show up. Her face, man, it was priceless. That is, when she realized it was me. Talk about delayed reaction. We walked around Bush Park and her aunt, who she lives with now, took pictures of us holding hands. We're not together, and Liz isn't a hugger or a hand-holder, but with us its about love. Not like lovers, but like twins.

There were pictures of me shoving cake in her face, and vise-versa. There were some of us in a gazebo, watching a soap-box race, climbing trees, and me sitting on her lap as we went down the kiddie slide. Plus, it was seventy degrees, which is Pretty Freaking Hot for Oregon.

I spent the night at her dad's house with her. That was great. There's nothing like breakfast for dinner and watching cheesy, B-rated horror movies.

Today we went to the Ike Festival--this cultural thing for little kids and old people. It wasn't bad, in fact, it was fun, but I was so sad to see her go. I got into the car with her dad, and watched her get into the car with her aunt--her dad was my ride home. There was a lump in my throat, burning in my eyes, and I felt sick, because I knew we wouldn't talk for another three weeks, and I wouldn't get to see her for another four or five months. I hate it, knowing that we wouldn't have any contact for so long. My sister was going to disappear again. That's the way it's been for about two and a half years now. Maybe, if I'm lucky, the beginning of summer will mark our days of sneaking out to go to the convenience store, chugging down Monster energy drinks, making up stories of the perfect guys, and camping out in the back yard. If not, I'll be lucky if she's able to go to my birthday party in September.

Love ya, Lizard, who's nick name comes from The Hills Have Eyes, who trips over flat surfaces, who borrows my red lipstick, who understands me. Until we meet again.