No Returns, No Exchanges, No Store Credit

I needed that girls' night in at the apartment. My friends are like human emotional pillows and provided a never ending supply both comfort and Ruffino; they are the absolute best. Though my girls were all chatty and seemingly happy, there had been this strange vibe between Ruby and Kerry. It wasn't the standard tension of that pining which Ruby had toward Kerry, No, it was as though Kerry was aware somehow and I couldn't ignore the tension. I wanted to know what was up, though a sofa coffee session with Ruby must wait; Frannie strikes again.

She rang the next day to tell me that I must immediately come to Grandma's house and sort through my boxes of STUFF. Surely, you are familiar with the boxes of stuff; they contain your communion/bat mitzvah dress, dance recital costumes...remnants of former boyfriends. Yes, those boxes of stuff which you see only when moving; to the dorms, from the dorms, across the globe, and then to the first apartment. My mother wanted to sell Grandma's house and move to Florida...yes, you guessed it...with Bucket O'Slime. She is crazy, does she even recognize that this is not the most ideal time to sell ?? No matter the excuse, there was not hiding it; I was disappointed, as I grew up in that house....so many firsts and now, apparently finals. This is part of the healing, right? Like Frou Frou sings,"Let go...there's beauty in the breakdown." For some odd reason I feel like I'm about to break like Linkin Park.

Kim was in town still and offered to come with me for support. A dear friend of mine, Kim is the little sister of my very first boyfriend. Kim and I were thirteen and eighteen, respectively when I met Al. I watched her grow from a mischievous, curious girl into a beautiful, adventurous young woman. Her brother was sweet, handsome, and totally crazy about me and we fell crazy in love. After 3 1/2 years, we grew up and apart from who we were and our perfect relationship. And though Al's next girlfriend wasn't too keen on the idea, Kim and I grew closer despite my break from her brother. Families of my other exes have wanted to keep in touch with me, though I was never interested and always wanted a clean break. Kim was different, we formed a truly pure friendship, which included a great deal of laughing, more than a few tears, and of course, memories to fill volumes.

Sorting through boxes, as I heard Frannie discussing meeting with many different real estate agents, Kim and I laughed at the Reebok Pumps, cassette tapes (yes, CASSETTE TAPES), and snap bracelets, among many other items from an ancient era. We came across a large shoebox, which Kim opened.

"Frankie! Did my brother write this??"

I took the frame from her hands and laughed, "Yes, Shakespeare in love; this poem was accompanied by a collection of Shakespeare's love sonnets. I guess he conducted his research thoroughly ."

"You were both so innocent, weren't you?", she asked.

"Yes, it was a sweet, perfect introduction to the world of dating", I remembered fondly.

After a few minutes, Kim found yet another fascinating artifact from my former life. "Oh Frankie", she said, "was this cousin Lana's wedding?"

I took the frame from her hand and looked at the beautiful couple staring back at me. They were so young and fresh faced; it was the couple formerly known as Al and me. So strange, the young girl physically resembled me; I could barely recognize her.

I shook my head,"Yes, Kim...thirteen months before their divorce. What a shame, these young couples divorcing only a short while after sharing such a festive, beautiful union. Almost seems that being married for two years is a milestone."

"You know, Frankie, I am cooking dinner for Al this evening. Why don't you join us?," suggested Kim, "I think he would like to have you over".

Though I adore Kim, this amused me a bit. There was a time when I would have jumped at the invitation, convinced that I wanted him again, though it was at that time he married the rebound chick. Since then, they became part of the sad statistic; yet another divorce between two young people after maybe a few years, at most. I know our breakup upset the younger Kim, though was she now attempting to play matchmaker as an adult?

"Thanks Kim, though with everything still fresh, I feel it may be a bit too much for me right now. I really need my comfort zone. However, I expect a full showcase of your culinary ability when I visit! I will bring the wine!", I said.

She smiled, "I know, wish you would come for a bit, though I understand," she said giving me a huge hug.

After packing Frannie's truck for the trip into the big city, I drove Kim to her brother's house. "Have fun baby, safe travels, give a ring when you arrive home; I love you," I told her.

"Thank you; love you", she replied.

Sitting here among these crowded townhouses, in a small, overpopulated NYC suburb, watching Kim climb the steps of Al's house, I inhaled a large breath of contentment. She turned and waved after opening the front door. For friends, I will always circle around often; for the boys I only come around once in a lifetime. --Frankie