FRIENDS- Author Unknown

In first grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who let you have the red crayon when all that was left was the ugly black one.

In second grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who went to the bathroom with you and held your hand as you walked through the scary halls.

In third grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you stand up to the class bully.

In fourth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who was willing to switch square dancing partners with you in gym so you wouldn't have to be stuck do-si-do-ing with Nasty Nick or Smelly Suzy.

In fifth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who saved a seat on the back of the bus for you.

In sixth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who went up to Nick or Susan, your new crush, and asked them to dance with you, so that if they said no, you wouldn't have to be embarrassed.

In seventh grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who let you copy the social studies homework that you forgot about.

In eighth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you pack up your stuffed animals and old baseball cards so that your room would be a high schooler's room, but didn't laugh at you when you finished and broke into tears.

In ninth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who went with you to that cool party thrown by a senior, so that you wouldn't  windup being the only freshman there. In tenth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who got their schedule changed so you would have someone to sit with at lunch.

In eleventh grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who gave you rides in their new car, convinced your parents that you shouldn't  be grounded, consoled you when you broke up with Nick or Susan, and found you a date to prom.

In twelfth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you pick out a college, assured you that you would get into that college, and helped you deal with your parents who were having a hard time adjusting to the idea of letting you go.

At graduation, your idea of a good friend was the person who was crying on the inside but managed the biggest smile one could  give as they congratulated you.

The summer after senior year, your idea of a good friend was the person who helped you clean up after that party, helped you sneak out of the house when you just couldn't deal with your parents, assured you  that now that you and Nick or Susan were back together, you could make it through anything, helped you pack up for college and just silently hugged you as you looked through blurry eyes at the 18 years of memories you were leaving behind, and, finally, on those last days of childhood, went out of their way to come over and send you off with a hug, a lot of memories, reassurance that you would make it in college as well as you had for the last 18 years, and, most importantly, they sent you off to college knowing you were loved.

Now, your idea of a good friend is the person who gives unselfishly, holds your hand when you are scared, helps you stand up to those who try to take advantage of you, thinks of you when you are not there, reminds you what you have forgotten, helps you put the past behind you but understands if you need to hold on to it a little longer, stays with you so that you have confidence, goes out of their way to make time for you, helps you clear up your mistakes, helps you deal with pressure, smiles for you when they are sad, helps you become a better person, and, most importantly, loves you!

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