It's Not Like I Planned It This Way (Watty Awards 2013)

crayolas

 i still remember the first time we met in third grade

you had on a maroon cashmere sweater with rolled up jeans and white vans

even though it was the middle of august

you had freckles splatted across your nose

i later found out that you had them all over your body, too

but, that's another flash back

you were really quiet and so was i

i figured it was a sign

i was afraid to talk to you

because you were so different

and that made you interesting

so i watched you

i even drew you

we were stick figures holding hands

underneath the giant oak tree in the school yard

i had always loved that oak tree

i coloured your hair white because my crayola box didn't have the colour blonde

i coloured my hair red

because i was obsessed with the little mermaid at the time

i chicken scrawled the words best friends above our heads

and finished the drawing

with crooked smiles on our face

we looked perfect together

you were sitting against the giant oak tree 

squishing ants with your thumb

i placed the drawing next to you

my face was as red as a cherry

you looked at the photo and smiled

as you folded it up and tucked it in your planner

you patted next to you and we sat down

and talked until recess was over

i knew you were special,

and i think you knew it, too.