b)
“ you promise i can play the first game with you? “ i asked, a small girl with a game of monopoly in my hands ready for board games day in fourth grade. a smile, a nod from a tall girl with short black hair towering over me, a small daisy next to a blooming rose bush, someone i was proud to consider my friend. we set down the games in our hands i rush over to her game, pick my character from the small jumble of video game characters clutch it in my hands set it down on the clue board. here comes another girl, another one of my friends, a strong confident cocky sunflower sits down stares at me and our friends, looks at me starts fussing “ liv, you said i could use that one. “ she says she won’t play unless she gets to use my piece. the rosebush withers, just a bit. my temper takes over i glare at her, pick up the piece hand it to her, say coldly “ here, you can play. it’s fine. “ walk away to my monopoly board. i look back see liv, the tall girl, the rosebush not protesting against my leave feel something inside me crack. i don’t look back again. but a week or so later i’m missing my rosebush we apologize cry laugh play together just like it should be, a small daisy next to a blooming rosebush soaking in the sun on a fourth grade afternoon.
