A Friend

Growing Up

~9 Years Earlier~

I ran outside, laughing mischievously as a warm breeze met my skin. I raced into the backyard and towards the new playground we had just gotten. My dad had finally finished building it. All that was missing was my sister and I.

The air was warm and nice, the sun was lowering behind the trees far behind our house, the birds were chirping happily, and the flat patio's fireplace had a warm glowing fire starting,

The grass was bright green with colorful flowers peeking up here and there. It was beautiful- I loved it here.

I heard the back door fly open again, followed by the sound of my little sister yelling for me to slow down.

"Alfie!! Wait for me!" She called out, but I mocked her with a haughty laugh. "ALFIE!"

Peeking over my shoulder, I grinned at the sight of her running in her small, jean dress. Her hair was cut short- as she liked it during spring and summer.

"C'mon, Linnet! You're soooo slow!" I shouted.

She began to whine and complain, but I ignored her and took a sharp turn to reach the steep wooden steps first. I quickly climbed up them, getting closer and closer to the homemade sanctuary.

One reaching the top, I kicked off the top of the ladder and rolled into the tree house.

Linnet was at the bottom now, yelling at me to wait. I began to push myself to stand, feeling a scrape on my right knee.

I now stood beneath the wooden roof, staring in awe and amazement. Not noticing Linnet, I was shocked to see her standing beside me- also gawking at our surroundings.

"We could put a bookshelf here, a carpet here..." I planned, motioning around the room.

"A bean bag chair here, a dollhouse over there," Linnet plotted.

"Says who?" I mocked, putting my hands on my hips.

"Says me! Princess Linnet!!" She put her hands up on ear hips and stuck her tongue out.

"Too bad, I'm older than you."

"You're seven! I am six! You're only one year older than me!!"

"Congratulations, you can count."

She rolled her eyes and crossed her arms over her chest.

"I'll just tell mom and dad that you're being mean to me. What are you gonna do about it?" She mocked my low level of power.

"I can throw you down the stairs," I said.

She gasped and stared.

"No...." I paused, "but... I'll throw you down the slide!" I shouted before jumping forwards and grabbing her.

She screamed and kicked- thrashing to escape.

I laughed and lifted her off the ground. She whacked my face and scratched my arms like a rabid cat. My laughter only increased at the sight of blood on my arms from her blue-painted nails slicing my flesh.

"PUT ME DOWN!" She shrieked.

I hummed to myself, standing before the top of the green slide.

"ALFIIIEEEE!!"

I lowered her quickly and shoved her down the slide.

Her screams only continued, but I simply laughed at her defeat.

"Rematch! Rematch! Rema-" my gloating chants were cut off by my parents yelling at me from the patio.

"Alfred Demonte Ephriam, get down from there right now!" My dad demanded.

I puffed my cheeks out with a sigh as I slowly left the top of the slide and made my way towards the stairs.

"Alfred, what did you do!?" My mother asked, hurrying over from the patio.

"She was going to lie to you guys so she could get what she wanted. I only put her on the slide!" I defended.

"She's terrified! Look at her!" My dad exclaimed.

"I'm sorry," I mumbled, walking carelessly down the wooden stairs with my head down.

"If you can't play nice, I'll have to take you inside and we can watch the new Hallmark movie that comes on in a little bit."

"Noooooo! Not that!" I whined, throwing my arms around in misery.

"Then you need to behave. Hug Linnet and apologize," my dad instructed.

"Fiiiine," I sighed and dragged myself over to her. She stood by Dad- hiding against him while his right arm was wrapped around her.

I put my arms out in an offer to hug her.

She hesitated, sniffled, wiped her nose, then looked up at Dad. He was already looking down at her, his head tilted to meet her eyes. He nodded at her and patted her shoulder.

She inched towards me before breaking into a sprint and throwing herself at me. I caught her mid-air and spun with her against me.

She giggled and laughed as I whisked her around. Our parents laughed yet warned us to be careful.

I lifted her up and lowered her to her feet.

She was grinning under her messy hair.

"I have an idea! Let's go carve our initials inside!" I offered.

She squealed happily and we raced up the steps.

I let her go first.

I watched with a smile as she took victory.

That's all that mattered to me.

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