As I was shopping at a Ross department store, I observed two young girls around the age of four causally walking hand and with their mothers. As both parties of mother and daughter crossed paths, the two girls immediately stopped and faced one another. This may not seem like much, but as I watched the girls I could see the reflection of each in the eyes of the other. Their mirror images merged together as the girls appeared to be cheerfully smiling and laughing with one another. I could see them at a playground taking turns downs a slide; I could see them swinging next to one another to see who can swing the highest; I could see them racing across the monkey bars to see who would reach the other side first; I could see them teetering in and out of the air as both sit and lift each other to new heights on a see-saw. Reflected in their eyes, I could see them growing up as best friends and in a flash their childhood ended; teenage friends, young ladies, grown women. They transition from childhood friends to womanhood in a mere moment. When the mother of one child said, “Come on baby, it’s time to go,” the two women reverted back to little girls and without a word spoken, both girls smiled the cutest smile and happily waved goodbye to each other.
As I think about that day, I wonder what those little girls were truly thinking. Was I correct in my observation or did I manufacture a moment so I could steal it for myself, because I miss the simplicity of making a friend. That was probably the first time those girls had ever seen one another and maybe the last, but within a single moment, I saw a friendship that lasted a lifetime.
