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*Tinfoil and a Hair Ribbon*

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Tinfoil and a Hair Ribbon

By Cheryl Costello-Forshey
From the book "Chicken Soup for the Teenage Soul on Love & Friendship"

Not a letter, not a card, and not even a call.
How could Jane have forgotten, when they'd been through it all?
Teardrops and heartache, they'd shared many things,
Crushes on boys, their hopes and their dreams.

Haircuts and makeup and CDs and clothes
Secrets and habits, they even shared those.
So where could she be, didn't she care?
Why didn't Jane come, why wasn't she there?

Through the second grade, third grade, fourth grade, too,
The fifth, sixth and seventh, their friendship grew.
Always and forever, they vowed till the end
To faithfully be there, as the other's best friend.

And they always had been, even when Jane moved away.
But for whatever reason, she wasn't there on that day.
And Allie felt sad as she circled the crowd
As her graduation party grew increasingly loud.

And then she heard it, a loud knock on the door
As she quickly hurried across the bustling floor.
Weaving through family and friends without care
Hoping and praying, when she opened the door, that Jane would be there.

But there on the stoop was a deliveryman instead
In his hand was a package, addressed to Allie, he read.
She reached for the package and brought it inside
And as she tore open the cover, she started to cry.

For the package was wrapped in tinfoil, with a hair ribbon tied with great care
And a million memories came flooding back, as Allie stood tearfully there.
For Jane hadn't forgotten, and as a smile crossed her face
Allie's memories took her back to another place.

Many years prior when she and Jane were so young
When they joined the local Brownie troop all in great fun.
And Allie was so excited about the Christmas party her troop was to have
That she never noticed that Jane didn't seem quite as glad.

On the day of the party, everyone brought an unmarked gift, and numbers were drawn
And with anxious eyes, Allie and Jane both looked on.
At the table piled high with presents galore
Wrapped in beautiful paper and ribbons bought from the store.

But one particular gift seemed out of place and well hidden
For it was wrapped in tinfoil and tied with a worn-out hair ribbon.
"What kind of person would give a gift that's so lame?"
The girl who received it cried out in blame.

Tears stung Jane's eyes as the girl carried on
Complaining quite loudly how much she'd been wronged.
As her accusing eyes searched, looking at each girl all around
Jane shifted nervously and stared at the ground.

For inside the package was Jane's favorite bear
And the ribbon on the package, Jane had worn in her hair.
And because Jane lived with her grandma, and money was tight
She gave away her most treasured thing, because she felt it was right.

And just when Jane felt the presence of tears
She heard her friend Allie saying quite clear.
"I'll trade you," she said, as she offered her gift
Of nail polish and jewelry, all glamour and glitz.

"I've always loved bears, and that one is especially neat"
As she grabbed the bear from the girl and returned to her seat.
And it was then on that night, they each knew for all time
They'd found a true friend, a one-of-a-kind.

For Allie knew what it meant for Jane to give up that bear
And she knew how special the ribbon was that Jane once wore in her hair.
For Jane's mommy and daddy died when she was just five
And the bear and the ribbon helped to keep their memory alive.

For Jane's daddy had lovingly given his daughter that bear
And Jane's mommy had crocheted the ribbon to put in Jane's hair.
And so as the girls walked side by side together alone
Allie handed the bear and the ribbon back to Jane before they got home.

And no words had to be said, as they both started to cry
And then they each headed to their houses, waving good-bye.
Tears streaked down Allie's face, as she stared again at that old bear
And the crocheted ribbon Jane once wore in her hair.

And then with trembling hands, she retrieved from the box a handwritten note
And read over and over the words Jane had wrote.
"I'm sorry I couldn't be there, Allie, but Grandma is ill
Yet I wanted you to know that I think of you still
As my very best friend whom I always will love.

"And so with my bear and my ribbon, I send you a hug.
I should have called sooner, but I didn't want to dampen your day.
And I knew if I told you about Grandma, you would have hurried my way.

And I wanted your party to be all you deserve.
I'm still your best friend, Allie, you have my word."

Always and forever, they vowed till the end
To faithfully be there, as the other's best friend.
And as Allie held the ribbon and hugged that old bear
She knew Jane was the one friend who always would care.

And then Allie decided her best friend should not be alone
As she went to her bedroom and reached for the phone.

 

Cheryl Costello-Forshey
costello-forshey@1st.net

Write Cheryl and let her know your thoughts on her poem!

Copyright © 2002, Cannot be copied or reproduced without the written consent of the author.

Cheryl's work has been published in eleven books from the "Chicken Soup for the Soul" series, as well as the books, Stories for a Teen's Heart, Stories for a Faithful Heart, Stories for a Teen's Heart 2, A Pleasant Place, Serenity for a Woman's Heart, and the newly released "Open My Eyes, Open My Soul". Cheryl is currently trying to find a publisher for her own book.

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Thought For The Day:

"In love, we may find it better to make allowances, rather than make points." --Leo Buscaglia

Verse for the Day:

"Above all, love each other deeply, because love covers over a multitude of sins." --1 Peter 4:8

Kid's Thought For The Day:

"Don't sit down until the game is over."

Parent's Thought For The Day

"Dear GOD, I pray for patience. And I want it right now."---Oren Arnold

Coach's Thought For The Day

"I love boxing. Where else do two grown men prance around in satin underwear, fighting over a belt?...The one who wins gets a purse. They do it in gloves. It's the accessory connection I love."-- John McGovern

Writer's Thought For The Day

"Seventy million books in America's libraries, but the one you want to read is always out." --Tom Masson

Deep Thought For The Day:

"It doesn't matter what temperature the room is, it's always room temperature."

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www.HeartTouchers.com

"I have been crucified with Christ and I no longer live, but Christ lives in me. The life I live in the body I live by faith in the Son of God, who loved me and gave Himself for me." Galatians 2:20
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Video Imagery --Michael's Video Production Business

Dear Michael,

I just wanted to take a minute to thank you for the beautiful video you made for me! It was so special to see both of my parents in tears as they watched their children grow up in pictures before their eyes! I loved the way you made Estania's part set aside from the rest--that was the part that really got them! The music was beautiful. My mom kept blubbering, "What song is that?" I don't know how you did such a beautiful job with the video in such a short time. I really appreciate your doing it so quickly. You have a wonderful gift, and I thank God that you are using it to create such sentimental memories. I hope that I can find my niche like that in an area that I love. Your video gave us one of our most lasting Christmas memories! I hope yours was filled with moments to be treasured forever! Love, Trisha Silverhill, AL

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