Three friends turning Seventy November 18, 2024. 625 words

Three girls, Cheryll, Carol and Laurel, grew up in a small town in south east Michigan. Though living in the same neighborhood, they went to different schools.They were born within a month of each other. Though they have grown and changed, they are still friends.
This the story about my two longest friendships. Despite life’s changes, I am still friends with both women.
I met Cheryll, in kindergarten. Both of our moms were room mothers. We both started school when we were four. Our mothers became good friends. Neither Cheryll ,Laurel or I had sisters. I had four brothers but Cheryll was an only child. Cheryll lived close enough that we could walk to each other’s home. Estelle, Cheryll’s mom, was from Georgia. I was introduced to different foods when I was invited to lunch. Sweet tea, biscuits and gravy and hush puppies were introduced to my pallet .
In turn, my mom shared rhubarb, asparagus and raspberries dishes when Cheryll came to lunch. When Cheryll repeated third grade, we saw less of each other.
That year, Laurel moved from Detroit to a house around the corner. Our backyards shared a fence in the far left corner of the lots.
Laurel was the only girl. She had two older half brothers that lived else where.
Dorothy, Laurel’s mom was an expert baker. I still can smell and taste her cheesy bread, warm from the oven.
The three of us had the propensity to get into trouble. Cheryll and I went to an overnight at the Baptist youth group. We took a girl’s ample bra, soaked it and put in the church’s freezer over night. Or the time we were going to clean out the unused coal bin to make a game room. There was coal in the bin.The time we were taking a picnic to the park only to turn on Center and end up at the horse barns for the track.
Laurel and I also shared adventures. We were going to clean out the garden shed to have a play house. Or the time, we met two boys at Commerce Lake and Laurel’s mom had to save us from them. There were many times we picked raspberries to eat rather than bring them in.
All three of us were fond of Petit Fours, small layer candy composed of layers of cake and icing. They were the size of an inch square and came in a candy box at Christmas. My mom would hide them in the freezer. No matter how well hidden, we would find the box and help ourselves to a couple. Then we moved the candy to hide the missing pieces. The box was returned to it’s hiding place.
Over the years, we grew apart. I stayed and worked in Michigan. Cheryll’s husband Dave, joined the Navy and moved to Charleston then to Huston. Laurel moved to California and worked for a law firm and wrote articles for publications. We had our professions and different interests.
Over the last 25 years, we have renewed lines of communication. We have visited each other in their homes and in turn they have visited me.
This month we will turn 70. I was first in October and Laurel will turn on the 22nd and Cheryll on the 28. This means we have no secrets from each other. We have been with each other through good and bad and are still friends.
So here’s to the best women I could grow with. Happy 70

My amazing sisters
** poem
Sisters

no girls allowed
we pushed against the bounds
only girls no sisters, alone
adopting each other
we shared our homes
Now we face 70
come to journey’s end
grateful, we are still friends.
carolaspot copyright 11/18/24