Becky

Becky came over on the morning ferry and we had a nice day together.  Went for a walk, then lunch, then…THE CANDY STORE!  It was fun.  We bought whatever we wanted.  All kinds of candy from childhood memories, and anything else that looked tasty!  And it was fun. 

“Remember, “ Becky said as we were leaving the candy store, both of us lugging a brown paper bag stuffed full of candy.  “When we were little and would daydream about this kind of thing?“ 

“Yeah,“ I said, smiling at her happily.

“We’re so lucky.“

“Yeah.  We are.  Sometimes I can’t even believe it.“  And then I hugged her right there on the sidewalk and she hugged me, one arm style, so we could keep a good grip on our candy.  And we walked like that, arms around each others shoulders, heads tipped together.  Becky and Meg, young, and Becky and Meg old walking down the street.  The past and the present all intermingled. 

I remember once, at school on Texada, I can’t remember what grade I was in, 6th or 7th.  Can’t remember who found the penny.  Whether it was Becky or me?  I do remember though, that we were very happy about it.  And at lunch break we walked a mile to Mary’s cafe and bought a green bozo.  Spearmint flavor.  I carefully bit it in half.  Did such a good job that Becky had a hard time choosing which half to pick.  And then once she had, we popped that half a gum in our mouths and chewed it and it was good.

And now, we are all grown up and we can go into a candy store and buy whatever we want, and eat it too.  Before dinner if we like.  If that isn’t proof positive that magic can happen, I don’t know what is.

Posted by Meg Tilly on Wednesday, April 16, 2008 in Chewing the Fat