Spencer, Ashley and Aiden have been together since preschool.

This is how it happened.

    [It’s recess and kids are running and screaming. A little blonde girl in pigtails is crying under the tube slide. Then what appears to be a boy in a blue cap falls from the top of the slide. “Oh my gosh! Are you ok?” The girl asks peering over him. “Eh, just a scratch. Why are you under here?” He asks fixing his cap. “I miss my mommy.” She says helping him up. “You’ll see her soon, school’s almost over. Anyway, I’m Ashley.” She holds out her hand. “I’m Spencer.” They shake.

    “Help, I’m stuck!” A voice cries from inside the slide. Spencer and Ashley go around and look inside. “Hey Dumbo! Stop blocking the slide!” Ashley yells. A boy in a red shirt is stuck upside down in the slide. “Pull me out!” He says, waving his sticky hands. They each grab one a pull. He tumbles out. “Great, girls had to rescue me. I hope I didn’t get any cooties.” He mumbles looking up at them. Ashley yanks him up. “Say thank you to Spencer!” “Thank you, Spencer,” He looks away.
   

    “How did you get stuck?” Spencer asks. “Tommy pushed me.” The boy admits. “You got a name or what?” Ashley asks. “Aiden.” He squeaks. Ashley stomps over to the monkey bars with Spencer and Aiden trailing.

    “Tommy, say sorry to Aiden!” She yells at a dirty blonde boy. “Why should I do that?” Tommy swings his feet. “Because I said so!” Ashley stomps her foot. “I don’t have to do anything you say, Girl!” Tommy taunts. “I am not a girl! You are!” Ashley climbs up the monkey bars and grabs him by the collar. “Say I’m a girl one more time.” She demands. “Girl.” He spits. Ashley jumps off the monkey bars pulling Tommy with her. She lands on her feet but he gets a mouth full of dirt. He gets up and runs away crying.]

    Ever since then they’ve been Spashden. Spencer was the brains, Ashley the brawn and Aiden was their sidekick. They were a compact unit, growing and changing together until around their 8th birthday, which was on June 5th.