“Why? It was a Cape Hatteras.”

“In North Carolina….”

“Gee, for a Yalie…yeah in North Carolina.” Tina stared at Bette.

“You know, my mom was from North Carolina.”

“She was?”

“Yes. I’m going to tell a story about my vacation when I was six. The summer before my mom died. School had just ended. My mother picked me up from school and told me we were going to spend the whole summer with my grandparents at the cape. She said that we would come back when school started in the fall. I wasn’t really too thrilled about the beach because I was a city girl.”

“City girl? At six?”

“Can you please just listen? This is important. Anyway, my mom and I were staying at my grandparents and I didn’t have any friends there. One day my mom and I were walking on the beach and there was this girl on the beach. Her brothers were trying to teach her how to skip rocks and one of her rocks hit me in the back of my head. She came over and said she was sorry and that she didn’t mean to hit me. She had short platinum blonde hair that looked like it never saw a brush or comb, but I didn’t care. I remember she had the most beautiful eyes because it would change color depending her mood.” Bette watched Tina. “So much like yours.”

“Bette, you’re not trying to tell me…”

“No, of course not. Besides her name wasn’t Tina. It was…”

“Chrissy.” Tina and Bette said at the same time and looked at each other in wonderment.

“There’s no way….no way.”

“Yeah. You’re right. I mean, there’s no way.”

“But imagine if it was true.”

“Imagine…my mom bought me a charm to give to her toward the end of the summer so she wouldn’t forget me.” 

“Do you still have that charm?” Bette asked as she stood next to Tina.

“Yes. I keep it in a hidden compartment in my jewelry box with the photo of me and Beth.”

“Can I see it?”

“Sure. Let me get it.” Tina stood and went to the bedroom to get her jewelry box. While Tina was in the bedroom. Bette walked over to the shelf and retrieved a cigar box that she hasn’t opened in a long time. Bette sat on the couch and placed the cigar box on her lap and began to rummage through the items until she found what she was looking for. Bette picked up the Best Friend breakaway charm and placed it in her palm and remembered when Chrissy surprised her with the gift.

Tina returned from the bedroom and placed her jewelry box on her lap and removed the charm from the secret compartment. She kept the charm hidden from Bette.

“Okay. On the count of three you show me what you have and I’ll show you what I have. We do it at the same time.”

“Okay.” Bette nodded.

“One, two, three.” Bette and Tina said in unison and the both opened their palm to reveal the Best Friend breakaway charm. They both stared at the charm that each was hold.

“Wow.”

“Yeah. Wow.” Both held up the charm and joined them together. It was a perfect fit. Tina removed the photo from the jewelry box and showed it to Bette. Bette looked at the photo of them in their polka dot bikini with Tina’s hair in a mess and a tooth missing and Bette staring at Tina in awe. Bette turned the photo over. On the back it read “Chrissy and Beth – Best friends.”

“So, I was your first kiss.” Bette caressed Tina’s cheek and they rubbed noses.

“First, last and forever, babe.”

The End