Reunion

When Cashel lived in Park Slope, his best friend was a kid named Jack. This was not JUST a best friend. This was a kindred spirit. I only met Jack once, at one of Cashel’s birthday parties – he was dressed as Obi Wan Kenobi – and I already just loved the kid, because Cashel loved him so much. Their main bond was Star Wars.

It’s really hard when you love Star Wars MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE ON THE PLANET. It can be a very lonely position. If you love Star Wars MORE THAN ANYONE ELSE ON THE PLANET then it’s truly painful to not have anyone to share it with. It’s jarring to hear someone say, “Yeah, it was a good movie, but I liked Harry Potter better…” Ouch! What do you DO when you love Star Wars MORE THAN ANYBODY ELSE ON THE PLANET? But thankfully, Cash and Jack never had that problem. They were absolutely in sync in their adoration of all things Star Wars.

Cashel, occasionally, would wax eloquent about the relationship.

He said to my parents once, point blank, “The first time I met Jack, I could see the twinkle of Star Wars in his eyes.”

I am not kidding.

They were 6 years old the last time they saw each other. That is an eternity. Cashel moved far far away. But he never forgot Jack. He made new friends in his new schools. But if you asked him, “Who’s your best friend?” he would say, with a faraway look in his eye, “Jack.” It was hard for Cashel to move away. But you know, kids are survivors. Cashel survived.

Occasionally, Cashel and Jack would have looooooong phone conversations – of course arranged by their mothers. They were still, after all, little boys, who didn’t just pick up the phone, and blithely dial phone numbers. They would stay on the phone, and just talk about Star Wars. What more does one need from friendship.

I fully credit the parents of both children, too, for helping this tiny friendship stay alive. Jack’s mom always made sure that Jack sent Cash a birthday card. And Cashel’s parents did the same with Cash.

So even though Cashel and Jack, two WEE LITTLE BOYS, were a continent apart – they still were friends. I remember saying once to Cash, “I bet you and Jack will be friends still when you’re grown-up men.” Cash gave me a look that I just will not forget. So funny. He got this quizzical expression – his eyebrows wrinkled up – he had simply never contemplated being an adult. And in the next second, he just started LAUGHING at the idea of Jack as a grown-up, and himself as a grown-up. It was incomprehensible.

Once I was speaking with Cashel, and I mentioned that it was a blizzard in NYC. Cashel immediatley gasped – yes – he gasped – and said, “I hope Jack’s okay.”

hahaha It’s alllll about Jack. “I’m sure Jack is fine, sweetheart.”

Two weeks ago, my brother called Jack’s mom to let her know that he and Cash would be in town the week after Christmas – and maybe they could arrange a reunion for their kindred spirit sons? Who had not seen each other in TWO YEARS? Jack’s mom got all kind of emotional – and said that just the week before Jack had written an essay in school about “his best friend Cashel” (trying to picture the 8 year old handwriting – it just KILLS me). Jack’s mom told Bren that everyone in his class just accepts that Jack’s best friend is Cashel who lives across the country. Jack has other friends – he is a personable friendly little boy – but everyone knows that you can only have ONE best friend.

I just got word that last night was the long-awaited Cash and Jack reunion. These two little brave kindred spirits – who have been maintaining a long-distance friendship for two years (hard enough to do as an adult – even harder when you are eight!!) – had a sleepover last night at Jack’s.

They stayed up talking until 11 pm.

My heart is full. I am so glad for both of them.

May the twinkle of Star Wars always be in their eyes!