Scenes from a sleepover

Tattooed goddesses getting ready for bed. Cameo by Checkerboard.

Checkerboard is a black and white cloth hippo who has been in our lives, as friends, since we were 10 years old. He originally was Betsy’s. He says one thing: “BEP.” And sometimes he intersperses “Bep” with his own name. As in: “BEP. CheckerboardBEP.” With his huge red-cloth hippo mouth gaping wide. In the month following 9/11 – when all of my friends back in Rhode Island had considered airlifting themselves down into the city in order to extract me from the madness – Betsy decided that I shouldn’t have to go it alone. So she gave me a freakin’ care package the next time I saw her – a delicate gift bag, with tissue paper emanating from it in a girlie type manner … I opened it carefully – got one glimpse of Checkerboard – lying in a bed of tissue paper – and nearly LOST it. I have had him ever since – but I think if one of my friends was in dire need I would have to pass Checkerboard along (and you know what, I am now thinking of the radiator that smashed Mere’s toe … and Beth’s MS … perhaps you two could have used a Checkerboard gift bag at that time?) My bad. I promise not to HOARD Checkerboard Bep to myself in the future. In tough times, we all could use a Checkerboard.