Sally and Meghan - Gestures - Kathy

 Sally and Meghan

Gestures

Kathy Heim

Sally and Meghan became best friends when their families vacationed on the shores of Lake Erie.  Sally came from a suburb in Detroit, and Meghan lived in Cincinnati.  They were the same age,10, and they loved the same things.  Both could swim like fishes, Both loved to read Nancy Drew mysteries, and both loved walking along the beach looking for abandoned treasurers.  

Sally was the outgoing one. She was fearless and loved to try new things. One day, when the families were boating, she was the first to tag along behind the boat on a massive black innertube. As the boat sped up, making waves in the wake, throwing the tube into the air, Sally squealed and laughed the whole time, her body flailing and her head nodding for more.  She thought nothing of talking to strangers, and making friends quickly. She was the kind of girl who smiled and waved at strangers, and gave little kids a thumbs-up signal to show her friendliness. Everyone wanted to be her friend. 

Meghan, on the other hand, was reserved and cautious. She lowered her head and observed others when introduced to something new.  When it was her turn to hop on the tube, she shook her head no when asked if she wanted to boat to speed up.  Sally’s leaps into the air and splashing down onto the water, seemed scary to her.  Meghan was slow to make friends, often slinking back and reluctantly reaching her hand out to shake hands.  People thought she was shy, but in reality, she was just cautious, waiting for the right time to engage.  Sally was the first friend she warmed up to right away.  The moment they met, Sally smiled at her, grabbed her hand right away, and didn’t give her a chance to back away. From that moment on the girls became inseparable.  

Meghan and Sally loved their time at the shore. They looked for “treasures” along the beach. One would wave to signal a special find and they would inspect each one together.  By the end of the summer, the girls had an odd collection of their finds: abandoned fishing gear, a waterlogged book, and even a Wisconsin license plate!  Sally and Meghan spent many nights leaning their heads back to the night sky to look at stars and make their own constellations.  They’d put their heads together and point up, following stars to share their made-up shapes. 

When summer came to an end, and the families were packed up, it was time to say goodbye.  The girls took each other’s hand, and slowly walked along the shore, both reminiscing over their summer, and making plans for the next one.  When their parents waved for them to return, the girls dug their heels deeper into the sand to slow the way, but when they got back to the driveway, each hugged the other before getting in their cars.  As they drove away, they each forced smiles and waved to each other, one heading north and the other south.  Until next summer…