“Bound” to be Best of Friends
2nd Place Stuckey Essay Contest Winner
Kristy B. Bass
Blair Oaks R-II High School
Hey you! Why are you sitting all alone? I have seen you hanging around this place and I know that you have seen me too. Don’t deny it. You’ve given me the once over and decided that I appear to be unbelievably boring and you don’t want to waste your time getting to know me. Well, let me tell you that I have a lot to offer if you would just stop ignoring me. Come on and give me a chance. Take a risk. What do you have to lose? It won’t cost you anything to spend some time with me, and I will guarantee that you will be a much better person for having made the effort. It is quite probable that you might find that I am the friend that you have been looking for all of your life. You know what they say – you can’t judge a book by its cover. Come, have a seat and let me show you what I have to offer. I am sure that when all is said and done that we are “bound” to be best friends.
Let me tell you a little about one person who finds me to be a fascinating companion. Her name is Kristy Breana Bass. I’m certain that you have seen her around too. You probably did not give her a second glance either. When Kristy and I found each other she was in need of a sense of escape from the pain and pressures of her life. She was only about twelve years old and was very bored and dissatisfied with her current circumstances. Her free time consisted of just watching the dull television and other tedious, mind-numbing activities. She had worked herself into such an unsatisfied rut that she was on the verge of depression. It was then that Kristy decided that I might be able to give her exactly what she needed, so she decided to give our relationship a try. In a very short time we became almost inseparable. We would spend hours and hours together, ignoring reality and going to the world that she had only dreamed of. Oh, the crazy adventures we shared! We have taken countless fantastic vacations over the years that will always be cherished and remembered.
Together Kristy and I traveled to places in which she had never been before. Our very first stop was Hogwarts where I introduced her to Harry Potter, Ron, and Hermione. This wondrous tale of a young man trying to find his place in a magical world full of prejudices and conflict immediately drew Kristy into Harry’s wonderful world. Harry helped Kristy see that there is mystery and magic all around her. He also taught her some of the morals that she now holds dear, like honesty, bravery, and loyalty. We have returned to visit Harry Potter often over the years, and Kristy never tires of Harry’s display of his wizardly spells and incantations.
After traveling through the world of wizards, Kristy wanted to experience more worlds of fantasy. So I told her about this place called the Middle Earth. I explained to her that this was where the incredible characters and adventures could be found, and she agreed to come along. The Middle Earth was breathtaking, and we found excitement around every corner. Frodo and the rest of the fellowship showed us around the shire, the Two Towers, and Middle Earth quickly became one of Kristy’s favorite places in which to escape. For just less than a month we lived among friends like elves, dwarves, and hobbits, and we fought against evil forces like orks and evil wizards. The Lord of the Rings encouraged Kristy to develop her own gift of imagination, and, because of this, she found a whole new side to herself that she hadn’t known existed.
Having gotten her fill of fantasy, Kristy wanted to try something new. She was absolutely fascinated when I taught her that, with a flick of a wrist, I could whisk her away to the ancient lands of the Bible. She came face to face with Noah, who proclaimed God’s promise of the rainbow after the rain. Also, Moses took her aside and taught her that one must be willing to lead others and to stand up against incredible odds. And, most importantly, the Bible brought Jesus Christ into Kristy’s life. He gently touched Kristy’s heart and deepened her faith in God and all His teachings. This experience made her much more satisfied and content that she had ever been before. For the first time in her life, she was able to find an inner peace and tranquility. There was so much more to learn and after completing her journey through the Bible we decided to go take several shorter trips closer to home.
Our choice of destinations turned to the homes of classic novel characters. I showed her where the owner of The Scarlet Letter resided. She particularly enjoyed hearing the tale of The Scarlet Letter because it showed how a brave young woman survived the hatred and scorn of her society while retaining loyalty to her lover by keeping their secret. Encountering Algernon and his friend in a lab and watching his trials and tribulations and ultimately his death made Kristy cry over the tragedy of it. Empathy for those who struggle against prejudices because of their handicaps caused Kristy to start thinking more about the plight of others rather than wallow in her own self-pity.
When Kristy got tired of her long trek I encouraged her to stop and immerse herself in reading a selection of plays. I knew that she would understand the satirical undertones in the plots. Her absolute favorite playwriter was Shakespeare, so I showed her various different plays that he had written. Hamlet and the Taming of the Shrew captivated her and she appreciated the dry, sarcastic humor that was sprinkled throughout both.
Kristy was like a sponge soaking in all the new unexpected thrills and knowledge that she acquired by becoming better acquainted with me as my traveling companion. She developed a fuller understanding of what she had been missing by not getting to know me sooner. She was always ready to go wherever I might choose to take her. I realize that it sounds like I am full of myself, but Kristy will contest to the fact that when she hooked up with me her life became full and much more gratifying.
I became a link to a world of fact and fiction, travel, important people (past and present) and knowledge beyond measure. With me by her side Kristy has become far more confident. She is an intellectually stimulating speaker who has a very unique sense of wit and humor. Together, we have pushed beyond the limits that Kristy had put upon herself regarding what she is capable of doing in her education and her career. Wouldn’t you like to have such a friend?
Oh, how rude of me! I forgot to give you my name; I am called Literature. You can find me in local libraries, bookstores, online, and you can also find over two hundred of me stacked on the shelves, floor, and desk of Kristy’s room. You can recognize me by the hardback and paperback covers that I proudly wear, and the off-white pages that fill me. I know that if you just pick me up and give me a try, I am “bound” to become your best friend.