I get Chicken Soup For The Soul Daily and love it-for those who don't read this <P>Best Friends<P><BR>"Please stay," I begged. <P>Ann was my best friend, the only other girl in the neighborhood, and I didn't want her to go. <P>She sat on my bed, her blue eyes blank. <P>"I'm bored," she said, slowly twirling her thick red pigtail around her finger. She had come to play a half-hour ago. <P>"Please don't go," I pleaded. "Your mother said you could stay an hour." <P>Ann started to get up, then spotted a pair of miniature Indian moccasins on my bedside table. With their bright-colored beads on buttery leather, the moccasins were my most cherished possession. <P>"I'll stay if you'll give me those," Ann said. <P>I frowned. I couldn't imagine parting with the moccasins. "But Aunt Reba gave them to me," I protested. <P>My aunt had been a beautiful, kind woman. I had really adored her. She was never too busy to spend time with me. We made up silly stories and laughed and laughed. The day she died, I cried under a blanket for hours, unable to believe that I would never see her again. Now, when I cuddled the soft moccasins in my hands, I was filled with fond memories of Aunt Reba. <P>"Come on," prodded Ann. "I'm your best friend." As if she needed to remind me! <P>I don't know what came over me, but more than anything, I wanted someone to play with me. I wanted someone to play with so much that I handed Ann the moccasins! <P>After she stuffed them in her pocket, we rode our bikes up and down the alley a few times. Soon it was time for her to go. Upset at what I had done, I didn't feel like playing anyway. <P>I pleaded "not hungry" that evening and dragged off to bed without dinner. Once up in my room, I began to really miss those moccasins! <P>When my mom had tucked me in and turned out the light, she asked me what was wrong. Through my tears, I told her how I had betrayed Aunt Reba's memory and how ashamed I felt. <P>Mom hugged me warmly, but all she could say was, "Well, I guess you'll have to decide what to do." <P>Her words didn't seem to help. Alone in the dark, I began to think more clearly. Kids’ code says you don't give, then take back. But was it a fair trade? Why did I let Ann toy with my feelings? But most off all, is Ann really my best friend? <P>I decided what I would do. I tossed and turned all night, dreading daylight. <P>At school the next day, I cornered Ann. I took a deep breath and asked for the moccasins. Her eyes narrowed and she stared at me for a long time. <P>Please, I was thinking. Please. <P>"Okay," she said finally, producing the moccasins from her pocket. "I didn't like them anyway." Relief washed over me like a wave. <P>After awhile, Ann and I stopped playing together. I discovered the neighborhood boys weren't half-bad, especially when they asked me to play softball. I even made girlfriends in other neighborhoods. <P>Through the years, I have had other best friends. But I have never again begged for their company. I have come to understand that best friends are people who want to spend time with you, and they ask nothing in return.<P>By Mary Beth Olson <BR>from Chicken Soup for the Kid’s Soul <BR> <BR><P>------------------<BR>*heartache*<BR>"Loyalty Is A Two Way Street"<BR>

heartache,<P>What a great story! <P>I have 2 best friends (I am really blessed). They have been with me through the past 3 years and have never given up on me even when I've been at my worst.<P>They have held me as I've cried and listened to my endless tale of woe and still wanted to be with me.<P>There have been days in which they came to visit and I couldn't open the door because I wanted to be alone. They knew I was inside sulking and still they came back.<P>Hey, maybe they are really angels cause they still want to be with me.<P>Thanks for the story!!!!!

I loved it! How true. I have 6 really close friends and many neighbor friends. They too have listened to me cry and ask so many questions. Even through all of this they have never hung up or closed a door. They are true friends. Once after my H left he said to me that my friends really screwed me up. I told him that my very "best" friend screwed me up. Of course he slammed the phone down because he knew that was true. How true<BR>Nancy

What a beautiful story and so true. I have stopped trying to convince and stopped talking about the relationship all together. I pray only now. If I feel compelled to say something, I write it out and file it away.<BR>My best friend in the world too screwed me. It hurts lots. Monday I was counseling a client and he is ending a relationship with a significant other. As I listened to him set boundarie for himself and say "I want to develop myself. I want to leasrn new things and try knew things. Then when and if this happens again it won't devastate me as much. I wanted to jump up and say Yes, Yes, Yes. But in that situation I couldn't but quietly inside I said, yes hw it is time to get up and feel good about yourself and explore the world.<BR>I will not let my husband ever treat me like that again. I don't know if he will ever come home, or make a new life with the ow. But I will respect myself and grow. <BR>I pray the same for all of you. I want my moccasins back. I would gladly share them with a true friend but never give them away again.

Thanks so much for your responses Taj, MENTAL and hw. I did think it was a wonderful story with a whole lot of truth and thought to it. I rpinted it out for my 9 year old daughter in hopes she too will be able to remember this if ever the remembrance is needed.<P>My H and I are still together although he did cheat and it cost me a hwole lot of happiness. Unfortunately it was someone that I thought was a "best friend" that he cheated with. I have learned and have a whole lot more learning to do. Never again will I allow anyone to be a "best friend" as I ahve seen that it is difficult to put "total" trust into anyone elses true feelings for ones self. If you don't get chicken soup for the soul and want to get it let me know here and I will try and get you a URL. It truly makes me think about life differently and is a wonderful uplifter.<P>Take care all of you and once again-thanks for responding!<P>------------------<BR>*heartache*<BR>"Loyalty Is A Two Way Street"<BR>

I have 2 best friends. One I've had for 25 of my 30 years, and the other for 18 years. We have been thru so much together. They have been with me all thru school, thru my marriage, the birth of our children, and my separation. I honestly don't know what I would have done without them. I have never had to beg for time, they gave it freely. If I called in the middle of the night, that was OK. <BR>Now they really don't understand what I'm going thru but they are there for me to lean on. They don't judge me only listen. And now they pray alot for me. <BR>I thank God every day for them.

Mitzi-<P>You are truly one very lucky gal!!!! I wish I could say the same. Hopefully those two special friends won't ever have to understand what you are going through now. But regardless-you are lucky to have someone to call "special".<P>------------------<BR>*heartache*<BR>"Loyalty Is A Two Way Street"<BR>

It sounds to me like the 2 girls in this story never were " best friends".<BR>Some people just pretend, in order to get what they want.<BR>Pathetic, isn't it?<P>R/A