The Foreordained Friendship

Two men stood outside of a pharmacy in Brielle, NJ, having friendly chit-chat. Philip, a banker, and Lou, a pharmacist. Two young boys somewhat hid behind their father's legs. As the adult men spoke, the boys stayed silent. It was then that the conversation had turned to the boys- "and this is my son John," Philip said. "And this is my son Darren," replied Lou. The two young boys to shy to even look at each other, waved rather boorishly at each other. Whispering a very shy, "hello." Philip breaking the silence, said, "Well, it was a real pleasure speaking with you today, Lou!" "The pleasure was all mine, Phil! Say goodbye to John and Phil, Darren." Another whisper of "bye" with a final wave came from the boys. No one took it as anything but that; they parted ways. 

Summer had made its way. It was the summer of Nineteen Eighty-Two. On any given day, you would have found John at the beach riding in waves on his Boogie board all day. But today, he found himself at home with not much to do. The weather was far too beautiful to have stayed inside! John found himself outside the entire day. Playing, swinging, riding his bike, playing in the dirt, kids stuff! John ran and skipped up and down his driveway. When a boy came walking along the road on John's side of the road at that time. John paid no mind; he went on hoping and skipping along. That's when that boy walking noticed a familiar face. "Hey, aren't you that kid I met when our dad's were talking," asked Darren. "Yeah! I am," John replied! "What's your name again?" asked Darren. "My name is John! What was yours again?" asked John. "Darren. Darren Debari. This whole time I had no idea I didn't live that far away from you! I didn't know that! It's pretty cool that were close to each other!" Darren spoke with excitement." "What school do you go to?" Darren asked. "Well, my parents transferred me to this new school. It's called St. Dominics or something?" "WHAT! REALLY?" Darren exclaimed. "That's my school too! How cool is that?!?" "Wow, that's so awesome," Darren continued. "Hey, since we live so close to each other, do you want to start hanging out and being friends?" "YEA! That sounds so cool!" John replied. 'I hope we get to be in the same classes together," John added. Darren and John spent the rest of that summer together; they were always together. Going to the beach by day and to the boardwalk at night! Summers were endless; they seemed to last for a lifetime. And it did because we lived it like it was our whole life; those summers, some of the best years of their lives. 

The season drew closer to a close, but it didn't deter the moods of John and Darren. After all, they would be seeing each other in school in only a few days, and the good times could continue! And oh my, did they ever! 

John entered St. Dominics in the Fifth Grade, so John was in new territory, among new people. But that didn't bother him; he'd make friends real easy. And Although Darren and John were not in the same Home Room Class, they had many of the same classes. Only a few classes kept them apart, but they were together more than not.

They right-quick became the closest friends ever. They did everything together, going to school functions, track and field day. John was a terrible break-dancer; he never should have won that dance-off. Participating in the theatrical arts was where they shined! They both were in a Christmas play called "Santa See's A Shrink." There are times when the stars aligned perfectly, and it seemed to happen a lot for Darren and John. The place: the Fifth Grade Dance. It would be the infamous dance that John and Darren would rule. It was completely improvised, off-the-cuff! That's how they liked it. As the DJ spins the next tune, Dire Straits "Money For Nothing," John and Darren emerge backstage. With mics in their hands, they began to sing along. The crowd taking notice screamed, and rushed to the front stage. John and Darren danced and entertained their peers and colleagues; the group went mad. Even their teachers were overcome by the spectacular performance. It was, it really was; magic. There would be pictures of spectacle that made it into the yearbook. 

In class, the two of them would provoke others to trouble and get away with murder. and poor old Sister Clarisima, she would get it the worst. No one ever had reason to suspect what terror lay ahead for St. Dominics. They wouldn't even have pity on the oldest of all the nun's Sister Clarisima. There was nothing to stop from planning the following classroom chaos. It wasn't always about the love to start trouble and create trouble. There was something more significant to their friendship. They were there for each other, thick & thin! 

As they grew up and matured, their friendship took on a whole new meaning, as it should when dealing with adult issues. But, under it all, there was still that playful banter between the two that would make them laugh and keep their lineage of trouble-making. Soon enough, grade school had gone by, then high school, they attended different high schools. They always had the summers, though. They knew exactly where to find each other; Seawatch Beach in Manasquan, NJ. That was their summer stomping ground; they owned that beach and the waves that rolled in with it. 

There were those times when they would go for a few years before they rekindled their friendship. For one reason another, John traveled a lot. He was always trying to get away from Jersey, but sooner or later, he'd find himself right back there! Darren and John would pick right back up without skipping a beat! Like they parted ways. You know how metal gets strengthened? It gets superheated, hammered, then dumped in liquid to cool. Every time that process was done, the metal became stronger. That was John and Darren's friendship; even though there were lengths of time that they traveled their own roads when those roads they traveled merged, their bond became stronger and stronger every time. Through all the ups & downs, the hurts, the pains, it was growth for them. As is the same in life, so can be said for friends. 

Darren would have dreams of his friend when he was far off in another state across the country chasing his dreams of being a musician, and Darren would continue to write scripts, join the theatre, and direct short films. And although this brought about a whole new set of friends for each of them, they never left each other.

Time had passed, lives changed, all those "friends" that had come into both of their lives came and went, except for two; two were still left standing together. Darren and John from then until now, this keystroke I just typed; still the dearest of friends, always. And nothing has ever changed that, nor will ever change it. Because it wasn't something they had ever planned for each other lives! God has placed them there that day, so many years ago.

And from then and into the future, their foreordained friendship would live on. To Darren, my dearest and oldest friend. Thank you, -John.