Aly-Kat and I

Aly and I are best friends. She’s there for me and I’m there for her. We’re soul sisters forever. Soul sisters are best friends that are so close, they are just like sisters.

Aly and I make promises to each other. If either of us ever died, our belongings would go to the other. We’ve even each written wills stating that exactly. At school, we would hold things, wait for, go with, and write to each other. We’ve even made plans to go to college and live with each other!

We’ve had the best of times; we’ve had the worst of times. Most of my fondest memories have to do with crazy things Aly and I have done together.

One of the memories is just being together. I think the best memory I’ve ever had was a Sunday. Christina was having a party to celebrate the end of our 8th grade year. The party was near Buffalo at a house by the Mississippi River. Aly, Chrissy, Chrissy’s sister Rochelle, and I were there and hung out. When it was time to go, Aly wondered if she could go with me. She called her aunt/mom on my mom’s cell phone and, thankfully, because we didn’t have school the next day, she was allowed to go with me.

We went to my uncle’s house because he was having a cookout (Aly’s aunt/mom knew about it) and Aly and I were super happy we’d get to hangout a lot.

We went to my uncle’s backyard and sat on the porch swing. Swinging back-and-forth in the dark, cool night, we played what we call “Truth or Truth”. Truth or Truth is basically truth or dare, but just asking each other unlimited questions. We asked each other questions such as “What would you do if I ever committed suicide?”, “What would you do if I ever got pregnant at an early age?”, “What would you do if I was kidnapped?”, and “What would you do if I was murdered?”

That night, we learned so much about each other. I honestly think that was the best night of my life.

I’ve known Aly since she came to Sacred Heart in 5th grade. We’ve been friends ever since. Together, we’ve survived crushes, the merging of schools, our first day at All Saints, and our 8th grade graduation. Chrissy was with us, of course, and then added to our dynamic group was Kara, who joined All Saints in our 8th grade year in February. We were the Fantastic Four! Occasionally fighting, we were always there for each other. Aly, dorky, yet outgoing and incredibly fun, Kara, silent but deadly in a fun way, Chrissy, fun-loving and a music lover, and me, shy yet fun and totally unique.

Aly and her family lived in an apartment. She was only one block away from my house. Spring of our 7th grade year, they moved from the apartment to a house a few blocks away from mine. Currently, she lives in a house on 58th street.

Aly isn’t quite the pretty one. She knows that, and yet, she doesn’t care. She wears glasses and has short, blond hair. She, unfortunately, has acne all over her face and doesn’t wear makeup. But her fun-loving spirit makes up for the lack of beauty. I know I’ll never meet a person as outgoing, fun, and unique as my Aly-Kat.

Aly has two pets, a dog named Hubble and a cat named Nala. Currently, she’s watching one of her aunt’s cats.

Aly and I had nicknames. Hers were all over the place. From Benji (a guy in Good Charlotte that she liked) to Tyler (a guy at school that she liked) to Kamikaze Kitty (KK for short), to, finally, Aly-Kat (chosen by me).

My nicknames were constantly changing. I started out with TJ (my initials), but went to Ryan (because I liked Ryan Cabrera), to Billy (a guy in Good Charlotte that I liked), to Ash (Ashlee Simpson’s Secret Twin-Ashlee’s Twin-Ash), to Dodger (a character in CryWolf, my favorite movie), to CryWolf14 (from the movie and my age), back to Ash, then to Noodle (my favorite band member in Gorillaz), and finally combining “Ash” and “Noodle” to Ashy Noodle, changing the spelling to aShY nOoDlE finishing with the current spelling, a$hY nOoDlE.

Our group of four also contained 7th graders: Kathleen aka Lenny, Ashley aka Devil’s Daughter, and Katy.

But there was one thing Aly-Kat and I didn’t survive together: Our first day of high school. We planned on going to Assumption together. I knew I was and her aunt/mom was sending her too. We were SO excited. But soon after school ended, Aly gave me the depressing news.

It was at a softball game. Aly, Ashley, and I all played for St. Paul’s in the Dad’s Club league. While we were warming-up, she dropped the bomb. My heart sank and I knew I would be alone those four long, cold years of high school.

Everyday then and everyday still, I pray to God that Aly will be here with me, that my dad could win the lottery so that we can pay for her to be with me. The best day of my life will be the day she comes to be with me at Assumption.

Occasionally, I hear about what mean things her aunt/mom is doing and how unfair she is, or how much her life sucks. Of course, I give her my sympathy. I make her feel better, and vice-versa.

Aly has two sisters named Katie and Maddie. Her Aunt Peggy adopted her two years ago and her cousin Hannah became her sister. This May, her baby cousin/sister Sophie will turn two years old. Sophie is incredibly fun and so cute!

Aly’s mom and dad are still a mystery to me, even after four years of knowing her. My impression is that they don’t/can’t/wont keep her, so she lived with her grandma. That’s where she was living when I met her in 5th grade. But during that year, her Aunt took her into her house. In 7th grade, Aly was officially adopted by her aunt. Early May of that year, Sophie was born.

Aly-Kat and I will always be friends. We call each other when we can and love to spend the night at the other’s house. Aly and I are best friends forever and will always be that way.