Missy and Me: the story of a new friend*

On Quinn’s first day at her new school, she made a friend in the park. The friend is Mary. The Mom is Missy. We played, and then we all walked over to school together across the street. Missy is warm and open and honest. She is stick thin with a giant chest, but she seems simple and peaceful. She is open about her weaknesses and shares her feelings freely. She does not care for Mary’s dad. She is 37. She is sad because she wants another baby, but she does not have a boyfriend. She doesn’t live in the school’s strict boundaries (Shh, don’t tell). She gets $41 a week in child support. One day when Kenna said she liked her My Little Pony key chain, Missy took it off her keys and gave it to her as a gift without skipping a beat. She is a server at a bar. She has a collection of round tokens that have words on the back that she told Quinn she carries around some times. She moved into a new apartment last week. She now pays, $545 a month. She has platinum blonde short hair and the most beautiful tattoos I have ever seen draped around her shoulder and leg. I noticed all of this, but I was not looking for a friend. We’ve known each other for a week. Today she gave me a hug when I came to pick up Quinn, and I could tell she had missed seeing me when I had someone else drop off Quinn earlier in the day. I was however slightly, only slightly, jealous when a lot of the other mom’s were also friends with Missy. But again, I was not looking for a friend.

Today, Missy was telling me that she likes to take Mary to the store up the road to paint pottery. I was thinking. “That is so expensive, and I am never taking my kid to do that ever.” Then we were talking all together by the car, and Mary showed Quinn her pottery. It was pretty awesome. A toucan painted perfectly like a toucan by a 5 year old. I loved it. Missy said we should all go some time. I avoided the invite by saying to Quinn, “That looks so fun. Let’s start saving our pennies so someday we can do that.” Missy said, “I was shocked it was not expensive. But I would totally help you with that.” What? She just said that. She just said that she would help me with that. What is not to love about this super loving person? I love her! My stroller costs $400, and I was just complaining about how my iPhone’s not working so great. Her child support is $41, and she is willing to buy my family some pottery? That’s just a nice person.

Make me an appointment; pottery’s on me. I got me a new, awesome friend.

 *names have been changed to protect the innocent.