The Originals

I got a phone call this morning that brought me to tears.

Wow, what can I say. That darn Facebook has its faults, but bottomline……it ain’t nothing but the truth. A few months ago, one of my childhood girlfriends, “E”, got in touch with me through FB. I was quite surprised for a number of reasons, but when I saw the message with her name on it I screamed. A few weeks after that, we went Facebooking for our other childhood girlfriends (I call us the Originals which could offend some of the others but hey….just being honest--lol) and was able to find two of the other originals, “P” and “C”. Unfortunately, we couldn’t find the last original, “T”, but we still did our catch-up thing by email and then by phone.

Chatting with the girls, even though we were less one, was such a delight. We hadn’t seen or spoken to each other in years. But we’re actually right on target cause God’s timing is impeccable. We were about 10 years old when we all started moving out of the neighborhood and going our separate ways. At 20 we all got together for “E’s” son’s birth. And at 30 for “P’s” baby shower. Next year we’ll be turning 40, so we’re right on target.

I think it was the fall of 1974 when I moved from New York to Maryland. My great-grandmother had a sister who lived in DC and a brother in MD. Coming from Jamaica, NY I think my great-grandmother made a wise choice in opting to reside in Maryland near her brother. With my great-grandfather, my mother, and my oldest sister in tow we were excited about our new transition to a place we luuuuved to visit.

I was the first of the Originals on the scene---lol. The GW scene in Seat Pleasant. And the oldest of all by 2 months I might add—lol. This says a lot about my personality and character---lol. I was almost 5 years old and in the kindergarten when we moved there. I remember it was cold out when we moved in. Shortly, after I moved in, “T” moved in the very next building with her five brothers and sisters, and mom and step dad. The way I always remember “T” is being cool, calm and laid back. She was the “T-Boz” of the group. Very much in control. Both of our buildings were located in the “court”. The court was comprised of three buildings in a U shape in the middle of the neighborhood. The court was the most popular section and was the best buildings out of the 11 that made up the small, quaint apartment complex.

In the summer that me and “T” were going to the first grade, “C” moved in “T’s” building with her mother and grandmother. “C” was very sweet and cheery. If you’d relate us to the Sex and the City girls, “C” would be Charlotte hands down. “C” was an only child and looked at every situation through rose-colored glasses. Somehow I don’t remember exactly when “P” came on the scene, but it had to be when me, “T”, and “C” were in the first grade. “P” was a year younger, so we adopted her as our little sister; more because of her petite size rather than her age. “P” moved into my building with her parents and two older brothers. She was feisty. And spoke her mind with confidence. Though younger, there ain’t no originals without “Lil P”.

Then when me, “T”, and “C” were in the second grade, “E” moved in “T” and “C’s” building with her mother and younger brother. Oh, “E” made an entrance in our neighborhood. We knew exactly when she arrived on the scene. She actually held up our school bus on her first day of school because…………that’s “E”—lol. If you think of UPN Girlfriends, “E” would be Toni. You can either find her sitting on top of the world or stretched out under it. She is to the extreme. Always felt like she had to take on the entire world to prove a point---lol.

In 1977, the Originals were officially formed. Five different personalities that fit perfectly like 5 fingers in a leather glove. We were in the second grade (“P” in the first grade). Though we had tons of other friends and associates in the neighborhood, there was something about our bond that was unbreakable. We’ve talked about this over the years, but I just need to express it today that if you look up the word “girlfriends” in the dictionary you would see our photos. We learned the value of friendship from an early age. No pretentiousness, no fighting, no backstabbing…..none of that.

If there was a problem with one, there was a problem with all. All of our mothers were struggling, some even on welfare, and trying to make ends meet. We all got free lunch and were quite proud of it. Some, if not all, of our mothers were into smoking “herb” or drinking, but we dealt with it. And proud to say that we all turned out to be decent, responsible chicks. Only two of us had a relationship with our fathers and we milked both of them as if they were all of our daddies—lol. And they both stepped into that role with no problem. It was nothing for “C’s” father to pile us all up in his little Toyota and take us to Anacostia Park. We’d be content for hours playing with our Barbie dolls while “daddy” distressed from his unimaginable issues.

Just recently, “E” asked me how we’d get to church all the way up in northwest since nobody’s mother had a car. I reminded her that we’d get on the bus with my great-grandmother. All of us. We have stories amongst stories. Some funny, some sad, some outrageous, and some just plain old unnecessary. But the point is, as “E” points out, it was all pure and innocent, and filled with unconditional love.

I was the first to move from the neighborhood. My great-grandfather had just passed away the year before, and like clockwork my great-grandmother passed a year and some months later. I was 11 years old. And so we ended up moving to Landover with my mother. I remember when I was leaving there was a weird feeling. As much as I hurt, and as much as I loved my girlfriends and knew that I would miss them, I was looking forward to change. Again, this says a lot about my personality today. I looked at it as a new opportunity. The funny thing is that just how we moved into GW, we moved out in that same order. Me first, followed by “T” the next year, and then “C”, “P”, and I believe “E” was the last to leave. Don’t quite remember who was actually last. But we all moved on with our lives.

When we were in the 7th grade, I had my 12th birthday slumber party. The originals and a few others came to my house in Landover and we had a BLASSST. That was the last time we were all together in our childhood. Since that time I’d go over to “T’s” new house during our middle school years, or talk to “E” on the phone, but I lost contact with “C” and “P” totally. Every now and again, we’d bump into someone from the neighborhood and get updates, but rarely. And so we all never stayed close collectively during our teens. “T” and “E” spent a lot of their teenage and young adult years together, and me and “E” spent a good amount of adult years together. And “C” and “P”, well they were the glue out the bunch…….they remain best friends to this day—lol. As I mentioned, the next time we were all together after my slumber party was when we were 20 years old.

Over the years, the five of us have experienced life’s ups and downs. From divorce, to burying a husband, to dealing with deadbeat dad issues, to hanging on to uncertain relationships, to spending umpteen years trying to find a mystery father to heartbreaks to setbacks. Life has knocked each and every one of us down at one point, but I must say…….our triumphs and accomplishments so outweigh the bad. I can’t even begin to name all of our accomplishments, but for five little innocent girls coming from the ‘hood in Seat Pleasant……uuuuhhhhh, God is good. All of us, and I mean all FIVE of us, know the Lord. We’ve all went down five different paths, but we all ended up on this Christian journey.

A few weeks ago, as me, “E”, “P”, and “C” chatted on Facebook, we were trying to set a “reunion” date. But I just felt really undecided without “T”. I mean, yes I want to see my girls, but I want to see ALL of them. I wanted to hear “T’s” memories and laughter. The strong one on the outside, but in our secret circle would cry in a heartbeat. The one who had the most confidence and who all the boys wanted to go with—lol. I wanted to see and hear from “T”. The last we’d heard from “E” through a third-party was that “T” was preparing for a June wedding, in which she was finally marrying her teenage sweetheart. She was also preparing to send her youngest son to Penn State to pursue a professional football career. But that was it. I understand she’d be busy. But I wanted to hear from her. I did get her number and left a message, but no return call. The voice on the phone was clearly not her. If it was indeed the right number she didn’t answer or return the call. I just chalked it up to……she’s either extremely busy or she’s just simply moved on with her life. We all accepted that.

Over the months me and “E” have been talking a lot and realizing how our characters and thoughts about life are derived from our childhood; from our friendship. We both discovered that our friendship then has set the bar and standard for our friendships today. Loyalty is a must. Communication is a must. We’d spend hours upon hours in deep conversation. We’d sit on the merry-go-round at the “piece of a” playground or in the pool and just bond. Even to this day, me and “E” can talk on the phone for hours at a time. Cause our friendships back then had no clock. We were just laughing on the phone that we’d leave the house at 9am and not return until 9pm. We NEVER tired of each other. We’d go to school together, all be in the same class together, go out to recess and play double dutch together with our little Palmer Park friends, and come home and play kickball together til it was time to go to bed. To this day……strong communication is extremely important in all my relationships.

And though ride or die chicks (cause when you offended one, you offended all—lol), our friendship wasn’t limited to going-along-to-get-along. Nope. If one of us was wrong we dealt with it. If one of us started a fight, then you took responsibility for it. But though “mouthy” girls, we were good, wholesome girls and were well liked. We spoke our mind and said what we felt. It showed on our face. There was no way around it. All of us. We disagreed on many instances, but it never broke us apart. And we never fought one another. We got together at whoever’s house and we laid our issues and feelings on the table (I was always the peacemaker—lol). We never felt like we were risking our friendship by doing so. We were free to be real with one another. No competitiveness and no pretentiousness. What you saw was what you got. Period. And at 7 and 8 years old we understood our value and our worth to one another. There was a bully in the neighborhood who tried to play us against each other, but even in that, we remained resilient and committed to one another. As I said, even though others came along and many friendships were formed amongst us in that neighborhood, the “originals” relationship spoke volumes.

Yesterday we received an email from “P”. We’re still trying to put together our reunion with at least the four of us originals, as well as with other girlfriends from the neighborhood. It would be good to see those who we’ve reconnected with, thanks to “P”. We had hoped to get together on short notice this past Saturday at a basketball tournament with the GW and Seat Pleasant boys, in our old neighborhood. It would have been the perfect reunion, but more than enough of us had previous plans. So “P” will probably plan something at her house in the near future.

As I was coming out of the gym this morning, I was just thanking God for another day. It was just a special feeling in the air. I had just finished working out and was getting in my car when a 202 number came up on my caller ID. When my phone buzzed it startled me because uuummm.......I don’t usually get phone calls at 6am-ish--lol. But when I answered it was a very perky voice that began talking to me as if we were finishing a conversation from last night. For a good 30 seconds I answered her normal, basic questions until finally I said…………….WHO IS THIS???????? In a very calm voice that was obviously smiling, she said…… “girl, this is “T”. I screamed so loud as tears began falling. She was overjoyed as well. We talked on the phone for a good half hour, and then I called “E”. And we talked for another half hour. I totally lost track of time. I was late for work, and had to end up driving to the metro cause I missed my bus. But it was all worth it.

A friend loves at all times……. --Proverbs 17:17