1. In kindergarten, your idea of a good friend was the person
who let you have the red crayon when all that was left was the
ugly black one.
2. In first grade, your idea of a good friend was the person
who went to the bathroom with you and held your hand as you
walked through the scary halls.
3. In second grade, your idea of a good friend was the person
who helped you stand up to the class bully.
4. In third grade, your idea of a good friend was the person
who shared their lunch with you when you forgot yours on the
bus.
5. In fourth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person
who was willing to switch square dancing partners in gym so you wouldn't
have to be stuck do-si-do-ing with Nasty Nicky or Smelly Susan.
6. In fifth grade, your idea of a friend was the person
who saved a seat on the back of the bus for you.
7. In sixth grade, your idea of a friend was the person who
went up to Nick or Susan, your new crush, and asked them to dance with
you, so that if they said no you wouldn't have to be embarrassed.
8. In seventh grade, your idea of a friend was the person who
let you copy the social studies homework from the night before that you
had forgotten.
9. In eighth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who
helped you pack up your stuffed animals and old baseball cards
so that your room would be a "high schooler's" room, but didn't
laugh at you when you finished and broke out into tears.
10. In ninth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who
went to that "cool" party thrown by a senior so you wouldn't wind up
being the only freshman there.
11. In tenth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who
changed their schedule so you would have someone to sit with
at lunch.
12. In eleventh grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who gave
you rides in their new car, convinced your parents that you shouldn't be
grounded, consoled you when you broke up with Nick or Susan, and found
you a date to the prom.
13. In twelfth grade, your idea of a good friend was the person who helped
you pick out a college, assured you that you would get into that college,
helped you deal with your parents who were having a hard time adjusting to
the idea of letting you go...
14. At graduation your idea of a good friend was the person who was crying
on the inside but managed the biggest smile one could give as they
congratulated you.
15. Now, your idea of a good friend is still the person who gives you
the better of the two choices, holds your hand when you're scared, helps
you fight off those who try to take advantage of you, thinks of you at
times when you are not there, reminds you of what you have forgotten,
helps you put the past behind you but understands when you need
to hold on to it a little longer, stays with you so that you have
confidence, goes out of their way to make time for you, helps you clear up
your mistakes, helps you deal with pressure from others, smiles for you when
they are sad, helps you become a better person, and most importantly loves you!