6.5 years old
So, Matt won't leave me alone. I just can't shake the kid. During class he's always in the seat next to mine. In circle time he sits by me without fail. When we need to find a partner he always asks me first. Most of the time I tell him that I'm going to be partners with Mary Kate and he understands. When Mary Kate ditches me to be with her latest crush I have no choice but to go with my backup partner, Matt.
Matt sits next to me at lunch too. It's ok though because my entire class is packed onto one table so we can all eat together and talk and share. After lunch is recess.
Sometimes we play kickball and sometimes we play princesses, kings and dragons. Sometimes we just swing. Most recesses though, Mary Kate and I run for our lives from the eight boys in our class. We run and laugh, and sometimes we get caught and put into jail or locked up under the climbing dome. I'm pretty sure that Mary Kate gets caught on purpose all the time.
For some reason the one boy who chases me. And only me. For the entire recess. Every. Single. Recess. Is Matt. His legs are so much longer than mine. I'm fast but he catches up. He puts my hand in his hand and he walks me to jail. This is the game that we play every day.
Right now, I'm locked up and I've gotta wait to get out. I notice Mary Kate being man handled by Dylan. He has her shirt, just below the shoulder, in a tight grip. She stomps into jail with me. Giggling. Will there ever be a time when we are not completely outnumbered? Probably not, Mary Kate is fine with this fact and I guess if she's ok with it so am I.
She starts yammering on and on about how when we get out of jail we need to go in opposite directions.
"You head towards the front of the building and I'll go to the swings. We have to split up" she says this plan slightly out of breath.
I check out what we are working with. Dylan, Josh, Zach, Kyle, and Peter. Matt is staring at me. He has jeans on and dusty black and bright green sneakers. He has a navy blue t-shirt with a pocket in front. His face is sweaty and his black, slightly curly hair is standing up in places. He has dirt around one eye from rubbing his dirty fist in it. He's Just waiting, like a cat for his mouse to escape. Game on.
I run. I run so fast I'm not sure I can stop. My long brown hair is flapping in the wind behind me. I look back and he's right on my heels. I turn back around and realize that running toward the front of the building was a bad idea. I'm cornered. I slam on the breaks and catch myself on the building. He's out of breath. Ha! His hands are on his knees. My chest is heaving and my back is pressed against the side of the building. He stands up straight. A full head taller than me and takes a step closer.
"Wanna be my best friend?"
"Ok."
Wait. What?