(prompt: 'work' May 21, 2021)

After 70 years... imagine that.

Two small girls who fell in 'like' at first sight,

no hardship, that one, no 'homework' required in the 'schoolie' sense...

no work at all to begin a friendship so long, so dear.

Just countless hours spent together at each other's 'nests',

being loved and cosseted and fussed over by those clucky mother hens,

our 'other' Mums, our 'second' Mums.

How many summery mornings did we skip back to my home,

hand in hand,

taking my big dog Kimmy back where he belonged,

because he'd followed me to school... again!

And of course, my second best friend

(after my Ted Bear Esq., who'd been hanging around since I was two and he was new),

yes, my second best friend, Judy, would HAVE to come with me.

Can't remember how we swung that one, but it worked... more than a few times!

(Maybe Judy's great baby-blue eyes melted hearts?)

Father Time kept ticking, and we were young ladies

(or so we told ourselves... often, as if it might just come true!)

And we were Squash players extraordinaire;

Spending practice nights and game nights,

at each other's 'home from home'; to parents' relief and delight.

Walking home when the bus was tardy,

cheeky little Squash dresses,but with racquets to protect us,

and noses held high in our 'snootiest' best,

deterring unwelcome advances by the odd carload of boys.

It worked... in those faraway days!

Some weddings and some motherhood shared,

as year after year, through every decade,

lives wove in and out and the caring still stayed;

no chance of a fade.

When age took its toll on health, as it does,

No faltering of feeling, or caring, or love.

Father Time kept ticking, until we arrived at today.

We knew the day would come when we'd have to pay.

Time to say 'Goodbye' now??

Not us. No way.

Someone got that wrong.

We're 100% committed to a lengthy stay—

at the Rainbow Bridge, don't you know?

SO many furries gone ahead, waiting to greet us,

All brand new, and in their prime...

And so will we be, you and me!

Hey? Dear old friend, Judy!?!

Why wouldn't it be so?