THE HARRODS AND THE PARKERS GATHERED AT THE PICNIC PARK FOR A FAMILY GET-TOGETHER.

the two families were now closer than ever, all because of their children, tristan and ellie, and the bring-your-mom day in their grade school two years ago. their houses were not too far from each other, just exactly ten minutes away, so each family hosted dinners or barbecues or simply asked the other family to come for tea. tristan and ellie were regular playmates now, not just in school. with their families closer than ever, they too were the same.

ellie was playing hide and seek with tristan when tristan's mother, claire, called out to them.

"tristan, ellie!"

they both ran towards the plaid picnic blanket laid on the grass. they both got their sandwiches wrapped in kitchen paper towels and went inside their tent. they both peeled off the paper and closed their eyes.

"okay, we bite in one, two, three!"

they both bit a part of their sandwiches and tasted it. they always did this when they were offered sandwiches. they never asked their moms what the filling was inside their sandwiches and just bit into it to taste whatever it was.

"ew!"

"wow, ellie this is delicious."

ellie got a sandwich with mayonnaise and a scrambled egg in it while tristan got one with orange marmalade. ellie struggled to gulp down the part she bit. she was never a fan of mayonnaise and tristan knew that very well. his mother, however, didn't. tristan went out of the tent to get a water bottle for her. she drank from the bottle tristan got and opened for her and wiped her mouth with the back of her hand.

"this is so unfair!"

"mhm, this is really good."

tristan continued to devour his sandwich while ellie just sat and watched. it was the first time she picked an ugly tasting sandwich when they did their weird tradition.

"tris.. could i-"

"no."

"but, sharing is cari-"

"this is too good to share, ellie!"

ellie was infuriated at the fact that her best friend didn't want to share. she had always shared her chocolate chip cookies to him, what makes a sandwich any different?

she quickly ran out of the tent, ignoring tristan's calls after her, and sat by the small pond. she pulled her knees to her chest and rocked back and forth. she was not going to cry, no, she just wanted to be alone at the moment. she heard footsteps behind her and she sighed. she knew her best friend all too well and knew what he was going to do.

a half-bitten orange marmalade sandwich suddenly came into view.

"you want some?"

she turned around and saw tristan looking down on her, she stood and hugged him tight.

a best friend weighed way more than a sandwich in importance anyway.