[the Writing of Kuypers] [JanetKuypers.com] [Bio] [Poems] [Prose]

picking my friends

I had a friend while I was in
high school, her name was Kim,
she was a bit... progressive,
shall we say, a bit outspoken.
She was the type that followed
rock bands with hopes to get
a photograph or sleep with them.
She had bright red hair in a mohawk,
wore dark make-up. I remember once
she came over and dad looked
at her and said, are you going
to sue your hairdresser for what
they did to you?
Well, anyway, I spent a lot of
time with her while I was in
high school, and while I didn’t
chop all of my hair off (I was
too insecure to make a statement
with no meaning at fifteen),
our friendship had an effect on
my well-being. She was often
ill-tempered, and I found myself
getting into arguments with
her, feeling stressed because
of her. And mom saw this, and
long after the fact Sandy told
me that mom considered telling
me I couldn’t see my friend
anymore.
But she decided not to, thinking
I had to make my own decisions
about which friends I had, and
besides, if she told me I couldn’t
see Kim, I’d just want to see
her more anyway.
And yes, I learned, and I ended
the friendship soon after the
trouble began.
Well, I know I’m not supposed to
know about that, but I’ve always
wanted to thank her for the trust,
for letting me make my own
decisions.