Every morning for two years Michelle and I walked to school together. On Saturdays, we would hang out at my home or Michelle’s home. On some weekends we had sleepovers and others days we hung out at the corner candy store. Pickles and a bag of Doritos were our favorite. Riding our bikes around our neighborhood, we were just a couple of happy and playful nine year olds having fun. Best friends are what our matching silver bracelets read.

Michelle and her mother began to prepare for Michelle’s 10th birthday party. I was the first to be invited to the slumber party, of course that’s the advantage of being the Birthday girl’s best friend.  The day of the party I was one of the first guests to arrive. Games, prizes, dancing and food, I couldn’t wait! Once the other guest arrived, who were unfamiliar faces, it never came to my attention that I was the only Mexican girl at Michelle’s party. And I would’ve never thought of it in a bad way, until a girl about my own age said, " Who invited that Mexican girl?" Next thing I knew all eyes were on me. I stood in the middle of the room, nervous and confused. No response came out of my mouth. This was my first experience of a racial remark.

Seconds later, which felt like minutes later, Michelle who came to my rescue. Informed everybody know who I was, "Everybody this is my best friend, Luisa." She’s your friend? Whispered in the air. What did this mean? I didn’t think there was a problem with my presence at the party and I didn’t care that I was another shade lighter then all the other girls. I ended up faking a sickness and going home early than sleeping over. As mom picked me up and put me in the car, I felt safe once she held me in her arms.

As the week went on, I decided to change my daily routine and have mom drop me off at school, rather than walking with Michelle. The truth was I was very angry inside with Michelle and mostly with her friends. Huh, who were they to judge me? Honestly, I really did miss Michelle’s companionship and laughter’s, but I didn’t know how to come forward with this anger that I had inside me.

As years went on, I moved on to other obstacles in my life and so did my childhood best friend Michelle. I always thought we would grow up together and share the same things in life, just like sisters. But I was wrong I attended a different High School and Michelle attended another. We still were neighbors for the longest, but we kept out of each other’s lives, like complete strangers. I do believe our friendship floated away like thin air, ever since her 10th Birthday party.

After High School Michelle moved to Tucson to attend U of A for school. Though we ran into each other several times, I never had the opportunity to ask her, how she’s doing or what ever happened to our friendship. I was too worried that she would ignore my presence or snap at me for asking such foolish questions. Why had Michelle’s family and my family been such close friends for so long and our friendship lasted for a short period. When I look back I know our friendship could’ve been stronger now than ever, but my stubbornness played a big role in this dilemma of who said what and who should hang out with who. Black, white or Latino it shouldn’t matter.

As two winters passed us by, I remember being at the movie theater with my good friend Eva. I distinguished a familiar voice, as I turned around, there behind me stood Michelle. We both looked at each other and waived, as we both approached one another. Michelle approached me with a hug. We talked, laughed, and exchanged phone numbers. I was so happy to see Michelle and this time I wasn’t going to let her go without asking what ever happened to our  close relationship. It happened to be that Michelle was moving back home and going to school here in Phoenix.

Fifteen years later passed since the incident at Michelle’s sleep over. I was young and unaware of racial remarks and prejudice. My parent’s never talked about the word ‘prejudice’ as a young child, thinking I wouldn’t face any sort of racial tension as a child. What I did fear was not being accepted and that maybe my best friend Michelle would forget about laughter and our future plans we were suppose to share. As a young woman, I have yet to encounter many changes and obstacles in my life. But being strong-minded and an educated woman is a start. We must learn to respect one another, no matter what race we are and educate our future children, so they will learn to know and respect one another’s culture.

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