Mara stepped onto the platform leading onto the plane. She was excited, but nervous. She hadn't seen Jack for ages, would he remember her? Or would he have forgotten her after meeting Hawaiian kids? She hoped not. Jack had been her best friend since kindergarten. At least Mara knew she would never forget Jack, or meeting him.
Kindergarten seemed a scary place. To make matters worse, it had been a storming. Mara had held on to her mother, not wanting to be left alone. But calm Jack had walked right up. "Hi! I'm Jack! Who are you?" Mara shied away. "Want to play with my horses?" Mara looked at the toy figurines held by the boy. "Okay," she whispered.
Jack and Mara became inseparable. At the request of their parents, they were always in the same class. They partnered together for the science fair and final projects, as well as sat by each other at lunch, on the bus, and in class.
Things seemed well for the two. But then, the unimaginable happened. Jack was moving to the farthest of places: Hawaii.
The day Jack left, Mara sat in her room, mourning the departure of her friend. Someday, she would go to Hawaii to see Jack, no matter how long it took. Finally she got her chance. Her grandparents were taking a trip there, and had invited Mara. She would have free time to do whatever she felt like, including finding Jack. She had his address from when she mailed him letters, to which he never replied. Mara hoped he still lived there.
Mara boarded the plane. For hours it flew, and for hours she read her book and listened to her ipod. At last, she arrived. Her grandparents gave her money to hail a cab. They knew how important Jack was to her.
It took a while for the driver to find the house, but he eventually did. She got out of the taxi, and looked around. Then suddenly, a tall, freckled redhead charged out from behind the house, carrying a football. Jack.
Mara gasped. He looked different, but knew it was he. The telltale hair proved it. Jack stopped short. "Mara?" he asked incredulously. She nodded. It was like kindergarten all over again. But she knew. She knew that Jack was still her best friend, and would be forever.
