I Remember.....
             I remember the kid next door with whom I grew up, a short and stocky lad
             named Donald Meaux. Did I say stocky? A modern day Pillsbury Dough Boy with
             high top sneakers and knee high-socks is a more accurate description. He has been
             my next door neighbor for more than eighteen years. We met as most children do
             through the friendship of our parents. Our fathers shared cold beers in the evening,
             while our mothers gossiped in the kitchen over tea. Their two diapered infants
             played in the playpen together day in and day out. In this friendship, which was
             similar to that of a married couple, Donald and I had our ups and our downs; yet for
             ten years, we spent day after day together. We often fought, and then we made up
             once the ice cream man came around the corner in his magical truck. But, like most
             good things, the friendship wore away with time.
             I remember Donald as a spoiled, aggravating four year old. Neither of these
             are characteristics that anyone looks for in a lifelong friendship. Yet, characteristics
             like these are not very important to a child of four. At four years old, people hardly
             ever make logical decisions. After all, Donald and I did share a bowl of dog food
             for dessert every now and then. For the first few years, our friendship was flawless.
             We spent day after day together. On the weekends, we took turns sleeping at each
             other’s houses. I used to love sleeping at Don’s house, because we were allowed to
             stay up later there than at my house. Another thing I loved about their house was
             the coveted “midnight snack,” which consisted of either chocolate milk or Fruity
             Pebbles. We kept ourselves awake until midnight, ate our snack, and then went to
             sleep. We remained good, close friends for years.
             As time went on, Don and I started having problems as friends, which was
             quite understandable ...