A Funeral For A Dear Friend
I lost her. I lost her to death. She was someone who I admired. And she admired me, too. She was someone who understood me. Someone who…loved me. Her name? Sunset Shimmer.
She was the nicest person I knew, and I was the nicest person I knew. In fact, to tell you the truth, she was my best friend.
Here was how me met. It was a weekend in April. The trees were just budding, the flowers were blooming, and the air was warm and fresh. I was taking a walk around the block of where my home was. (I lived at 357 West Blue Avenue, by the way.) I often take walks in order to clear my mind and take in some fresh air. Anyway, while I was on my walk, I wasn’t looking where I was going and suddenly bumped right into someone. I honestly didn’t know who it was until I looked at the person right in front of me. It was a young, teenage girl with red and yellow hair, and bright turquoise eyes. She was wearing a black leather jacket, light blue jeans and a baby blue dress with golden ruffles, and a pair of high-heeled boots that matched her jacket.
“I’m sorry. I didn’t see you there,” she said.
“No, that’s all right,” I replied, understandingly. “I had my head in the clouds, as well.”
“Well, I guess it happens to all of us, right?” she laughed. I never met a girl that beautiful and with that sense of humor.
I looked into those two sparkling eyes of hers.
“You don’t look familiar,” I said, squinting. “Are you new?”
“Uh, not really. I’ve been here for about as long as I remember.”
“Oh, okay, then. But you still look new to me.”
Then, I helped her back up, since she was sitting on the sidewalk on account of the impact made by us bumping into each other earlier.
“So, if you don’t mind me asking, what’s your name?”
“Oh, sorry. My name is Sunset Shimmer. And what’s yours?”
“Mine is Jonathan Jackson,” I replied.
“Jonathan, huh?” Sunset asked, fascinated. “That’s a nice name.”
“It is, indeed,” I remarked.“ In fact, did you know that my first name means ‘God Has Given’?”
“No, I didn’t,” Sunset answered. She seemed more fascinated. “How did you know about that?”
“Well, I searched it on babynames.com, and that’s what came up.”
“Wow. You must be very proud of yourself.”
“Why, yes. Thank you.” I thanked her for her nice compliment.
“You’re welcome, Jonathan. It seems as though God has literally given us someone with great manners, fascinating facts about himself, and is basically very nice”
“Aw, shucks." I started blushing. But I tried to hide it, because I always get embarrassed whenever I blushed.
"So, your name is Sunset, right?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Yes, that’s right. Sunset Shimmer.”
“Okay, then. I just wanted to get that right. I’m not that very good with names.”
“That’s all right. Most other folks have a hard time remembering names, I’ve heard.”
“Good, then. I guess I’m not the only one.”
“Well, no, I guess not,” Sunset agreed.
“Oh. One more thing, Sunset.”
“What’s that?”
I had one last question before I leave.
“Do you play?”
“Why, yes, I actually do,” Sunset answered. “I play guitar. In fact, the guitar is my favorite instrument.”
“I see. Well, I play drums. And the drums are my passion instrument. In fact, any percussion instrument I can play.
You give me any percussion instrument, and I’ll play it.”
“Oh, I see. Any of them?”
“Any, honest.”
“Xylophone?”
“Yes.”
“Bass drum and snare drum?”
“Yes and yes.”
“Timpani?”
“Yep.”
“Gong? Tambourine? Triangle?”
“Yes, definitely, and absolutely.”
“Wow!”
“I know, right? Hey, you know what? Maybe we can be a band!”
“Hey, you might be on to something there, Jonathan. But we need more people than just a guitarist and a drummer.”
“Yeah, you’re right, Sunset,” I agreed. “I mean, how would a guitar and drums sound on record?"
"I know, right?"
"So, we’re going to need a bass player and a singer, as well, to make the music sound a lot more interesting”
“Well, I can sing,” Sunset told me.
“Really?”
“Of course. ”Then she started singing.
“Like a phoenix burning bright
In the sky,
I’ll show there’s another side to me
You can’t deny.
I may not know what the future holds,
But hear me when I say
That my past does not define me
‘Cause my past is not today.”
“Wow, Sunset,” I exclaimed.“ That’s a wonderful voice you have. I love it.”
“Thanks, Jonathan. That was so nice of you to say to me. That was an upcoming song I’m working on. It's called 'My Past Is Not Today'. I haven't written the lyrics for the verses, yet, but I'm working on it.
Suddenly, Sunset changed her emotion from positive to dejected.
"I hope that it’ll be any good, though.”
She sounded as though her songs have failed. And although I haven't heard any of them, I'm sure that's the first thing that came to my mind. I felt so sympathetic that I grabbed her hands.
"Now, Sunset," I said. Whatever song we’re writing, I’m sure it will be great.”
“You’re right, Jonathan. I shouldn’t worry about my music.”
“That’s it,” I said. “Trust me. You’ll thank me when that song gets to Number 1 in the Top 40 hits.”
I had to admit. Those words I said to Sunset that day were very comforting. It even made me feel good, too. In fact, we both smiled as we looked into each other’s eyes. I loved how Sunset's eyes twinkled in the sunlight. They were like tiny stars in her corneas.
This staring went on for about seven minutes, and it was getting kind of awkward rather quickly. It was only after seven minutes that I broke the silence, looked away from Sunset’s beautifully sparkling eyes, and glanced at my watch. It said 3:37.
“All right, Sunset. Enough chitchat. I’ve got a driving lesson with my dad.”
“Oh, okay,” Sunset replied. “I’d better get going, too. I’ve got homework to do. I have to read a chapter on the First World War.”
“Okay, then. See you later, Sunset.”
“Catch ya later, Jonathan.”
And with that, we parted ways.
