The Real Story of My Best Friend

"Make new friends but keep the old; one is silver but the other's gold." I remember this poem from Brownies. Ah, Friendship. One of God's richest blessings. Let's have some fun with it. Please answer the following questions. Then, match your answers to the numbers in the story.

1. Name a Profession
2. Name a Restaurant
3. Name an unusual animal
4. Name a type of business
5. Your Name
6. Number 1 – 10
7. Favorite Food
8. A Question You Ask Someone The First Day You meet
9. Another Number 1 – 20
10. Name a City
11. Name Something You Do for Fun
12. Name a Holiday Location
13. Your Best Friend’s Name
14. Another Question You Ask Someone The First Day You Meet
15. Name Something Friends Do Together
16. Name a Well-known Party


Once upon a time there were two women who lived in the same town but did not know each other. One was a single [put number 1]; the other was a married, mother of [put number 6], part owner of a [put number 4]. [put number 5], the [put number 1], usually woke up late, rushed to work after eating a [put number 7], taught until five, then mostly for fun [put number 11] and went to church. Late at night, she wrote romances. [put number 13], the business owner, woke up, got the family ready, went into her office and ran a company. Then, in the evenings, she took care of her two children, husband, and various pets including dogs, cats, horses, mules, chickens, and even a [put number 3]. Here and there, she found time to write romances.

One Friday night both of them wound up in the the Romance Chat Room on the old AOL Romance Boards. There were probably more than twenty wannabee romances authors in that room all talking and dreaming and making friends. To this day, [number 5] and [number 13] don’t remember who asked “[put number 8]?” But, it doesn’t matter because they both said [put number 10].

Huh?

Since they were in a Romance Chat Room, it only made sense for [number 5] to say, “[Put number 14]?” [number 13] understood the question, and she decided to attend the next meeting both because she was writing a romance, because they’d discovered they both liked to [put number 11] and because it would be neat to meet [number 5].

Fast forward [put number 9] years.

[number 5] and [number 13] are best friends. They’ve roomed together at [put number 12]. [number 5] has babysat [number 13’s] twins. [number 13] was in [number 5]’s wedding. Of course she was the Maid of Honor. [number 5] has forced [number 13] to attend a [put number 16] party when [number 13] was tired, grumpy, and lost and had decided to give it up and go home. That night Cathy was to get the local chapter’s Desert Rose Award for being member of the year award. [number 13] was one of the first to know when [number 5] found out she was pregnant. [number 5] has watched [number 13]’s daughter perform in Little Shop of Horrors. [number 5] has watched [number 13’s son play football. [number 5] and [number 13, along with two others, are in a [put number 15] that meets at [put number 2] every two weeks. They’ve done this for seven years.




And now for the real story!
Once upon a time there were two women who lived in the same town but did not know each other. One was a single schoolteacher; the other was a married, mother of two, part owner of a construction company. Pamela, the schoolteacher, usually woke up late, rushed to work after eating a pop tart, taught until five, then mostly for fun played competitive softball and went to church. Late at night, she wrote romances. Cathy, the business owner, woke up, got the family ready, went into her office and ran a company. Then, in the evenings, she took care of her two children, husband, and various pets including dogs, cats, horses, mules, chickens, and even a pig. Here and there, she found time to write romances.

One Friday night both of them wound up in the the Romance Chat Room on the old AOL Romance Boards. There were probably more than twenty wannabee romances authors in that room all talking and dreaming and making friends. To this day, Pam and Cathy don’t remember who asked “Where do you live?” But, it doesn’t matter because they both said Phoenix.

Huh?

Since they were in a Romance Chat Room, it only made sense for Pam to say, “Have you heard of RWA?” Cathy had, and she decided to attend the next meeting both because she was writing a romance and because it would be neat to meet Pam.

Fast forward fifteen years.

Pam and Cathy are best friends. They’ve roomed together at romance conferences. Pam has babysat Cathy’s twins. Cathy was in Pam’s wedding. Of course she was the Maid of Honor. Pam has forced Cathy to attend a Membership Appreciation Night when Cathy was tired, grumpy, and lost and had decided to give it up and go home. That night Cathy was to get the local chapter’s Desert Rose Award for being member of the year award. If not for Pam, Cathy would have missed the fanfare. Cathy was one of the first to know when Pam found out she was pregnant. Pam has watched Cathy’s daughter perform in Little Shop of Horrors. Pam has watched Cathy’s son play football. Pam and Cathy, along with two others, are in a critique group that meets at IHOP every two weeks. They’ve done this for seven years.

The real number 5, Pamela Tracy, sold to Steeple Hill’s Love Inspired line. Her next release is in August. It’s called Fugitive Family.
The real number 13, Cathy McDavid, sold to Harlequin American. Her next release is in June. It’s called Waiting for Baby.