If you ever want to see what genuine chaos looks like just rewind a few years back to the glory days of our childhood. Think of it as the blooper reel of my life except no one is laughing at me yet except maybe the universe.
Picture this: a time when gum was strictly for chewing glue was definitely not for eating and frogs made the perfect marriage officiants. Do not ask why just roll with it.
I am about to dive headfirst into the most cringe worthy facepalm inducing glue eating flashback ever recorded on this planet or any planet for that matter. Buckle up because this is where the story gets messy in every sense. And yes there will be frogs.
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Back in the day the neighborhood was our playground and by playground I mean a questionable patch of dirt with some suspicious grass and a tree that was most likely planning its escape. The kind of tree that looks like it is holding a secret and judging you silently every time you trip over your own feet. Spoiler it was judging me a lot.
My childhood best friend the lovely chaos goblin you met last chapter was already an expert in being a one person tornado. She had the emotional range of a soap opera star and the energy of a caffeinated squirrel. Seriously if squirrels ran marathons she would be their coach.
One day the two of us decided to create art. You know the typical kindergarten masterpiece but with a twist we had no clue what we were doing but the glue bottle looked shiny and promising. It was the kind of glue that smelled suspiciously like the inside of an art teacher's purse. The temptation was real.
I was supposed to glue some paper and she was supposed to well not eat the glue. But did she listen? No way. That little chaos goblin dipped her finger straight into the glue bottle and licked it like it was the best candy on earth. Cue my immediate reaction horror mixed with confusion followed by the classic denial strategy.
Did you eat the glue I asked trying to sound innocent even though I knew I was about to be framed.
No you did it she said pointing at me with a mischievous grin like I was the main villain in this glue eating mystery.
Me I was just here holding the paper I protested which was the exact kind of defense a guilty party would use. But back then I was convinced she was the real mastermind behind every sticky incident.
The situation escalated when her mom found her with glue smeared on her face like a five year old who had lost a battle with a craft store. The explanation it was a science experiment.
Spoiler alert it was not science it was a disaster.
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Then came the infamous marriage ceremony. Oh yes. We had a backyard wedding with a frog as our officiant. No not a person named Frog. I mean an actual frog. The one that probably had no idea it was about to witness childhood insanity.
We were six barely understanding what marriage even meant but that did not stop us from planning the most chaotic event of the decade. Invitations were made from torn scraps of notebook paper. Our guests were mostly imaginary but a few neighborhood cats got honorary seats because they did not run away fast enough.
The highlight the frog. We found it sitting on a rock and declared it the perfect judge of our vows. We took turns promising lifelong friendship epic adventures and not eating each other's snacks. The frog just blinked probably questioning its life choices.
When it was my turn I managed to trip over a rock and faceplant right in front of everyone. The moment was so perfect I think the frog almost gave me a standing ovation. Or maybe it just jumped away in disgust.
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Back to present day that moment when my chaotic childhood friend shows up at my doorstep again still the same whirlwind of energy and trouble. Her eyes gleam with mischief and memories of glue sticks and frog weddings.
You remember that right she says a smirk playing on her lips like she has got the receipts.
How could I forget You literally tried to glue your tongue to your hand I say trying to act tough but secretly feeling that same chaotic warmth I did all those years ago.
She laughs that wild unrestrained laugh that makes it impossible to stay mad at her. I was a pioneer a true artist of disaster.
Yeah and I was the unwilling sidekick who survived it I reply shaking my head but smiling.
That is when the tension creeps in. Because beneath the laughter and ridiculous memories something unspoken hangs between us. The years apart have made things complicated. Feelings buried under layers of jokes and chaos.
I glance at her trying to read what is behind those fiery eyes. Is it nostalgia? Regret? Or something more? The truth is I do not know and I am not sure I am ready to find out.
But one thing is certain this reunion is the start of something. Something messy. Something real.
And maybe just maybe it is the beginning of how I survived before meeting your mom.