Childhood Friendships
Lifelong Connections
by Mistress Anna

Looking at the clock, she did a quick calculation of only needing 4 hours, knowing she’d be up in plenty of time to get the morning started. It was rare that she ever actually needed 4 hours sleep, but she put in for a wake up call, just in case. Things had been hectic recently. Why had her mind been wandering back to the past so much? She must be tired. Yeah that was it. She snuggled down and drifted off.

She found herself flying the friendly skies cross country to visit friends and family. Smiling to herself, she tucked up her legs after take off, ebjoying one of the few advantages of being small. She has plenty of room in her business seat to get comfy for the duration. She bought a new book to read, one of her favorite authors, had her laptop and carry-on. She was content.

That was the second time recently where she had heard that word. When was the other? Oh yeah, her brother. The Wease content? That was something she’d have to see to believe. Kris had said that was the best way to describe him recently and she hoped Kris was right. Carla was a calming influence on him certainly, and for that alone she liked her. It was an added bonus that Carla was a nice person and was able to accept her brother as he was, without trying to change him too much. All men need a little guidance, she grinned to herself. Some more than others, but if you changed them too much or tried to, then they weren’t the man that you were first attracted to. She had learned that lesson too, eventually. Maybe one day she’d meet one that didn’t need guidance?

She hoped her brother was happy and “content”. He deserved to be. Some would say they both did, but she wasn’t sure what it was going to take to make her content. She thought she did a few years ago, but now she wasn’t so sure. Stop thinking and enjoy the next adventure of your favorite incompetent female bounty hunter, she thought. She relaxed, shifted the pillow a bit more and enjoyed her new book.

Before she realized it, they were descending into Dulles. She was excited about being back, and seeing Kris and the family. Yeah, she was a little apprehensive about meeting this someone named David, but it would be worth it. Didn’t Kris or she already date some guy by that name? Couldn’t quite remember which one, let’s hope it wasn’t the same one, since he obviously wasn’t memorable. Kris had been very tight lipped about this one, saying something about not wanting to prejudice her? Hmmm, that of course piqued her curiosity even more. Despite repeated attempts all she could get out of her long time friend was his name, not even his age.

She was usually a hole in the crowd, any crowd. So she was surprised to hear Kris shout her name, waving frantically, seeing her easily. It’s a good thing that Kris recognized her because she might have walked right by her dearest friend. Wow. It wasn’t so obvious to a stranger, but there had been a huge change in her friend’s life and it definitely agreed with her. Her whole demeanor and appearance were different. Not in the way she styled her hair, although that was a little different, not in the clothes she wore, just inside herself. She had a feeling this change might be related to the someone.

“God, you look great!” Carrie said and truly meaning it as she hugged Kris.

“So do you. I’m so glad you could make it. It’s been too long and we have so much to do. Where’re your bags?”

“I’m carrying them”, Carrie said. It’s always drove Kris nuts that she traveled so light.

“What? How can you get everything you need into two small bags? Wait, don’t tell me, one of them is your laptop so you really only have one bag? I don’t know about you.” Kris knew this was part of their game, giving each other shit. It was one of the things she missed the most. The easy bantering, knowing that she could be silly or goofy and Carrie’d be right there with her, helping her do it.

“I knew you said we were going out looking for some serious trouble, so I figured that needed some serious shopping first. A girl can’t go out in deep winter in summer clothes, can she?”

“Deep Winter? Ha, you’ve been spoiled California girl. The mercury climbed to 10 degrees yesterday, damn near had to break out my shorts!”

“I don’t have many cold weather clothes any more so any excuse to go shopping with you is a good excuse. What’s on the agenda?”

“First thing first. Are you hungry? No, forget I said that. Have you eaten today?”

“Um, we were served something that resembled crab and something else that was indescribable, so no I haven’t had much since early,” knowing as she said it, Kris would be shaking her head and planning on how to get “some meat on her” as she was fond of saying.

“I wasn’t sure how late the flight would be so no plans with the folks this evening, if that’s okay with you? You want to go out for a bite,” Kris asked this knowing her friend never really cared where or what they ate. It had always astonished her, this lack of interest in food. It was so, so…Carrie.

They loaded up Kris’s shiny new jetta with Carrie’s bags and set off in search of food.

“Nice car, you still like it?”

“Yeah, but I could get into a shit load more trouble with it if I really wanted to.”

“Yeah, I know you could. Are we going to try and avoid that this time around?” She loved to tease Kris about her speeding ticket issues. The funny part of that was that she was the speed demon, while Kris rarely was. Kris somehow managed to get ticketed at least twice a year. “I’m still confused about you choosing red. You know it’s a big bull’s eye to every bored cop around? Please come get me officer, I might be speeding or tailgating or something.”

“Yeah, just shut up and let me enjoy it. So, where do you want to get some food? Dive thru fine? Realize this is the last drive thru we’re going through one on this trip. It’s only because it’s late and I know you should eat and I don’t have anything ready to cook.”

“Alright already. I get the point. Any burger place will do that has shakes, I honestly don’t care.”

“You mean that doctor might actually have touched on some idea that works,” she was relieved to hear. It’s about time they figure something out, Kris thought.

“Uh, so far so good. I’m just staying away from all meat proteins. Not like that was very hard anyway. You know how I feel about eating Bessie and Bambi.” Her food “issues” were long standing, but not without reason.

“Well you look good, but too skinny! I know, I always say that, but really Care, you do look thin. Do I need to come out there and bust your ass to eat? I will if I have to, you know.”

“No. ‘Out There’ isn’t going to be for too much longer anyway. I’m getting irritated by the assholes again. Plans are in place, staff is trained, I hope, so I can flit again.” Kris was secretly elated by this news. She was hoping to have Carrie nearby, but she knew she couldn’t push her. She would have to let her make her own decisions, her own way.

They ended up getting some old fashioned shakes at a local burger place so they could take them back to the apartment and get settled in for some serious talking. Killer greeted them at the door with his barking and wagging. Kris called her little dog Killer. It was just part of her warped sense of humor. She loved saying, “Down Killer” to him whenever any unexpected salespeople tried to drop by. Carrie was happy to see Killer almost as much as the little dog was to see her. This little ewok must be getting on in years, she thought. She bent down to rub his head and chin and was rewarded by him flopping over for some more.

“You’re a tough guy, aren’t you? Has your momma been feeding you crap again?”

“No, he’s only getting the prescription stuff, I’ll have you know,” Kris said with a stern look at both her friend and her little dog that was ignoring her for attention from his favorite aunt. They settled in with Carrie on the couch and Kris on the chair. Killer jumped up to be with his auntie, who secretly rewarded him by giving him some of her shake.

They planned the next day’s shopping to ensure maximum success, ending with a stop off for some sticky, gooey cinnamon buns. They were a must for any shopping to be considered a success, according to Kris. Carrie had become a shopper that preferred to go in, get what she needed, then get the hell out and her wardrobe looked like it. Kris, on the other hand, had a black belt in shopping. She considered it a full contact sport and victory was measured in goods. Little old ladies be damned, if she wanted it, she was going to get it. That was especially true if Carrie was letting her pick out her clothes for her. She had said she had no idea what to wear and wanted some help. California had been good for her in many ways, but she seemed to loose some of her self there too.

Okay, from top to bottom she had said. They were going to start early, to hit the early am stock, ‘scoping out the terrain’, Kris had said. Shit, what had she gotten herself into? They started off going through looking for some very specific pieces that Kris knew would be just perfect for her petite friend. Tops and bottoms; skirts and blouses, in colors and patterns that she would never have dreamed of choosing for herself. Then there were shoes that had to be coordinated. She knew they were buying way more than what was needed for tonight, but things were getting ridiculous after the third trip to the car to drop off stuff. Some strange accessorizing pieces were tried, but Carrie rejected them knowing she wouldn’t know what to do with them once she was back on her own. Last place was the lingerie store, just for fun. They both loved shopping for pretty panties, bras and feminine touches. Kris did not have to drag her friend to look at anything there. She knew what she liked, what she’d try. Several times during the day, she had the thought that it would be great to have Kris help her with this kind of shit all the time; she enjoyed it much more than herself. She didn’t understand it, but knew Kris just enjoyed shopping for clothes and making others look their best. She knew instinctively what looked good on Carrie and what didn’t.

If they made adult “grr-animals” Carrie’d buy those she thought, then she never have to worry about what went with what. She’d just match the hippo tag on the blouse to the hippo tag on the skirt or slacks and she’d be set! Hey, it worked for kids, why not her? Kris assured her everything they were buying today could be coordinated with every other piece. Hmm, not too sure about that, but she was definitely not the expert in that area.
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