{"id":1608,"date":"2026-08-15T00:54:51","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T00:54:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/dishdaily.delicedcook.com\/?p=1608"},"modified":"2026-08-15T00:54:51","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T00:54:51","slug":"at-6-i-promised-my-best-friend-with-down-syndrome-wed-go-to-prom-together-12-years-later-mom-said-i-could-go-with-him-only-on-one-condition-3","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/dishdaily.delicedcook.com\/?p=1608","title":{"rendered":"At 6, I Promised My Best Friend with Down Syndrome We\u2019d Go to Prom Together \u2013 12 Years Later, Mom Said I Could Go with Him Only on One Condition"},"content":{"rendered":"

When I was six, I pinkie-promised my best friend that we\u2019d go to prom together someday. Twelve years later, he arrived at my door holding my corsage. I was ready to leave when Mom pulled me upstairs, locked the door, and said I could go with him only after hearing the truth she\u2019d hidden for years.<\/h1>\n
\n
\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

My mother locked my bedroom door on prom night.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

That was the moment I knew something was wrong.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

I knew something was wrong.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Downstairs, Noah was waiting for me in a navy suit and the bow tie he\u2019d been talking about since November.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I could hear him chatting with my aunt through the floor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Then Mom turned toward me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYou can go with Noah tonight, Chrissy. But only on one condition. I need one promise from you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cBut only on one condition.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

I stared at her.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI know. That\u2019s generally how dates work.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI\u2019m serious.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Her voice sounded strange.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cOkay\u2026\u201d I actually laughed. \u201cLet me guess. Midnight?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cEleven-thirty?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cChristina.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The fact that she used my full name wiped the smile off my face.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom\u2019s hands were trembling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Her voice sounded strange.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cYou have to hear something first.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cAbout what, Mom?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Her eyes flicked toward the closed bedroom door.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cAbout Noah.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

My heart pounded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat about him?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cAnd about me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

She sat on the edge of my bed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cWhat about him?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Then she said something I never expected.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI owe both of you the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah and I met because of raisins.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

We were six.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Our first-grade teacher had given everyone those little red boxes during snack time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I was quietly stuffing mine beneath a napkin when the boy beside me whispered, \u201cThat\u2019s smart.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cI owe both of you the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I looked over.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

He was doing exactly the same thing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYou hate them?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThey\u2019re old grapes.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

I considered this.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThey are.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cOld grapes are gross,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

That settled it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

By lunch, we were best friends.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Then dinosaurs helped.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

By lunch, we were best friends.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah knew an unreasonable amount about dinosaurs and had strong opinions about which one would win in a fight.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I drew them.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Badly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The first time I showed him my Tyrannosaurus rex, he stared at the page for several seconds.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cWhat is\u2026 that? It looks like a potato with arms!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201d It looks like a potato with arms!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I shoved him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

He laughed so loudly our teacher separated us.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah had Down syndrome.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

At six, that mattered to me considerably less than the fact that he cheated at dinosaur trivia by memorizing the answers before asking me the questions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Our friendship was simple.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Until another kid made it complicated.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Noah had Down syndrome.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

One afternoon, our teacher announced she was getting married.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The class exploded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Everyone had opinions.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Chocolate cake.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Vanilla cake.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Flowers.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Music.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Somebody insisted a wedding needed a trampoline.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah raised his hand.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cMy wedding will have chocolate cake.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Our teacher smiled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cExcellent choice, Noah.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cMy wedding will have chocolate cake.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cAnd no slow songs, Miss Veronica.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThey\u2019re boring.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

A boy across our table snorted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYou\u2019re not getting married, dude.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah looked at him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYes, I am.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cTo who?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know yet.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The boy laughed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNobody\u2019s going to marry you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I remember the exact second Noah\u2019s smile disappeared.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cNobody\u2019s going to marry you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

He looked down at his hands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Something hot rose in my chest.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThat\u2019s mean, Roger.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The boy turned toward me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cSomebody will love Noah.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThen you marry him.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

A wave of giggles rippled through the classroom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThat\u2019s enough, boys and girls,\u201d the teacher said, silencing the room.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cSomebody will love Noah.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n
\n
\n

But I could see Noah was upset.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Later, after class, he looked at me with serious eyes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cChrissy\u2026 would you\u2026 love me?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I considered it for a moment.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cMaybe I will,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah immediately looked up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cReally?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I suddenly realized I had talked myself into a very serious situation.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cMaybe.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cChrissy\u2026 would you\u2026 love me?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

He considered that.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Then I remembered something my older cousin had been talking about.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cBut first we have to go to prom,\u201d I added.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s prom?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cA dance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah frowned.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWe have dances now.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNo. Prom is when we\u2019re almost grown-ups.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cOh.\u201d He held out his pinkie. \u201cPromise?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cWhat\u2019s prom?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I hooked mine around his.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cPromise.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I forgot about it by dinner.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Twelve years is a long time for a friendship to survive childhood.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Ours somehow did.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

We didn\u2019t always have the same classes. We made other friends. We developed different interests.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah became obsessed with baseball.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

I forgot about it by dinner.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I became obsessed with art.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

He tried teaching me baseball statistics.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I retaliated by making him visit art museums.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Neither campaign succeeded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Then, when we were 12, my parents divorced.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

That changed me in ways I didn\u2019t understand at the time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Our house became quieter.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Then, when we were 12, my parents divorced.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Dad moved into an apartment 20 minutes away.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom started pretending she wasn\u2019t crying.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I started pretending I didn\u2019t notice.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

At school, I stopped eating much at lunch.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah noticed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

He never asked me to explain.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

He just sat beside me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Sometimes he talked.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Sometimes he didn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

He never asked me to explain.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Once, he spent 15 straight minutes explaining why our baseball team needed a new relief pitcher.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I understood approximately four words.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

It helped anyway.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Years later, when I failed my first driving test, Noah appeared at our house carrying two ice creams.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhy two?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cOne because you tried,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

\u201cOne because you tried.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I smiled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cAnd the other?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cBecause you drove badly.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I threw a pillow at him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

At 16, when I told him I wanted to quit art because a girl in my class had laughed at one of my paintings, he stole the ugliest dinosaur drawing I\u2019d ever made.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cBecause you drove badly.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

The next morning, I found it taped inside his locker.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNoah!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhy is that there?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

He inspected it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cStill looks like a potato with arms.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThen take it down,\u201d I demanded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cBecause you can\u2019t quit yet, Chrissy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhy not?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cBecause the dinosaurs haven\u2019t improved.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cStill looks like a potato with arms.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

I laughed despite myself.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

That was Noah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

He never gave speeches.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

He just stayed long enough for whatever hurt to become bearable.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

And when my first boyfriend dumped me three weeks before junior homecoming, Noah showed up with chocolate ice cream.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

He sat beside me on the porch while I cried.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

He just stayed long enough for whatever hurt to become bearable.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

After 10 silent minutes, he finally spoke.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI told you he was an idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I looked at him through swollen eyes.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cNo, you didn\u2019t.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI thought it.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThat doesn\u2019t count.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cIt should.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I laughed so hard I nearly choked on my ice cream.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah still tells that story.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I still threaten him every time.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cI told you he was an idiot.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

So when senior prom came around, there was never really a question about who I wanted to go with.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

But Noah apparently believed there was.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

One afternoon in February, he found me by my locker.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cChrissy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYes?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cDo you remember first grade?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I pretended to think.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

His face dropped.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cSeriously?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cDo you remember first grade?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNoah, I\u2019m kidding.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

He glared at me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThat\u2019s not funny.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cIt was a little funny.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Then he held out his pinkie.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

And suddenly I was six again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Raisins.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Dinosaurs.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

A cruel little boy.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

A promise I had forgotten that afternoon and somehow spent 12 years keeping anyway.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

And suddenly I was six again.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I hooked my pinkie around his.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cProm?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah nodded.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cProm.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Then his entire face lit up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI already bought the bow tie.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I blinked. \u201cWhen?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNovember.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNoah, it was November.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cExactly.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat does that mean?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cStores run out of things,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cI already bought the bow tie.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThey were not going to run out of bow ties.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYou don\u2019t know that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

That was how Noah officially asked me to prom.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

On prom night, I was upstairs fighting with an earring when the doorbell rang.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

My aunt called up.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cChrissy! He\u2019s here!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cTell him two minutes!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cChrissy! He\u2019s here!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

From just beyond the front door, Noah\u2019s voice filtered in.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cShe said that 15 minutes ago!\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Traitor.<\/i><\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I finished the earring and checked myself in the mirror.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Pretty dress.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Hair curled.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Makeup that had taken my aunt almost an hour.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I was nervous.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Not about Noah.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

About everything else.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

I was nervous.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Prom had always seemed like one of those things that happened to older people.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Then suddenly I was the older person.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I grabbed my purse.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Before I reached the stairs, I heard Mom open the front door.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Then silence.<\/p>\n

\n

Not normal silence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The kind that makes you stop moving.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Prom had always seemed like one of those things that happened to older people.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I stepped closer to the landing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah stood in the entryway.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Navy suit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

White shirt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

That ridiculous bow tie perfectly straight.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

In one hand, he held a small corsage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

He was smiling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

She was staring at him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cMrs. Jane?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom blinked. \u201cOh. Noah. Hi.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

In one hand, he held a small corsage.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYou okay?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

But she wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I knew my mother.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Something had changed the second she saw him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Her eyes dropped to the corsage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Then to his bow tie.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Then back to his face.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

For one strange second, she looked like she\u2019d seen a ghost.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Something had changed the second she saw him.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cChrissy is almost ready,\u201d she said quickly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI am ready.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom turned and saw me on the stairs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Her face changed again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cCome upstairs with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cJust for a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cMom, Noah\u2019s waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Noah lifted the corsage. \u201cI have this.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI can see that,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s rosemary.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cCome upstairs with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I paused halfway down.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cRosemary?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThe florist said it means remembering.\u201d He looked extremely pleased with himself. \u201cAnd I remember promises.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

My heart sank.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom made a small sound behind me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

When I turned, her eyes were wet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cUpstairs, Chrissy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

This time she didn\u2019t ask.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cAnd I remember promises.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The second we entered my bedroom, she shut the door.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Then locked it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cOkay, you\u2019re scaring me, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

She faced me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYou can go with Noah tonight, but only on one condition.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Anger hit me before fear did.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cIf this is about Noah having Down syndrome, I swear to God\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

\u201cOkay, you\u2019re scaring me, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cBecause I\u2019m 18, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cHe\u2019s my best friend.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI know that too.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThen what\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom pressed her lips together.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

For several seconds, she couldn\u2019t speak.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Finally, she sat on my bed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cDo you remember the year your father left?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The question caught me off guard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

\u201cHe\u2019s my best friend.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat does Dad have to do with prom?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

 <\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Not normal silence.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The kind that makes you stop moving.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Prom had always seemed like one of those things that happened to older people.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I stepped closer to the landing.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Noah stood in the entryway.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Navy suit.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

White shirt.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

That ridiculous bow tie perfectly straight.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

In one hand, he held a small corsage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

He was smiling.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

She was staring at him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cMrs. Jane?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom blinked. \u201cOh. Noah. Hi.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

In one hand, he held a small corsage.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYou okay?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYes.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

But she wasn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I knew my mother.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Something had changed the second she saw him.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Her eyes dropped to the corsage.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Then to his bow tie.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Then back to his face.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

For one strange second, she looked like she\u2019d seen a ghost.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Something had changed the second she saw him.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cChrissy is almost ready,\u201d she said quickly.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI am ready.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom turned and saw me on the stairs.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Her face changed again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cCome upstairs with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cJust for a minute.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cMom, Noah\u2019s waiting.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Noah lifted the corsage. \u201cI have this.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI can see that,\u201d I said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cIt\u2019s rosemary.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cCome upstairs with me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I paused halfway down.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cRosemary?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThe florist said it means remembering.\u201d He looked extremely pleased with himself. \u201cAnd I remember promises.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

My heart sank.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom made a small sound behind me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

When I turned, her eyes were wet.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cMom?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cUpstairs, Chrissy.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

This time she didn\u2019t ask.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cAnd I remember promises.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

***<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The second we entered my bedroom, she shut the door.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Then locked it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cOkay, you\u2019re scaring me, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

She faced me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYou can go with Noah tonight, but only on one condition.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Anger hit me before fear did.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cIf this is about Noah having Down syndrome, I swear to God\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

\u201cOkay, you\u2019re scaring me, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cBecause I\u2019m 18, Mom.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cHe\u2019s my best friend.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI know that too.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cThen what\u2019s the problem?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom pressed her lips together.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

For several seconds, she couldn\u2019t speak.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Finally, she sat on my bed.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cDo you remember the year your father left?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

The question caught me off guard.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n
\n

\u201cHe\u2019s my best friend.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat does Dad have to do with prom?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNothing.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cThen why are we talking about him?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cBecause there\u2019s something that happened that year.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I folded my arms.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom looked toward the floor.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYou were 12.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI know.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cYou stopped eating lunch.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

My arms slowly dropped.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cHow do you know that?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cBecause there\u2019s something that happened that year.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cNoah told me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I stared at her.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Her eyes lifted to mine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cHe found me one afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhere?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cIn the school parking lot.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Something in her expression made the room feel suddenly smaller.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cHe caught me crying in the car,\u201d Mom admitted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

I sat beside her.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cMom\u2026\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cHe found me one afternoon.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI thought nobody saw me.\u201d She rubbed her palms together. \u201cBut Noah did.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Downstairs, faintly, I heard Noah laugh at something my aunt said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom heard it too.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Her face crumpled for half a second before she controlled it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat did he say to you?\u201d I urged.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cI thought nobody saw me.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

She looked at me.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cHe asked me if you were broken.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

My breath caught. \u201cWhy?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cBecause you weren\u2019t eating, sweetie. You weren\u2019t laughing. He said you sat by yourself sometimes.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I looked toward the door.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I\u2019d forgotten most of those lunches.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Apparently Noah hadn\u2019t.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat did you tell him?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cHe asked me if you were broken.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI told him you weren\u2019t broken.\u201d Mom swallowed. \u201cThen he said something I\u2019ve remembered for six years.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Her fingers closed around mine.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

A tear slipped down her cheek.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018Good. Because I don\u2019t know how to fix people. I only know how to stay.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I couldn\u2019t speak.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cI don\u2019t know how to fix people. I only know how to stay.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom squeezed my hands.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cFor six years, Noah has kept a promise to me that you never knew existed.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

My heart began pounding.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat promise?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Whatever came next was the truth she\u2019d dragged me upstairs to hear.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

And suddenly, I wasn\u2019t sure I was ready for it.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

Whatever came next was the truth she\u2019d dragged me upstairs to hear.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom\u2019s voice cracked.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI asked Noah to promise he\u2019d look after you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I stared at her.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cYou\u2026 what?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cI was falling apart, Chrissy. Your father had left, you barely spoke to me, and Noah was the only person who seemed able to reach you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I froze.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cI asked Noah to promise he\u2019d look after you.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\n
<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
\n

Mom wiped her cheek.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cHe said, \u2018Okay.\u2019 Just like that.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Downstairs, Noah laughed again.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

Mom looked toward the door.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cAnd then I did something I\u2019m ashamed of.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cWhat?\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

\u201cFor six years, I worried you were sacrificing too much for him,\u201d she admitted.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n

I went still.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n

\u201cI did something I\u2019m ashamed of.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

When I was six, I pinkie-promised my best friend that we\u2019d go to prom together someday. Twelve years later, he…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":1609,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-1608","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/dishdaily.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1608","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/dishdaily.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/dishdaily.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishdaily.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishdaily.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=1608"}],"version-history":[{"count":1,"href":"https:\/\/dishdaily.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1608\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":1610,"href":"https:\/\/dishdaily.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/1608\/revisions\/1610"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishdaily.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/1609"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/dishdaily.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=1608"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishdaily.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=1608"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/dishdaily.delicedcook.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=1608"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}