Flashback

"Hey! What are you doing? You're going to hurt yourself." I use my authoritative tone with my hands on my hips, watching the new boy next door climb over the wood fence that separates our backyards.

"I'm getting my ball." He points to the little white plastic ball near my feet. He jumps off the fence and his feet land on the ground. He stands there, as if afraid to move, but he keeps staring at his ball. I bend down and grab it. Holding it out to him, I say, "Here." He takes it and gives me a megawatt smile. His Transformers T-shirt and black shorts are covered with dry dirt and grass stains.

"What's your name?" I ask him.

"Asher, but you can call me Ash," he responds, holding his dirty hand out for me to shake.

"What's your name? Curly Sue?" He laughs tenderly.

"Noooo. My name is Sadie." I shake his hand with a stupid grin on my face.

"I live here now." He's pointing to the copper-red house behind him. "Do you want to play with me?" His hair is messy, but he has a sweet smile. And he likes Transformers, just like my brother Josiah.

"Yeah! I'll play with you," I say excitedly.

"Meet me up front! I'm going to get my brother so he can play with us too." He climbs over the fence.

"Hey! Be careful!" I yell at him,. While skipping to the front of the house to wait for Ash, I notice another boy sitting on the porch. He looks at me with his bright blue eyes and a smile that makes my legs feel like noodles. That must be his brother. I pull a Tootsie Pop from my pocket and walk toward him. "Hi. This is for you. You're going to be my new best friend."