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Jason Poff
Mr. Burkhartsmeier
AP Lang Period 2
October 2, 2014
An Unusual Friend
The bright sun floated up in the summer sky, sunlight filtering through the clouds
upon the sidewalk. A gentle breeze blew through my hair as I turned my attention to my
friend. We were hanging out, or doing the usual. Hanging out with a friend most of the
three short months of summer, you start to run out of things to do. No matter how long
we spent deliberating and sending the texts what do you want to do? and the classic
response idk, in the end, we always did the same thing. The usual. So that is what we
were doing that fine summer day- part one of the usual, walking to our local Fred Meyer.
Turning to me, Jack said excitedly, Did you see the World Cup finals?? Knowing Jack
already knew the answer, I shook my head. You shouldve man, it was awesome. In the
second- As he continued talking soccer, my mind drifted, half listening. -believe that
the ref made that call.
Well, seems like you usually dont like the calls the refs make. Especially in
your games, I finally chimed in, jokingly. Soccer is part of Jacks identity. Hes been
playing for who knows how long, and in the last several years started playing club soccer.
The thing about club soccer- its intense. From what Ive heard about the practices,
conditioning, fouls, and coaches I probably couldnt survive one practice. Though that
isnt saying that much, for compared to Jack Im a sloth. Lets just say Jack plays rough
in his games (if someone intentionally fouls him, you know whats going to happen next).
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Ive heard much about Jacks countless fouls- he never usually disagrees with the calls if
he knows he deserves it. He isnt afraid to talk back to the ref either. However, this is all
just from what Ive heard cause while hes busy with soccer, Im usually busy with
practicing piano, singing, or theatre- the latter two things he would rather die then do.
I know how Jack stays fit, but I dont know how Im as in shape as I am (not that
Im in that good of shape now). From the occasional basketball game or run, I do about
nothing. Im especially shocked because every time we walk to Fred Meyer- which is
every time we hang out- we at least buy one thing that is completely unhealthy. Our top
two contenders are raw cookie dough and chocolate milk, but most often we buy both.
The worst is the second part of the usual- watching Psych or playing Halo. We walk
back to either house, and as we chug down our chocolate milk and pound down the
cookie dough we sit on our butts and play video games. Of course as we sit we talk about
a wide variety of subjects- ranging from girls to well girls. We are teenage boys after
all.
Despite our differences, we do have a few things in common. One thing we do
have in common is our love of the television show Psych. We usually quote it to each
other constantly, probably to the annoyance of many. The show focuses on mainly two
best friends, and weve adopted many of their idiosyncrasies (our favorite one being their
classic fist bump)- while still making plenty of our own. Oddly enough, we even like
some of the same music. During our usual activities, music is usually a problem- whether
its me blasting John Mayer over his rap when he wont turn it off, or him tackling me
when I keep singing a long when he says to stop. Weve eventually found middle ground
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when I dont sing and we play the one or two artists we both enjoy. We each branch out
however; He loves the musical Les Misrables and I like the occasional dubstep song.
Although we have many differences, we both look to our similarities not only in
what we like, but also in our personalities. Recently we both went on a weeklong
kayaking trip to the Puget Sound. This was very difficult and tiring at times, and on the
final day I yelled across the waves Jack!! Dude Im so bored. We have to talk about or
do something interesting! At this point most of our conversation had been used for the
week.
I heard this, staggered and breathy across the water, Red! The blood of angry
men! Black! The dark of ages past! Recognizing immediately as his favorite song from
Les Misrables, I joined in. It eventually faded as we finally reached our final destination.
We did it man! I said as we stretched out our legs on the dock. He nodded, and
held out his fist. I extended my arm and completed the fist bump.