When I was in first grade, and all the years before and after, teachers were always asking me and the other kids, “Who is your Best Friend?” And I always hated it because frankly, I didn’t have a best friend. I was a shy, lonely, socially maladjusted child for a good part of my beginnings. I said honestly I didn’t know who my best friend was. They told me of course I knew-- "Everyone has a best friend."And I said maybe I didn’t have a best friend. And they insisted that I must have a best friend. So I made one up. I said the girl across the street from me, Meredith, was my best friend. She was in the other kindergarten class—I probably didn’t play with her when we were in school and had recess together ever, but I occasionally had play dates with her.
Best Friends
She was tougher, and far less naïve than me. I was kind of afraid of her. She was not my best friend. But I just needed a name, for gods sake, to shut that teacher up. The teacher said “Are you sure Meredith’s your best friend? I never see you play with her.” I said that yes, she was—since I have to pick a best friend, I pick her, just to make you stop making me feel worse about myself by pressuring me. Now I don’t believe in “best friends.” I think it’s an awfully exclusive and elitist thing to say. I believe in “better friends” and “close friends.” I have many wonderful close friends.