(As I live about an hour and a half away from my school, I travel there and back by the school’s bus service. Travelling with me are three girls below my year and five girls in my year. Since we spend so much time together on the bus and our school bans us from using or bringing smartphones, we all talk to each other. Today, I’m not really feeling like talking so I just read a book while my friend talks to me whilst drinking water. Suddenly, she starts choking.)

Friend: *dramatically, in the middle of her coughs* “I’m dying.”

Me: *without looking up from my book* “Can you die a little quieter, please? I’m trying to read.”

(My friend suddenly stops coughing.)

Friend: *indignantly* “Excuse me, [My Name], I can die as loudly as I want!”

My mother died the year after I finished high school. When the funeral service was over, I turned to see all my closest friends there — including one high school friend that had moved 800 km away. At the time I assumed she’d gotten time off from her job as I knew she’d gotten an apprenticeship.

I found out later that her boss had refused to give her the time off. So she quit her job and jumped on the first train she could to come and be with my family and me. She set her career back an entire year.

I love my friends.

I’ve recently joined a niche community that collects ABJDS (Asian ball-jointed dolls) and have gotten my very first doll as a wedding gift from my husband. Excited, I decide to arrange something called a “Doll Meet” where local people in the community get together, talk shop, trade, and just generally have a fun time together, playing and dressing up our dolls. I put out an open invite and get a few responses from people I’ve met previously who are happy to come over, including one friend who, while not in the hobby, is always happy to meet new people. I’ve known her for years and we constantly mess with each other.

Most everyone has arrived, except for my long time friend and, when the doorbell rings, I assume it’s her. I open the door, shout, “Go away!”, and slam the door shut, as I often do with her.

Only, as the door’s falling shut, I realize it’s not my friend, but a girl I hadn’t yet met who’d asked to join the party.

Horrified, I yank the door open, apologizing profusely. She’s confused, but luckily has a good sense of humor and was able to laugh it off and we’ve been friends ever since.

My friend who likes to mess with me thought it was hysterical.

This story is part of our Making Friends roundup!

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(My friend and I are sitting in a class we hate.)

Friend: “I just want to cry.”

Me: “Mhm.”

Friend: “And scream.”

Me: “Yup.”

Friend: “And go to sleep.”

Me: “And never wake up.”

Friend: *at the same time* “And cuddle an animal.”

Me: “Oh.”

Friend: “We chose two very different paths there.”

This story is part of our Cuddle roundup!

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(I am visiting a couple of friends who are roommates. One of them gets up and goes into the kitchen for a drink, then pops her head back around the corner.)

Roommate #1: *in an overly sweet voice* “Hey, boys!”

(Their two dogs instantly leap up and race around the corner and down the basement stairs. I am very confused.)

Roommate #2: “Go look out the back window. You’ll understand.”

(I head for the back of the house just in time to see both dogs shoot towards a far corner of the yard, barking madly. A squirrel rockets off the bird feeder and over the fence.)

Me: “Wait. Do you seriously have a code phrase to tell your dogs you want them to chase a squirrel?”

Roommate #1: “Nah. Sometimes it’s a rabbit.”

Me: “Right…”

This story is part of our Squirrel roundup!

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