In September 1995, my eight year-old son came home from school one day to report excitedly that a new kid from overseas had just joined his class. This kid, he told me happily, “is just like me in every way. It’s really cool, Mom,” he said. “Josh loves basketball, he’s great at sports, he’s a prankster, he’s funny, and he knows how to play clever tricks on the teachers!” Sure enough the two fun-loving, spirited imps teamed up for a series of hijinks, innocent pranks, and frolicking escapades that had the school staff reeling. My son was ecstatic about his new friend. “It’s amazing how much he’s like me,” he constantly commented, in a tone of wonderment and delighted surprise.

One day, my son came home with Josh to work on a school project together. Since Josh lived in a different neighborhood, he asked if I could drive him home when they were done, and I readily agreed. When I pulled up at his address, he asked me if I would like to come in and meet his mother. The hour was late, but never one to rebuff a child, I obligingly climbed out of the car. Josh ushered me into the living room and went to find his mother. “Eli’s mother is here!” I heard him call to her. “Come meet her …. You’ll love her!”

Quick, light footsteps danced down the stairs and I turned to meet Josh’s mother. She blinked. I blinked. Her jaw dropped. My mouth gaped open. Her eyes filled with tears. I tried hard to muffle a sob. Then we simultaneously ran toward each other and embraced for a long time.

Josh stood staring at this scene transfixed and perplexed. “What’s going on?” he asked.

“Oh, Josh!” his mother exclaimed laughing, wiping away a tear. “Eli’s mother and I were best friends in high school. After graduation, I moved abroad and I met Dad and lived overseas for years. I haven’t seen Yitta for twenty-two years!” Moving to her son, she embraced him and said, lovingly, ” Eli, you and josh were meant to bring us together again.”

—Yitta Haberstam

Comment:
Once true love is formed between people, it never dies. It continues to live on in our thoughts, in our words, in our deeds, in our friends, and in the lives of children. The wonder, indeed the miracle, of this story is how Josh and Eli became the mysterious link re-uniting two best friends.

—Fr. Hugh Duffy