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Always, Always
Emily Wynn

Part One

A circle is round, it has no end. That’s how long I want to be your friend.
-Helen Keller

Cora Lee, Collins, Bitsy, and I (Vivi) have been best friends for eight years now and

going strong ever since we were in the fourth grade at Solomon Elementary School.

We were lucky enough to get in the same class that year. I’m not sure if it was just fate,

the luck of the draw, or if our parents had something to do with it, but I’ll never forget the “Meet

the Teacher Day” on the day before school began. That’s the day meet our new teacher, bring in

our school supplies, find our desks, and what table for which we will sit. I am so excited to see

what my new classroom will look like. I just hate a bland, white classroom; it’s so boring. I

walk right in with my Mama trailing behind trying her best to keep up with me. Upon entering I

look around and I’m drawn to all the bright colors that light up the room. My teacher, Mrs.

Davis, has done a great job decorating using all of my favorite colors: aqua blue, lime green,

bright pink, and lavender purple. The bulletin board says, “Welcome to 4th Grade!”. There are

polka dot curtains on the windows and the same fabric covering the front of her desk. It is by far

the prettiest classroom I’ve ever been in. I walk around the room, taking it all in. I find my

name on one of the desks at the purple table. I see Mrs. Davis has mistakenly written my whole

name on my desk plate, Vivenne Mercer, instead of “Vivi” Mercer, the name I go by, and of

which my Mama wrote on my registration form in red ink. That’s ok, I’ll get it straightened out

on the first day of school. I would never be disrespectful to Mrs. Davis because I have been
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raised to respect authority, but I’ll make sure she knows that I just won’t anwer to Vivenne if she

so decides to call me that.

I’ve been told that I am super bossy, not to be confused with bratty, but I don’t think

that’s the case. I just have a tendency to speak my mind. It’s just in my nature to take charge. I

just like for things to done the way they should be done, and so if you want something done right

you usually have to do it yourself.

Anyway, being at the purple table is great for a bunch of reasons. It has three other girls

assigned to it as well. Mrs. Davis explained that any time we have to line up, go to group

learning stations around the room, or sit at our lunch tables, we do so in our color groups. I feel

like this is a sign that it is going to be a great year, I just know it.

Even though I hardly slept a wink due to all the butterflies in my tummy, I get up early

anyway and put on my carefully thoughtout ‘1st day of school outfit’. I chose to wear my

favorite floral sundress with a pair of Mary Jane shoes. I accessorized with dainty pearl earrings,

a new strand of pearls, and finished the look with a big hair bow. Next, I went downstairs to the

kitchen and ate a yummy breakfast of biscuits and gravy with bacon on the side that Mama make

for me. I then gathered up my new book bag with my initials monogrammed on the front pocket

and the matching lunchbox, and I bolted out the front door heading straight for Mama’s new car,

so she could drop me off early. I always try to be at least 5-10 minutes early where ever I go.

I had to stop myself from running when I heard Mama yelling, “Vivi, slow down before

you fall and skin your knees! Besides, it is not ladylike to run while wearing a dress.”

Before the first bell rang, I went in and asked Mrs. Davis to please make sure that she

calls me Vivi Mercer, and not Vivienne Mercer. She said she was happy to make note of that

and apologized for the mix up. I thanked her kindly. Soon after that my classmates started
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trickling in. I had already put up my backpack and lunchbox and was sitting in my seat when the

other girls assigned to the purple table came in and sat down. I decided to go ahead and find out

everyone’s names right off the bat. I figured we only had a few minutes for everyone to get to

their seats at the correct color coded tables, so I decided to get the ball rolling so I could know

their names before Mrs. Davis had us quiet down.

I said, “Hey y’all! Why don’t we go around the table and introduce ourselves. I’ll go

first. “My name’s Vivienne Mercer, but I go by ‘Vivi’, NOT Vivienne.” I said matter of factly,

but with a smile on my face.” I looked to the girl to my right which promted her to go next.

“I’m Collins Wingate, and you can call me Collins.” she said laughing for what seemed

like forever. We all joined in and awkwardly laughed along with her.

Next, I looked at the little girl sitting across from me and gave her the same welcoming

smile and said, “Good morning. What’s your name?”

“I’m Bitsy.” She said flatly. It was like she wanted to be left alone. I wasn’t going to let

that deter me. Maybe she just woke up on the wrong side of bed, as my Grandaddy used to say.

“Your parents named you Bitsy? Are you for real or are you just kidding?” asked

Collins. I wasn’t sure if she was just kidding, but she sure did sound sarcastic to me, and flat out

rude.

“No, they named me Elizabeth Jane Monroe, but I go by Bitsy. Do you have a problem

with that? If so, go ahead and say it to my face!”

Uh oh, I thought. We are not off to a good start here because there was definitely

defensiveness in Bitsy’s voice.

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“Nope, why would anybody have a problem with calling you Bitsy? I think it’s just as

cute as can be.” stated Collins flippantly. “I mean, let’s be honest, you are a little itty, bitty,

thing, aren’t you?”

The next thing I know, Bitsy jumped out of her chair and was on Collins like white on

rice! I couldn’t believe my eyes. I’ve never seen a real fight before and there right in front of

me were arms swinging in every direction and hair being pulled. Lord have mercy! There were

things coming out of their mouths that I’m almost positive were cuss words that I’ve never

heard. In a matter of seconds most of our classmates were turning to look at the cat fight that

was taking place at the purple table. I know I should have stepped in to break it up, but I didn’t

want to get beat up in the process and end up with a big shiner on my eye. Or even worse, get

my new dress dirty. If my Mama had gotten a phone call from the principal saying that I needed

to be picked up for being involved in a fight, well I can’t even imagine what would happen. I’d

be in so much trouble and grounded for life.

I can hear Mama in the back of my head saying, “Vivienne Mercer, what on God’s green

earth did you think you were doing? Have you lost your ever-loving mind? I couldn’t be more

embarrassed if I tried, and you should, too!” And for the rest of the night I would’ve heard

nothing else except how that’s not how I’ve been raised, and that is most certainly not how a

Southern lady behaves.

All this happened while Mrs. Davis stepped out the classroom for no more than five

minutes. Based on the horrified look on her face when she came back in, she didn’t know she

was walking into a scene from the Sylvester Stalone movie, Rocky. She started screaming for

them to separate, in which they were not.

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Finally, the girl sitting to my left jumped up and got right in the middle of Bitsy and

Collins and pulled them apart.

She was yelling “Stop it! Stop it right this very minute! I mean it, both of you go sit

back in your seats before you get detention on the first day of school. We’re in the same class

this year, and at the same purple table for goodnees sake. This is definitely not a good way to

start the fourth grade. Y’all act like you haven’t had proper raising. We’re going to have to be

around each other all the time, espically since we’re all assigned to the same table, for now

anyway. It would be horrible if we can’t all get along. Why were y’all hitting each other and

pulling each other’s hair anyway?” she asked in a hushed voice that had a sad ring to it.

It was like we were already best friends and I could tell that this really bothered her. I

wasn’t sure about that Bitsy girl. She seemed like she was going to be the fiesty one in our

group, and I was kind of scared that she would get mad again and explode like she just did. I

wonder why she got angry so quickly. I’m going to have to find out why. I’ve got a knack for

talking to people and them opening up to me. I stood there with my eyes real big knowing now

was not the time to try and get to the bottom of this. I vowed to myself that I would though.

“Well, I think we should all start over. My name is Cora Lee Ridley, and I’d like it very

much if you all would be my friend. I think if we stick together we can be the best of friends for

a really, really long time. Is that ok with y’all?”, Cora Lee said with a smile on her beautiful

face.

We all nodded yes, because for some reason we couldn’t actually speak the words that

were on the tip of our tongues. We were in awe of how Cora Lee just witnessed a major brawl,

chose to see past it, and still want to be best friends with all of us. There was definitely

something calming about her and being in her presence diffused the whole situation. She must
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have an amazing ability to see the good in others because she was so sincere in the way she

talked to us.

After what seemed like forever, Bitsy and Collins finally made eye contact. All I could

do was stare at them like a deer caught in headlights wondering what their next move would be.

Cora Lee looked them both in the eyes and said in the nicest voice you’ve ever heard, “If

you both will apologize and try your hardest to be nice to one another, I really think we can put

all this behind us. I mean, you have to or else we’ll only be a BFF group of two, and I’d really

like you both to make us a group of four friends. What do ya say, girlies?”

“Bitsy, I’ll be your friend if you’ll be mine, and I really am sorry that I made fun of how

little you are. Boy, I know now that big things come in small packages! And I don’t mean that

as an insult.”, Collins snickered.

Bitsy was all of a sudden a totally different person than the one we just saw. How could

she say no to that? So they decided to call a truce. Bitsy asked Collins to forgive her, and before

Collins had a chance to answer her, she broke down in tears.

Yep, there was something going on in her life. I hope she’ll soon feel comfortable

enough to share it with us. It makes me sad to see her like this. I quickly gave her my

monogrammed hankerchief that I kept in my new purse so she could dry her eyes. Cora Lee,

Collins, and I surrounded her and held her hands and hugged her tightly.

“Collins, I really am so sorry that I flew off the handle at you for no good reason other

than you said I was little bitty. I mean goodness gracious, I am a small for my age. I’ve been

called Bitsy since I was born. My nickname has nothing to do with me being petite though. It’s

a nickname for Elizabeth, which is my mother’s name also. My Daddy says I may have anger

issues because when I get sad it usually turns into me getting madder than a wet hen in the blink
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of an eye. I guess I’m just having a hard time because I’m missing my Mama. She has to go out

of town today for work, and she’ll be gone all week. So do you forgive me for acting a fool?

“Oh Bitsy, I forgive you with all my heart.”, Collins said sincerely. “From this point on

we will always be there for each other through thick and thin. Always, always.”

I quickly said to that, “I agree. Look here, it’s water under the bridge. I’m just glad that

Mrs. Davis hasn’t moved us to different seats at another table after all that commotion. Let’s

cross our fingers that she doesn’t decide to do that. Once she sees how well-manered we truly

are, surely she’ll let well enough alone.”

Collins had a great idea that she couldn’t wait to share with us. “Since we are at the

purple table, let’s each get a sheet of purple construction paper, cut out a heart shape and write

something nice about each other. We’ll keep it forever and one day when we’re older we can

look at them. I have a good feeling that we’ll still feel the same way about each other then as we

do right now.”

I’m please to say that the rest of the day went smoothly. Before we left school we

exchanged phone numbers.

After that first day of school our class started getting into a daily routine. Hands down,

our favorite part of the day was when we went outside to the playground for recess. We would

either take turns on the swings, play hopscotch, or four square. There were also days that we

didn’t feel like playing games so we would sit on the steps and talk about everything from our

favorite movies, books, and TV shows, to our families. We spent those first couple of weeks

getting to know one another backwards and forward. One day, Collins brought up the topic of

boys at our school that she thought was cute. It’s not like we wanted a boyfriend, but it was fun
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to pretend that they had crushes on us. The one’s we talked about the most were the Owens’

twins-Judd and Baylor, Carter Beauchamp, and Emmett Walker. I thought Emmett was the

cutest of all, but I kept that to myself for some reason. Maybe I did have a real crush on him.

From that point on we have been the best of friends, actually we’re more like sisters.

Sisters who love one another unconditionally. Sisters who fight from time to time, but always

make up. All four of us are uniquely different, which is not a bad thing. A good friend is one

who understands your strengths and weaknesses and still cherhies you for who you are.

Those words would mean so much to all of us over the years. It’s way more than a

promise. They mean that no matter what, no questions asked, no matter what is going on in our

lives, how near or far we may be, we will be there for each other always, always.

Part Two

“Y’all, can we please go now? I’m burnt to a crisp and ready to get out of this heat. This

humidity’s killing me and it’s horrible for my hair. Good gracious, it’s so hot out here you could

fry an egg on the pavement.”

“Vivi, you’re so dramatic. We’re at the pool, so why on earth would you care about your

hair?” Cora Lee said confusingly.

“Besides I’ve never seen you with a hair out of place, Vivienne Mercer”, said Bitsy. “I’d

give anything for your long chestnut hair with natural waves.” Bitsy went on to say, “Now don’t

let this go to that head of yours, but I’d give my left pinkie toe to have your hair. Mine is what I

call ‘natural nap’, no matter how long I spend blowing it out and use a ton of products and a
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straightener, it always ends up looking like I’ve been caught in a wind storm. It’s a good thing I

have such a “dynamic personality”!

And at that moment they all started laughing so hard they had tears in their eyes. They

couldn’t help but agree with little ‘ole Bitsy Monroe. She had a big and bold personality in a

tiny little 5’1” package.

“Ya, ya, Vivi’s always had beautiful hair and thanks to her standing appointment once a

month, with Kendra at The Kut & Kurl, how could she not? I wish my grandmother made me

hair appointments for an entire year.” Collins replied matter-of-factly in a way that I believe

wasn’t meant to be mean-spirited at all, just the truth. That’s Collins Wingate for you. She

doesn’t beat around the bush. You always know where you stand with her. Collins is beautiful, a

natural beauty and lots southern charm. She could turn it on and off in a New York minute.

Collins could look you straight in the eyes and tell you that you were ugly as a mud fence with a

smile on her face and that laugh of hers, and you’d be laughing right along with her not realizing

she’d just insulted you until much later. She’s also pretty level-headed, which is a good quality to

have in a group of friends as diverse as ours.

“Oh, I’ll tell you why she’s so ready to get the heck outta dodge! Look who just strutted

in acting like they don’t see us-knowing good and well they were checking us out.”, Collins said,

while Bitsy and Cora Lee whipped their heads around in unison only to see the cockiest boys this

side of the Mason Dixon walk into the courtyard outside the club’s pool as we were trying to
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head out. None other than the Owens twins-Baylor and Judd, Carter Beauchamp, with Emmett

Walker bringing up the rear.

“Excuse me, that is NOT why!”, Vivi said pointedly. “Collins, do you and Cora Lee

have all our stuff packed up? We’re supposed to pick Greer up from work. Bitsy, go ahead and

crank the car so it can be cooling off.” Vivi said in a bossy tone of voice that didn’t fool her best

friends one bit.

“Yes, you’ve asked us three times already, and yes, Cora Lee has our cooler. Come on,

Sweetie, you just hold your head up high and don’t look in his direction, whatever you do,”

Collins said sternly. “That’s right, you just be the graceful Southern Belle that you were brought

up to be, and don’t give him the satisfaction of seeing you with anything but a smile on your

face.” Bitsy commanded her to do in her prim tone, but without skipping a beat, said with

malice, “I’d love to wring his neck and tell him exactly how I feel about him, but because you

asked me not to, I’ll just slash his tires! We all stopped short and stared at Bitsy not knowing if

she was kidding or not. “Quit looking at me like I’m crazy. I think everyone underestimates what

I’m capable of doing. You don’t mess with my girls!”

The more Bitsy talked the more fired up she got. It was sweet, precious Cora Lee who

gently leaned in and whispered in a way that could calm a storm, “Don’t you worry, Darlin’,

you’re not alone. We’ve got your back. Always, always.” And they did, come hell or high

water.

Chapter 2

It’d been about two months since Emmett and I broke-up but seeing him for the first time

since that night stirred up raw visceral feelings of heartbreak that I didn’t know were still

gnawing at the surface. The days after he ripped my heart out were gut-wrenching. I sunk down
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into a dark hole. Even Mama didn’t dare say anything about my disheveled appearance, and

Daddy and my brother Boone stayed as far away from me as possible. I stayed in my pajamas

for days and the only time I wasn’t bawling crying was when I was shoveling junk food in my

mouth. I’ve always been an emotional eater, but this was on a whole other level. I was so

discombobulated over it all that I didn’t know if I was coming or going. My head was

swimming. How did this happen? How long had it been going on? I never had a clue, never

saw it coming. We were usually together or at least talked on the phone every day, never ending

the call without an “I love you”. I mean how do you date someone for almost three years and not

catch on. I guess looking back, I was naïve and thought I was with the love of my life. I no

longer believe in ‘love at first sight’ or ‘the love of your life’ kind of love.

I mean, one-minute Emmett and I were having a great time, laughing about this and that,

as we sat across from each other as we sat in a booth at everyone’s favorite late night hang out,

Myrtle’s Diner. Then the next thing I know Caylee Cowers walks by our table really slowly,

wearing cut-off shorts that left nothing to the imagination and a skin-tight tank top that was

beyond TACKY, and a pair of flip flops, just smiling right at my Emmett. When I saw the

lustful look in both of their eyes, I knew. What I didn’t know was going to happen next was me

aiming my chocolate milkshake with whip cream and the cherry still on top and shoving it into

her face, then atop of her head in front of God and everybody else at Myrtle’s to see.

Thankfully, Cora Lee, Collins, Bitsy and Greer were sitting in a booth on the other side

of the diner, with a clear view of the unfolding events, as if happening in slow motion. What

seemed like out of nowhere all at once, they gathered around me and in one fluid motion in the

most lady-like fashion scooted me out of there. However, this little social snafu would take less

than an hour to circulate throughout the small town of Solomon, Alabama. We walked around
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the town square twice before I was able to get into Greer’s Honda Accord. We took all the back

roads until we ended up at Collins’ family’s lake house, our personal place of solace. We sat

huddled together on the pier with our shoes off dangling our toes into the water while I sobbed.

After what seemed like forever with each of us lost in thought, Cora Lee said, “Y’all, look up to

the sky. Good friends are like stars, you don’t always see them, but you know they are there.

Always, Always.” That made us all start to cry. We cried knowing that our lives were going to

be heading in different directions soon. Graduation would be here soon, and the thought of us

not seeing each other on a daily basis seemed unfathomable.

There was one thing we did know for certain, and that was that Greer Abbott, Collins

Wingate, Cora Lee Ridley, Bitsy Moore, and I would remain best friends-Always, Always.

Every time I think back to that night and thinking of Caylee Cowers, that skanky hooker,

I get madder than a wet hen all over again. I knew that she was the reason for those last-minute

boys’ weekend trips to the hunting club or canceling a few of our dates. Emmett always gave me

an excuse that very believable. He would look me square in the eyes and say how sorry he was,

and how he’d make it up to me. He usually gave me the excuse that his Momma hadn’t had a

good day and he didn’t want to leave her. Well how could I argue with that? Bless her heart,

she’d been fighting the bottle and drugs for most of his life and had been in one rehab after

another under the guise of a spa vacation. Or other times I just chalked it up to him wanting to

hang out with his friends before we graduate. That was not something for which I would become

jealous, because I’ll be dang if anyone tried to keep me from my friends. So anyway, after that

light bulb went off, I knew that Emmett was cheating on me with Caylee Cowers, and he ought

to have been ashamed. But no, would you believe that he started dating that bimbo hussy! She’d
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had a horrible reputation since 7th grade, and around here your reputation is something that is

looked upon heavily. Once it is tarnished there’s nothing you can do to get it back. It tells of the

type of raising one has had. And let me tell you, the apple doesn’t fall far from the tree with that

girl. Everybody knew her Mama was a homewrecker.

I was 100% completely humiliated, and so I wallowed in my own self-pity for over a

week. My parents were starting to get worried and truth be told, if my best friends hadn’t staged

an intervention there’s no telling how long I would’ve stayed in that black hole. A true friend

never gets in your way unless you happen to be going down and looking back I was as down as

I’d ever been.

Thanks to Greer, Collins, Bitsy, and Cora Lee, I slowly began to slowly resemble a

human as opposed to a walking corpse. They convinced me that the first thing I needed to do

was take a shower, fix my hair, and put on some make up, especially mascara and lipstick. They

even got me to put on my favorite Lily Pulitzer dress and leave the house. There’s nothing that a

little retail therapy with your best friends can’t fix, even a broken heart. We went lollygagging

for hours and what do you know, the numbness that was the only thing left to feel started to

subside…a little. But over time, I started feeling like my old self again. I’m good at

compartmentalizing and putting on a good front. I’ve had to do that my whole life. To be from

the Mercer Family one should strive for perfection-be the perfect child, the perfect teenager, be a

Southern Belle, from the perfect Southern family. At times it can feel like a façade, but other

times I do take enormous pride in being from a prominent Southern family.

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Chapter Three

Greer looked at the clock for the hundredth time since her shift at the Pig, aka Piggly

Wiggly, started at nine o’clock this morning. She thought to herself, “I get off at three o’clock

and thank goodness it’s 2:30.” Unlike her friends, she had a part-time job at the local grocery

store and helped out at her parent’s store when needed so that she can have her own walking

around money. To some of the pretentious, snooty Mom’s in this town their daughters would not

be caught dead working the express lane, but she didn’t care. She loved it! Her manager, Mr.

Wooten, seemed to favor her over some of the others. He knew that she was a hard-worker who

never complained as opposed to some of the old-timers. You just couldn’t help it, everyone

loved her sunny disposition and her ability to small talk with anyone worked to her advantage.

Greer Abbott never met a stranger. Even when she was working, we still saw her pretty

regularly. We certainly aren’t afraid to loiter. We sometimes go through her check-out line over

and over, whether to buy the latest Cosmo magazine, a pack of gum, or to get a Coke.

We were at the red light at the 4-way crossroads with the Pig to the right, and Bless her

heart, I could see Greer looking out the front window and then at her watch. After scanning the

parking lot and seeing no red BMW in sight, she thought to herself, “I’ll be dang, those girls are

always running ‘fashionably late’. I’ll have to give them a talkin’-to about the importance of

being on time.”

The light turned green and we whipped in to the parking lot on two wheels. As soon as

she saw us Greer clocked out and hopped into Bitsy’s car. She tried to act put out that we were

just now getting there, but we knew she couldn’t stay mad at us, but nonetheless we let her vent.

“Well, hello! I’ve been waiting for what seemed like forever on y’all. Did you get lost from the

Solomon Country Club to here? It’s all of 5 miles down the road,” Greer said in her most
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sarcastic tone. “Y’all, I am always on time, if not 5 minutes early. The same can be said for

Vivi…usually. It’s just rude to run people late or to show up late.” We all just shook our heads

in agreement and when she was done, we apologized, and of course, she forgave us.

Cora Lee, Bitsy and Collins don’t have any concept of time, direction, or money. The

latter is what has always flowed freely their entire lives. And although I, too, come from what

some would call “Old Money”, I have a very deep appreciation for the things we have. My

parents have always instilled in us to give back to those less fortunate, and to live a life of

service. It’s one of the most respected things for which my family is known. However, those

debutantes have no idea what it’d be like to not have access to whatever they want at any time

and all the pleasures of living a life of privilege. I don’t mean that in a condescending kind of

way, just that I sometimes have to shake my head in disbelief. Bless their hearts.

Chapter Four

Let me formally introduce myself and tell you briefly about the others. I am Vivienne

Mercer, but I go by “Vivi”. I guess I could be described as the bossy one, not to be confused

with bratty. It’s just my nature to take charge. Honestly, if you want something done right you

have to do it yourself. My family has lived in Solomon for as long as I’ve ever known; four

generations back. My great-grandfather Solomon Mercer owned the only pharmacy in the tri-

county area. Back then black people were only treated at the black hospitals and seen only by a

black doctor. To do this they would have to drive two to three hours which made it extremely

difficult, if not impossible for those individuals to get everyday medical care. So often times

they would come to see my great-granddaddy for what ailed them. They called him Doc Sol. He
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was an honest man who always did right by them, and therefore was highly respected. My

grandfather and Daddy followed suit and also became Pharmacists. They own Mercer Drugs.

Granddaddy and Daddy both got their degrees from Auburn University (War Eagle).

Bitsy Monroe is the youngest of four kids, and the only girl. With three big brothers

you’re bound to be tough. She’s a spitfire! Those boys adore her and are very protective of her.

Her Daddy, Dr. Stewart Monroe, is a family practice physician. Bitsy’s Mom, Elizabeth, is an

interior designer. She’s very sought after and has worked for everyone from the Governor of the

great state of Alabama to Nick Saban’s house (ROLL TIDE!) They are huge Alabama fans and

as such are big contributors to the Alumni Association. They have a box on the 50-yard line at

Bryant Denny Stadium, and they bring new meaning to the word tailgating. It’s more like a

formal affair, and in the fall we all head down to Tuscaloosa with the Monroe’s to cheer on the

Tide. It’s so much fun and hard to explain in words. You have to be there to feel the electricity

in the air. It’s like nothing you’ve ever seen.

Cora Lee Ridley is probably one of the sweetest, most precious people that God put on

earth. There’re just some people who are born with a sweet spirit and gentle demeanor and we

all feel so blessed to consider her a friend. She gets it honestly. Her Mama and Gran were also

the epitome of a Southern Lady. Every year Mr. and Mrs. Ridley host a Christmas party and an

invitation to is much desired by all. It’s the grandest event of the season. Mr. Ridley is in some

kind of financial planning, I think. I’m not really sure what his job title is, except that they are

one of the wealthiest families in Solomon.

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We’ve known each other since elementary school and have remained thick as thieves

ever since. Now in our senior year at Solomon High, everyone knows that if you mess with one

of us you have to answer to the other four as well. We live in the small but quaint town of

Solomon, Alabama, where everybody knows everybody.

So, there you have it…my very best friends in the entire world. There’s nothing I

wouldn’t do for them and vice versa. Friendship isn’t about whom you have known the

longest…it’s about who came and never left your side.

Chapter Five: Tailgating in the South

October is one of the most beautiful months in the South. The temperatures go from

almost unbearable, blistering heat to the gorgeous days of little to no humidity. The leaves begin

to change to the vivid colors of yellow, orange, and red. Everywhere you look you will see

haybails, pumkins, and mums decorating storefronts and front lawns.

Fall also means football in the South. It also lends itself to perfect tailgating weather.

What is tailgating, you may ask? To put it in the simplist terms it is the prequel to a college

football game. Tailgating is all about great food, passionate fans, and time honored traditions.

Officially, the team colors for the Alabama Crimson Tide are crimson
(naturally) and white. On football game day in Tuscaloosa, however, it’s
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crimson and hounds-tooth—a tribute to Alabama legend Coach Paul “Bear”

Bryant, who regularly sported a houndstooth hat back in the day.

History, or at least the feeling of familiarity, permeates the Alabama

tailgating scene. Fans stake out their regular spots on The Quad and
surrounding fields near the stadium and reunite with their football family.
Strangers are also welcome at nearly every tailgate gathering. We always
take extra.