My Best Friend Jennifer

In November 1999, I started a new job at Bally’s Total Fitness. I worked the front desk as a receptionist, swiping all the customers into the club, and answering the phones. So, one day a customer came into the club. We were laughing and talking about shopping. We hit it off well and quickly became good friends.  We are very similar both of us are nice and loving people. After a while, I met her family and she met mine.

We did almost everything together; we went to dinner once a week to Baker’s Square. We ate the same thing every time. We had pasta, French fries, and apple pie a la mode. We would go shopping on our days off. What is great about my friend is if I did not have enough money she would pay for my purchase. And that is how it went, she never asked me to pay it back. I can remember calling her one day to ask if she could loan me fifty dollars for my light bill and she gave it to me and she would always tell me don’t worry about it. So, when she calls me for anything, I go and do it, even now. And guess what? She is my cat’s godmother!

We still see each other, but not as much since I’ve moved to the city. She still lives in Evanston in my old apartment. We talk almost every day on the phone. Over the years, we’ve had our ups and downs, but we always made up and started talking again.

Recently, we had gone a while without talking. Then she called me in December and said she needed to tell me something important. So, I said, “tell me what is it?”

She said, “I am having a baby.”

So, I said, “No! You’re lying!”

Her reply was, “Yes, I am having a baby!”

So, I asked “How far along are you?”

She said, “three months.”

I am excited for her because she will be a great mother. She is a really great friend also. Jennifer is my best friend we have laughed together, cried together and I wouldn’t change that at all. If you have a best friend hold on to them, because a good friend is hard to find these days and make sure you tell them you love them and mean it.

Gloria

A Happy Student at FAST West

The happiest day of my life was going back to school after having my baby. One of the reasons it was a good day was seeing my favorite teacher in the whole world, Mr. Nathan, because he’s fun. Plus, he teaches reading in his own special way. Then there is Mr. Ben who teaches math and he teaches that in a special way too. They are helping me move more and more close to taking the test.

It makes me happy to come to school and everyone greets me with so much love. The people upstairs at the front desk greet me too. Then there are the people that help people find housing and much more; they also greet me. My teachers and their coworkers make people feel important and wanted, and that we can do whatever we put our minds to. They even give us bulletins for jobs housing and more things that are healthy for their students. I am so happy when there are no absences and everyone is in class ready to work and help one another.

To my knowledge being at FAST west is the happiest and most peaceful place. Even when I graduate I would still like to come back to FAST west at 10 S. Kedize. That’s what makes me happy because they are so inspirational and peaceful at FAST west. I think I would like to help out after I pass my test. That’s what makes me happy having people help me then coming back help others to pass their test. 

Aleathia

MY CAT AND ME

I was very happy when I first got my cat Sabastian. He was very small and had big ears. We lived in Evanston in a small basement apartment. Every time I went to and came home from work he was waiting at the door for me. And that made me feel real good, because once I sat down he would jump up on my lap and sit.

About fourteen years ago, I got him from one the members at Bally’s Total Fitness where I worked. We became good friends and I started cat sitting for the family when they would go out of town. So one day her cat got out of the house and came back and the family found out that she was having kittens.

Time went by and she had four kittens three girls and one boy who was the smallest. The girls looked like their mother. They were the same color and the boy was different, orange and white. My friend asked if I would like to have one of the kittens when they were born and I said yes. After eight weeks he came home to me and I was happy. The family gave me food for him that would last for six months and he had his shots also. 

He made me happy every time I saw his little face. He made worry sometimes because he didn’t look like he was growing, but today he is big and healthy and still keeping me happy. If I had to do it all over again I would.

Gloria