Mallory and Mary Ann Take New York

by Laurie Friedman

  And the truth is … everything is fun in New York. Even eating pizza.

  I stand up and put my paper plate in the trash.

  It’s time to say good-bye to the city that never sleeps.

  “Ladies and Gentlemen, please fasten your seat belts. We’ll be taking off shortly.”

  Mary Ann and I buckle our seat belts and sit back in our seats.

  I look across the aisle at my mom and Mary Ann’s mom. They’re sitting next to each other, smiling and laughing, like one of them just told a funny joke. They look happy.

  I look out the window. I wish I felt as happy as they seem. But I don’t. Even though our trip to New York ended up being great, I feel sad that we’re leaving. New York is such an exciting city, and there are so many things we didn’t get to do.

  As the plane lifts off, I press my nose against the window and look at the sites of New York. All the buildings are starting to look like miniatures. I try to locate some of the places we went.

  It’s easy to spot the Empire State Building. Johnny’s Pizza is impossible to find.

  I look under the seat in front of me at the bag of souvenirs I bought. Max will like the Statue of Liberty snow globe and mini Empire State Building I got him, but I really wish I could have brought him back a pizza from Johnny’s. He would have loved that.

  As the plane moves higher, the sites of the city start to disappear below the clouds. Our trip to New York is quickly becoming a memory.

  Mary Ann leans toward me. “It’s hard to believe it’s all over, and we’re on our way back to Fern Falls,” she says.

  It’s almost like Mary Ann can read my mind.

  “It makes me a little sad.” I tell Mary Ann how much I loved going to New York. “It was so exciting and so different from home,” I say.

  I wait for Mary Ann to say she’s sad too and that there’s no place like New York. But her answer surprises me.

  “I loved New York too,” says Mary Ann. “But honestly, I’m happy to be going home.”

  I think about what she just said. I remind Mary Ann about the hotel we stayed in, the sites we saw, the food we ate, the busy streets we walked on, meeting Fashion Fran, and being on national TV. “Everything we did was so exciting.” I shrug my shoulders. “Won’t you miss all those things?” I ask Mary Ann.

  Mary Ann is quiet for a minute.

  “I will miss all those things,” she says slowly like she’s putting a lot of thought into choosing her words. “But I’m going home with my favorite thing.”

  I think about the things she bought at the airport gift shop.

  She’s taking home an I LOVE NY back scratcher for Joey, a Big Apple poster for Winnie, and toe socks for herself.

  I give Mary Ann an I’m-not-sure-what-your-favorite-thing-you’re-taking-home-is look.

  Mary Ann leans her head back against the seat and laughs. “My favorite thing I’m taking home is my best friend.”

  When Mary Ann says that, the engine rumbles and the plane shakes from side to side. The captain makes an announcement about hitting some turbulence and making sure our seat belts are buckled. My stomach feels like it is falling out of my body.

  Mary Ann puts her hand on my arm like she can sense that I don’t like the shaky-plane feeling.

  “Thanks again for keeping the pinky swear we made and figuring out a way to get us both on the Fashion Fran show. You’re the best friend a girl could ask for,” she says. “As long as we’re together. I’m happy wherever I am.”

  I thought I was happy walking the streets of New York and meeting Fashion Fran and being on national TV and standing on top of the Empire State Building, but none of that felt as good as what Mary Ann just said.

  The plane levels out and I take a deep breath.

  Mary Ann has been my best friend since the day I was born. We’ve done so many fun things together over the years. Going to New York was definitely one of the most fun, but Mary Ann is right. As long as we’re together, it doesn’t really matter what we’re doing.

  I look at Mary Ann. Then I hold up my pinky. “I know I said no more, but do you want to make another pinky swear?” I ask.

  She nods.

  “Best friends forever,” I say.

  Mary Ann hooks her pinky around mine. “And ever,” she says.

  We smile at each other and squeeze our pinkies tightly together.

  We both know this is one pinky swear that won’t be hard to keep.

  Mary Ann and I have made a lot of scrapbooks over the years, but the scrapbook we made from our trip to New York is our biggest one ever.

  When Mom saw it, she said it’s SUPERSIZED, just like New York City. And she’s right. We just had so many good pictures to put in it! It was really hard to choose, but here are some of my favorites.

  Mary Ann and I at the hotel

  Mary Ann and I in front of the Manhattan skyline

  Mary Ann and I with Fashion Fran

  And Mary Ann and I on top of the Empire State Building

  If you ask Mary Ann or me, we would both tell you that we loved New York City. But here’s the funny thing about our trip: even though not every minute of it was perfect, when we look at our pictures, Mary Ann and I agree it was all good because we did it together.

  Mom says things are always good when you’re doing them with someone you care about.

  I will say this: I don’t always agree with my mother, but this time, I, Mallory McDonald, officially think she is right.

  I’ll say one more thing too. And since Mary Ann is standing right here beside me, we’ll say it together: We officially loved, loved, loved our trip to New York City!

  You already know how much Mary Ann and I loved the pizza in New York. But we like it even better on Wish Pond Road. Especially when it’s cookie pizza. We found this recipe in a magazine. If you’ve never had Cookie Pizza, you have to pinky swear to us that you will try it immediately.

  We promise you will love, love, love it! Trust us when we tell you that you will have as much fun making this as you will eating it. Happy eating!

  Big, huge hugs and kisses!

  Mallory and Mary Ann

  P.S. This pizza tastes even better if you make it with a friend. We promise!