My dearest friend Judy, who had two “real sisters,” adopted me as one when I was little and filled with longing for my natural sibling, a child I’d never known.  She died when I was two. So the gift of Judy was something I’d longed for.Just last year she found an “adoption” contract we’d made with singed edges made to look old and a fake lawyer’s name scrawled by us – two nearsighted, gap-toothed ten year olds. 

We named the lawyer Penny, after my beloved, stinky dog.  Here is a birthday poem I wrote for Judy just the other day.

 

Sister Walk

So says one sister to another

A heart long-stitched to another

Through so many summers and back

In and out of mother’s kitchens: fragrant with breads in boxes, cinnamon dust and a bird hopping on your hand.

 One sister says the snow is over your shoes, and I want you to be warm forever. If the boy makes you cry, I will fix him good. I will fix them all.

For now, is the sister walk, the sister time. For now and forever I say to you.