In Kindergarten, they took the same bus to school, though they didn't know each other very well because they lived too far away to walk to each others' houses. Louise knew Renee lived in one of her two favorite houses that she saw every ride home. It sat by a creek and seemed mysterious. Louise also knew Renee as one of the only kids she knew who wore glasses. Renee remembered Louise as the girl with an earache. One ride home from school, Renee saw Louise crying into her school bag and asked what was wrong. Louise suffered earaches and bronchitis fairly often as both her parents smoked.
Later in elementary school, Louise would remember Renee as The Girl Who Came a Day Late. It was the day after Louise's birthday on a bright late October day and she saw Renee, now moved to a less mysterious house, but within walking distance, coming down the sidewalk, the largest present she ever saw in hand. Decades later, Louise would suspect that Renee came a day late on purpose, to avoid the other kids and the party atmosphere. She would not remember the party, but she remembered Renee, sharing leftover chocolate cupcakes, and coloring together in the Giant Size Wonder Woman coloring book that was Renee's present. Renee would remember that Louise was careful to make sure she didn't feel bad about being a day late, and she enjoyed the birthday party of two.
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