The Definition of “Friend”

I saw this on Facebook and giggled. I even sent it to my two best friends, figuring they’d appreciate the sentiment. They did.

But alas, this is the childish, uncivilized part of my personality. My inner six-year-old who wants what she wants, when she wants it, with no concern for the feelings of others. Fortunately, in real life, my friends are adults. Especially my best friends.

In one scene in Faery Unexpected, my main character wants a “someone’s gonna get it” friend. Though she doesn’t realize it at the time, she’s very lucky to have Roddy instead:

I walked Lexie to her next class, saw her safely inside and then scampered to my locker. With everyone else in class, the hall was empty. I pulled Roddy from my backpack and set him on the shelf in my locker.

“Okay, Roddy. I know you heard everything. I want you to curse that little witch, Danielle. I want her to be sorry she was ever born. Make her hair fall out, heck, make her teeth fall out. I don’t care what you do; just make her sorry she ever thought of getting Lexie in trouble!”

He blinked his emerald eyes at me and stretched, looking for all the world like a miniature golden cat.

“I’m sorry, my princess,” he said. “I can’t do that.”

“What?” I yelped. “What kind of a guard dragon are you? Why didn’t you protect me from her?”

“I’m an excellent guard dragon,” he said mildly. “I know the difference between danger and youthful indiscretion.”

“You call Danielle trying to get me and Lexie thrown out of school a youthful indiscretion?” I sneered. “Well, I call it war! I command you to curse her.”

“I live to serve, my princess,” he replied. “But I refuse to do that which will cause you harm. You must deal with your rival in the mortal fashion.”

“Great,” I said. “I have a guard dragon who refuses to guard me. Fat lot of help you are.”

I stuffed him back in my bag and stormed off to class.

Claire eventually realizes that Roddy is exactly the kind of guardian she needs, but then that’s the point isn’t it? We don’t always recognize what’s good for us, or what will take our lives in an untenable direction. Friends, good friends, help us step away from our anger / hurt / bitterness and focus on the realities of life.

May you have truly good friends, not just friends who will help you get in trouble. If you’re like me, you do just fine in that department all by yourself!

About Debbie

Debbie Mumford specializes in fantasy and paranormal romance. She loves mythology and is especially fond of Celtic and Native American lore. She writes about faeries, dragons, and other fantasy creatures for adults as herself, and for tweens and young adults as Deb Logan.
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