It's Koji

A short story by Koji’s friend, Steve Eskay, for Koji

Koji's Forever Friend

One day, Koji woke up from a nice, long nap.

Omma lifted him out of the bed and gave him a big hug.

"Good afternoon, Kochann. Did you sleep ok?" she asked.

"Yes, Omma. I slept well. I had lots of dreams." said Koji.

"Oh, I can't wait to hear all about them!" said Omma. "You always have the most interesting dreams!"

Omma had been busy all morning doing lots of things around the house.

She even had time to make Koji a delicious snack of all his favorite things.

Apples, cheese, crackers, cashews, and water.

Once lunch was over, Omma told Koji that she had a big surprise for him.

"Appa has a friend coming over today, Koji. He's going to stay with us for the weekend," she said.

At first, this made Koji feel a little nervous, like humming bird wings were fluttering in his stomach.

"Who is coming, Omma?" asked Koji.

"His name is Uncle Eskay. He is one of Appa's forever friends."

Koji's eyebrows scrunched up tight. He wiggled his bottom. He was thinking.

"What's a forever friend, Omma?" asked Koji.

"A forever friend is a very special kind of friend. For Appa and Uncle Eskay, it means they have been friends for a very long time, since they were both young and in college together," said Omma.

"Do you ever stop being friends with a forever friend?"

Omma laughed and smiled because her son Koji was so clever to ask such a smart question.

"No, Koji. That's why they are called forever friends. Because they never stop."

Koji still looked confused.

"Do I have any forever friends like Appa?" asked Koji.

"Well, anyone can be your forever friend. But you have to ask them, Koji. And they have to say 'yes'." said Omma.

"Can you be my forever friend, Omma?" asked Koji.

Omma smiled at Koji and then frowned.

"Well, no, Koji. I can't. I'm you're Omma."

Koji looked sad. He didn't understand.

"You came from mine and Appa's body, Kochann. We will always be much more than your friends. We are Omma and Appa. Never forget that."

Koji felt good again.

"Can you be my forever Omma?" asked Koji.

"Yes, my clever little buddy. I'm your forever Omma! And Appa is your forever Appa!"

"But, Omma--" said Koji looking unsure. "I'm still confused. What does forever mean then?"

"Ohhhhhh, well, that's a very good question Koji," said Omma. "Let me think how to explain it best--"

Then, just as she was about to tell Koji the meaning of forever, her cell phone rang! It was a work call. Omma had to take it.

"I'm sorry, Koji. Omma has to do some work. Can I tell you what forever means later?"

"Yes, Omma. But don't forget!"

"I won't, Koji," said Omma.

Koji played all afternoon in the big room. That's where he kept all his wonderful toys.

Koji had blocks, and cars, and helicopters. He had Gronks, and Miffies, and Redoggies.

He asked each new toy he played with the same question.

"Excuse me, Miffie. Do you know what forever means?"

But Miffie just stared at him with little black eyes.

"Excuse me, Blocks. Do you know what forever means?"

But blocks just stacked on each other like they didn't even hear him.

"Excuse me, Mr. Helicopter. Do you know what forever means?"

But Mr. Helicopters blades slowly stopped spinning.

Nobody seemed to know what forever was!

After awhile, Koji forgot about his question. He crawled under the table and got out his favorite toy of all. The magical magnet building set.

Koji spent hours and hours building beautiful sculptures out of the magnet set.

Today, he would build something really special. A tall, tall tower that everyone could see from miles around.

He wanted to build it special for Appa's forever friend to make him feel welcome in their home.

He clicked and he clacked.

He slipped and he slapped.

He plunked and he plonked.

Higher and higher the tower grew until it was so high he couldn't reach anymore.

Just then, Omma came into the big room. She was so tired from working she didn't even notice the tower at first.

"Oh, I'm so tired, Koji. Work was hard," Omma said. She was always honest with Koji because she wanted him to grow up to be a big, strong boy.

"Oh, Omma, would you like me to rub your feet?" said Koji.

"Oh, my Kochann, you are so sweet. I just want to lay down on the couch and relax."

Just then, she saw the amazing tower. She couldn't believe her eyes!

"Oh, Koji! Did you build that?"

"Yes, Omma," said Koji.

"Oh, I love it so much! What is it for?"

"It's for Uncle Eskay, Appa's forever friend," said Koji.

"Oh, Koji. You are such a sweet boy. I know he will love it so much! I just know he will," said Omma.

"Can you tell me what forever means now Omma?" said Koji.

Omma smiled.

"You are such a patient boy, Koji. Of course, Omma will tell you what forever means."

And just as Omma was about to explain, they heard the car pull up outside the house.

Koji jumped up and ran to the big glass door.

"Is it Appa, Omma?"

"Yes, Koji. Appa is home."

Koji pressed his face to the glass door and listened with all his might.

He heard a car door shut once and then-- a car door shut twice!

He knew that Appa's forever friend was almost there.

Koji watched like a hawk for them to come through the gate and walk past the beautiful birds of paradise plants.

Finally, they appeared. Appa came first. He had a big smile on his face and he was laughing. It always made Koji happy when Appa laughed. He turned around and saw that Omma was smiling now too.

Then, he saw Appa's forever friend, Uncle Eskay.

Uncle Eskay was tall, like Appa. He also wore glasses like Appa. He even had a pudgy belly like Appa!

A little voice in Koji's head wondered: "will he be my forever friend too?"

When the great glass door slid open and Appa and Uncle Eskay came inside, everything got loud!

Uncle Eskay was the loudest person Koji had ever met!

Even Appa, who was always so calm and soft-spoken, talked louder when Uncle Eskay was around!

Uncle Eskay was always laughing and told so many strange jokes, Koji couldn't even keep up.

Then, suddenly, it got quiet.

Uncle Eskay was staring at the tower.

He didn't even speak.

"Who made this wonderful tower?" asked Uncle Eskay.

Uncle Eskay's eyes were filled with awe and wonder.

Omma looked at Koji but he didn't speak. She could tell he wanted to say something but he couldn't find his words.

Omma leaned closer and spoke to him softly. "Kochann, Uncle Eskay wants to know who made the wonderful tower. Can you tell him?"

Uncle Eskay looked down at Koji. Uncle Eskay is so tall, thought Koji.

Then, he found his words again.

"I made it," said Koji.

"And why did you make it, Koji?" said Omma, prompting him.

"For Uncle Eskay," said Koji.

All the sudden Uncle Eskay shrunk down right next to Koji. Their faces were right next to each other. Uncle Eskay didn't seem so tall anymore.

Uncle Eskay, who normally was always so loud, said in a soft voice, "You made that for me?"

"Yes," said Koji. "I wanted you to be happy to be here."

"I am happy to be here, Koji. I'm very happy to be here with you and Omma and Appa."

"Do you like the tower I built?" asked Koji.

"I like it very, very much," said Eskay. "I think I will love it forever."

When Eskay said this, Koji scrunched up his eyebrow, and wiggled his bottom. There is that word again, he thought!

"Can we be forever friends too, Uncle Eskay?" said Koji.

"Forever friends?" asked Uncle Eskay. He turned to look quizzically at Appa and Omma. He seemed to be confused too.

"Yes, like you and Appa," said Koji.

"Ohhhhh," said Uncle Eskay and he smiled. "That's a big question. Do you know what forever means, Koji?"

"Well, well-- Forever means-- it means--"

Koji couldn't remember.

Did Omma tell him?

Did Miffie know?

What had blocks said?

And helicopter?

He felt like he'd been talking about it all day, but now he couldn't remember what it was.

"Forever means that something has no beginning, no middle, and no end. It's like your love with Omma and Appa. It's a line that goes on, and on, and on in all directions and never stops."

"Is it is like the sound when you laugh?" said Koji. "Does it feel like when Omma wakes me up and hugs me tight?"

"Yes," said Uncle Eskay grinning widely. "Forever is a part of all good things. It is how the earth rewards people for good deeds. When you built this tower for me. That was a good deed, Koji. It meant so much to me and made me feel right at home. For that, we will forever be friends."

Koji felt a big, pink, happiness filling up his brain. He felt like flying. He and Uncle Eskay were going to be forever friends.

Then--! He really was flying!

Appa picked him up from behind and hugged him.

"Now, let's go get some dinner! I'm starving," said Appa. "Do you know how bad the traffic is at the airport? It took forever! Next time, Uncle Eskay is getting an Uber!"

"Appa!" squealed Koji. "That's not what forever means! Forever means love!"

Appa smiled. "I'm sorry, Koji. You are right. Traffic was not forever. It was just a dull moment. You are forever. You and me and Omma and Uncle Eskay."

Omma smiled too. "I'm so proud of you Koji. You have learned so much today."

Finally, Uncle Eskay smiled. Then in a loud voice said: "Let's eat!"

They all went into the kitchen and had a wonderful meal of chicken and rice with curry sauce.

And they talked and laughed and read stories to each other late into the night.

The End.