Every morning Sissy and Piper walk to school together. They hold hands on their commute. I watch them from a bench on our front porch. You can, too. They’re the ones at the front of the line. You’ll spy Piper’s blue tutu.
Then they walk home together after school. Sissy’s teacher dismisses her first. Piper waits in the kindergarten classroom for her pickup. I’m waiting on the same bench at home for their return, but I can imagine the moment when they see each other again. It’s not a chore they have to do together. Sissy doesn’t think it’s a burden. They enjoy walking to school together and walking home together. They always hold hands. There will be a day, I’m sure, when they won’t. And it will come sooner than I’m ready for, but for now, for this moment, this is the commute, and I’m savoring it.
One afternoon Sissy was a few minutes late picking up Piper. Her art teacher held them over the time to clean up. It worried Piper. “I thought you forgot me,” she told Sissy over their afternoon snack.
“I’d never forget you, P. I was just late,” Sissy explained.
“But I thought you weren’t coming,” Piper said.
Sissy grabbed Piper’s hand. “You’re the most important thing to me in that whole school. I’ll always come get you. I won’t forget. How could I forget you?”
piperism 
OH my goodness- Sissy just pulled all my heartstrings with that last bit.
Mine, too. She was so insistent on her priorities. She sounded just like me when I go a little overboard from my working mom guilt. These kids are loved. It should be enough. And they have each other. Clearly.
I was the big sister too – so I relate to Sissy a lot – what a nice girl she is — don’t think I was that nice to my sister when we were little–today though she is my best friend
Sissy is exceptionally nice. I think this is one area where the five years between them works well. They aren’t rivals as much as coconspirators. I’m so happy to hear that your sister is your best friend now. I can see rocky years ahead, but I can also see them being close all grown up.
Holding hands. Never forgetting. Are you trying to make me weep?
Of course I am! I’m guessing the hormones are helping a bit, too. Holding hands and never forgetting feel even more precious on the verge of Sissy’s growing up. There will be a day when they won’t find each other so lovable, I fear, and then that day will pass and they’ll be friends again. I’m bracing myself. Last night Sissy scooted Piper out of her room for the first time with a gentle “I just need a little privacy.” And so it goes.