"Friends by Mishap" by Suzanne Cottrell
– What if they lost our trunks?
Our classmates call us “Chip and Dale,” like the Disney chipmunk pals.
Suzanne Cottrell, a member of the Taste Life Twice Writers and NC Writers’ Network, lives with her husband in Granville County, North Carolina. An outdoor enthusiast and retired teacher, she enjoys reading, writing, knitting, hiking, and Pilates. Her prose has appeared in numerous journals and anthologies, including the Personal Story Publishing Project, Inwood Indiana Press, Quillkeepers Press, and Parks and Points. She’s the author of three poetry chapbooks: Gifts of the Seasons, Autumn and Winter; Gifts of the Seasons, Spring and Summer ; and Scarred Resilience, and Nature Calls Outside My Window, A Collection of Poems and Stories.
Author’s Talk
Suzanne Cottrell
After receiving recent email updates from a few former college friends, I got a story idea for the Sooner or Later anthology. I’m goal-oriented, organized, and punctual, so delays drive me crazy. When my trunk didn’t precede my arrival in Germany as planned, I panicked. On my own for my junior year in a foreign country, I knew no one. Asking my parents for more money to purchase a new wardrobe was not an option and filing a claim would take time. I balled my fists when others consoled me with “Your trunk will arrive soon.”
My roommate, Harriett bubbled with optimism while homesickness and fear plagued me. I struggled with Harriett’s generosity when her trunk arrived weeks prior to mine. What if I stained her blouse or scuffed her shoes? She never expressed any concern. Her positive attitude and reassurance lessened my anxiety. Harriett was a kind, empathetic, and unselfish friend, who provided me with hope and stability. Our temporary plight of missing trunks became the first of many shared experiences. How much did the delay of my trunk contribute to the unique bond Harriett and I developed? I wish I could ask her. I’ll never know.
After graduating from East Carolina University, I attended graduate school and pursued a teaching career while Harriett entered the U.S. Army. After fifteen years of service, she resigned her commission and was promoted to the rank of Lieutenant Colonel in the U.S. Army Reserves. I remained in North Carolina; she settled in Florida. Although aware of her health issues, the news of her death in the ECU magazine, East, stunned me. Unfortunately, at the young age of 51, Harriett succumbed to a neurological disorder, probably from exposure to warfare chemicals during her military service.
I am grateful for the opportunity to honor our special friendship, which evolved from a trunk mishap.—Suzanne Cottrell
