ME AND MY BEST FRIEND

AS TOLD TO Kim Newth PHOTOS Joshua Brosnahan

On a summer’s day in the Botanic Gardens, Christchurch girls Kendal and Georgia take a pause in their game of tag and tree climbing adventures to explain the essence of friendship...

Kendal: When I first started school and met Georgia, I thought she was going to be a good friend. She looked really nice. We became friends from day one and were in the same class at school, and we’re still going to be in the same class in Year 3. We sit together in class and spend interval and lunch together.

When I’m sad she’ll say, ‘hey Kendal, don’t be sad – let’s go and play’! We both love chocolate ice cream with sprinkles and everything, and we like the same colours – pink, gold, purple and blue.

Georgia: Our favourite animals are horses, dogs and koalas.

Kendal: ... and unicorns! Every girl likes unicorns!

Georgia: Kendal is kind and she makes me laugh. When I’m upset she makes it all right. We play tag, and hide and seek and have our favourite places. If it’s raining outside then we’ll do dress-ups or play with our Barbies or Polly Pockets.

We often write each other a card; I write one to her and she then gives one to me. Or sometimes Kendal writes me one and then I write back. We draw bubbles and things in them and write, ‘you’re my BFF’.

In the holidays, we both went to the Sounds with our families and met at Lochmara Bay. I went in a kayak and we had a barbecue together and went swimming.

Kendal: I went on a paddle board ... When I stood up in the water it was up to my hips. I kept pranking Georgia that there was a sting ray in the water! She knew I wasn’t serious though.

I turned 7 in October and she got me an LOL [doll] in a basket. We play with each other’s LOLs a lot. I like it when she gives me presents and when I give her presents. We had this BFF necklace that broke when I was trying to put it on but now we’ve got a new one. It’s a fairy necklace in two halves for each of us.

Georgia: Sometimes she comes to my place to play with my LOLs and sometimes I go to her place to play with her LOLs. I’m turning seven soon and we’re going to a flower place to make headbands.

It is so much fun when we go on play dates. Me and Kendal went to [Taiora] QEII and went on the hydro-slide. I thought I was going to fall off!

Kendal: I thought everyone was going to come down on top of me.

Georgia: I want us to be friends when we’re grandmothers.

Kendal: I want us to stay friends for 10,000 years.

Georgia: Best Friends Forever!