{"id":872,"date":"2026-08-15T00:38:52","date_gmt":"2026-08-15T00:38:52","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mealtips.delicedcook.com\/?p=872"},"modified":"2026-08-15T00:38:52","modified_gmt":"2026-08-15T00:38:52","slug":"at-6-i-promised-my-best-friend-with-down-syndrome-wed-go-to-prom-together-12-years-later-mom-said-i-could-go-with-him-only-on-one-condition","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mealtips.delicedcook.com\/?p=872","title":{"rendered":"At 6, I Promised My Best Friend with Down Syndrome We\u2019d Go to Prom Together \u2013 12 Years Later, Mom Said I Could Go with Him Only on One Condition"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\"\"<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

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When I was six, I pinkie-promised my best friend that we\u2019d go to prom together someday. Twelve years later, he arrived at my door holding my corsage. I was ready to leave when Mom pulled me upstairs, locked the door, and said I could go with him only after hearing the truth she\u2019d hidden for years.<\/h2>\n
\n

My mother locked my bedroom door on prom night.<\/p>\n

That was the moment I knew something was wrong.<\/p>\n

\n

I knew something was wrong.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Downstairs, Noah was waiting for me in a navy suit and the bow tie he\u2019d been talking about since November.<\/p>\n

I could hear him chatting with my aunt through the floor.<\/p>\n

Then Mom turned toward me.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou can go with Noah tonight, Chrissy. But only on one condition. I need one promise from you.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cBut only on one condition.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

I stared at her.<\/p>\n

\u201cI know. That\u2019s generally how dates work.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019m serious.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her voice sounded strange.<\/p>\n

\u201cOkay\u2026\u201d I actually laughed. \u201cLet me guess. Midnight?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cNo.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cEleven-thirty?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cChristina.\u201d<\/p>\n

The fact that she used my full name wiped the smile off my face.<\/p>\n

Mom\u2019s hands were trembling.<\/p>\n

\n

Her voice sounded strange.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

\u201cYou have to hear something first.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout what, Mom?\u201d<\/p>\n

Her eyes flicked toward the closed bedroom door.<\/p>\n

\u201cAbout Noah.\u201d<\/p>\n

My heart pounded.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat about him?\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd about me.\u201d<\/p>\n

She sat on the edge of my bed.<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cWhat about him?\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Then she said something I never expected.<\/p>\n

\u201cI owe both of you the truth.\u201d<\/p>\n

***<\/p>\n

Noah and I met because of raisins.<\/p>\n

We were six.<\/p>\n

Our first-grade teacher had given everyone those little red boxes during snack time.<\/p>\n

I was quietly stuffing mine beneath a napkin when the boy beside me whispered, \u201cThat\u2019s smart.\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u201cI owe both of you the truth.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

I looked over.<\/p>\n

He was doing exactly the same thing.<\/p>\n

\u201cYou hate them?\u201d I asked.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey\u2019re old grapes.\u201d<\/p>\n

I considered this.<\/p>\n

\u201cThey are.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cOld grapes are gross,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n

That settled it.<\/p>\n

By lunch, we were best friends.<\/p>\n

Then dinosaurs helped.<\/p>\n

\n

By lunch, we were best friends.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

Noah knew an unreasonable amount about dinosaurs and had strong opinions about which one would win in a fight.<\/p>\n

I drew them.<\/p>\n

Badly.<\/p>\n

The first time I showed him my Tyrannosaurus rex, he stared at the page for several seconds.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhat is\u2026 that? It looks like a potato with arms!\u201d<\/p>\n

\n

\u201d It looks like a potato with arms!\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n

I shoved him.<\/p>\n

He laughed so loudly our teacher separated us.<\/p>\n

Noah had Down syndrome.<\/p>\n

At six, that mattered to me considerably less than the fact that he cheated at dinosaur trivia by memorizing the answers before asking me the questions.<\/p>\n

Our friendship was simple.<\/p>\n

Until another kid made it complicated.<\/p>\n

\n

Noah had Down syndrome.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

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