Growing up, I had friends who were sisters and Chinese. One of my closest friends, Billy, was Jewish. We would sit on his backyard swing, laughing so hard that tears would run down our faces. I was Protestant but sometimes attended church with my Catholic friends. It was so different. A bell would ring; people would kneel. The bell would ring again; people would stand. I still remember the scent of incense as the priest blessed the congregation. I also had Black friends who lived in the military housing near my home. However, when the condemned housing was marked for destruction to make way for new homes to meet the needs of military officers, my friends moved away.

Therefore, I want to show younger readers the importance of friends despite our differences. I also want them to recognize that we share common traits, such as the ability to love, learn, and dream of a better future through setting goals and working hard.

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