I'm sitting on the couch. Colored pencils in hand. On the last few pages of my homework.

My friend walks in. I'd been wondering where he was all evening. He eventually walks over to my side of the room.

"You working hard at homework?" he asked.

"Kinda." I shrugged.

"Some of us are going out," he said.

"Can I come?" I asked.

He laughed. "Of course, that's why I'm telling you."

And so. Finnigans it was. Markus. Thom. Stu. Me. Three countries, three continents, lots of laughs, three hours, two Kronenbergers (for me), jokes, stories, everything.

Friends.

Life.

I like it here. Wish these friends would stay longer than two weeks or three months. Wish I could find more of them at home.

Wish this was more eloquent. To say what my friends mean...to use good words, the big words, the best words. Because. Because. They're worth it.