We met in the second row of Bible study, both of us scribbling in notebooks instead of listening to Pastor Ray’s sermon about the loaves and fishes.
Jordan was Catholic. I was Baptist. We debated saints, sang hymns differently, and prayed with our eyes open just to be rebellious.
One day, a classmate mocked Jordan’s speech impediment. I froze. But later, I handed him a note that said, “You speak clearer than most people I know.”
He cried. I learned that kindness spoken in private echoes louder than applause.
Jordan taught me that friendship isn’t about sameness. It’s about choosing loyalty, even when it’s inconvenient.