"I hope we never grow up," Kate said.
"We will," answered Petra, "But we don't need to grow old."

The memories of that day forty years ago raged like a swollen river in Kate's mind. They had been 10 years old, dressed up in her mother's too large dresses, jackets and hats. They had a tea party and Mr. Bear was making some very funny jokes. Dolly was being quiet and nibbling at her cookies. But Petra was singing and dancing.

"I'll marry a handsome man who will take me to dances in castles," she had said.

A tear pooled in the corner of Kate's eye. She laid the bouquet of lillies on Petra's casket. She heard the drone of the red-nosed priest in the background. But the sounds of laughter and clinking plastic cups overwhelmed her.

Tears ran down her cheeks, uncontrollable. A spasm of grief wracked her thin frame.

"We'll never grow old," she whispered as the casket was lowered into the earth.