When two people love each other very much ... in another way: Part 2
The senior poster children of "best friends" illustrate the sweet and surprising impact time can have on two people.
Posted Fri May 27, 14:05:44 PDT 2005
By Allison Ferraiolo of Verde Magazine
S omething about senior Tameeka Bennett, recent Paly graduate Brittany Hampton's close friend of seven years, weighed down on Hampton during her time at Palo Alto High School. "She would always try to steal the good candy from [receptionist] Ms. [Vallen] Queen's jar," Hampton says.
Bennett replies, "You're too slow ? I'm sorry."
Bennett is not without her reservations about Hampton. "Brittany can never walk in a straight line," Bennett says. "If I'm in a cross walk, she pushes me out so I'll get hit by a car."
Despite these comical breaches of etiquette, Hampton and Bennett have experienced little tension throughout their friendship. "I think we got along well [over the years]," Hampton says. "We never had an argument or anything."
Their friendship started in sixth grade at Jordan Middle School, when Bennett stayed after class and Hampton asked her if Bennett wanted to ride the bus with her. Bennett agreed, and their friendship has developed during their many bus rides together ever since.
They also got to know each other through the many classes they had together, after school programs, and working at the Snack Bar together. "We worked at the cafeteria [Snack Bar] next to each other and we'd have to open hecka boxes together," Bennett says. Although they spent a lot of time at school and on the bus together, they did not go to each other's houses often.Bennett's favorite memory from her and Hampton's friendship happened in an outdoor hall of Jordan Middle School, after they had run an errand and everyone else had gone to class.
"We were walking and Brittany said something to me," Bennett says, trying to contain her laughter. "I pushed her over the rail. Her backpack flew over her head and her dress fell down. All the students were looking at her through the window. That was so funny." Hampton, on the other hand, remembered this as Bennett's meanest act.
The two friends remember other naughty moments from middle school, but with these they were accomplices. "We were evil," Hampton says. "We just didn't care."
Hampton and Bennett entered high school more pious than in their "evil" days. However, Hampton especially grew very religious as she was studying to become a Jehovah's Witness, which created some adjustments Bennett needed to make. Jehovah's Witnesses are not supposed to celebrate holidays other than the memorial of Jesus' death, because unlike other holidays, "that is something he did tell us to celebrate," Hampton says. Thus, Hampton would not participate in Bennett's birthday parties. This confused Bennett at first, but Bennett learned to be content with Hampton's ideals. "I respected her and her beliefs," Bennett says.
Although each left the other's religious values alone, they did not stand back when one of them encountered guy troubles. When "one of my exes calls out of the blue," Bennett says, "we talk to each other and say 'Girl, you got to be strong.'"
In addition to support in their love lives, they provide motivation for each other. "We're always like, 'let's do this together,' so it will be encouraging," Hampton says. "I guess we kind of feed off each other. [We did] especially when Tameeka started driving. That really encouraged me."
Hampton's graduation in January created a potential divide in their friendship because they now spend less time together and don't share the same friends. However, "we're still close, good friends," Hampton says.
Keeping up the tradition, they spend a lot of their time together riding the bus, now to places like Stanford Shopping Center and Walmart. They also go out to lunch.
Although Bennett admits that "college will take us down different paths," Hampton says, "we will always be close buddies."Bennett and Hampton have not only found companionship in each other, but also inspiration. "The thing I always admired about Brittany is how she keeps her head held high, her self-confidence," Bennett says. "She never looks down at the ground."
Hampton respects Bennett no less. "What I really admire is that she is determined," Hampton says. "When she says she's going to do it, she's going to do it."