Johnny and Benny are Jack's good friends from the "old" Read Leaf days. Their parents run the China Cafe next door and they've basically grown up spending time with us. Even though they're all different ages, they have spent many happy hours hanging out together, making up games to play, hunting for bugs, trying to nail me with water balloons.
When we told Jack that we were selling the store, the worst part for him was that he wouldn't be seeing Johnny and Benny every day.
We asked their parents if they could come play at our house, and we've set up a regular Wednesday visit. Nowhere near the amount of time they've been together these past years, but hopefully enough for them to keep up their friendship. The boys are here now. They're all building Lego ships in preparation for a battle and they sure sound happy!
It's a little funny but really nice having our two worlds collide like this. Johnny and Benny have been to Jack's birthday parties here at the house the past few years, but other than that they've only played together at the bookstore and the restaurant.
We've enjoyed our association with their parents as business neighbors despite language being a bit of a barrier. Their dad doesn't really speak any English at all, but is very friendly. Their mom speaks more English and we talked with her pretty much every day, but not about anything very personal. Neighbors on Main Street, but our families are really a world apart in a lot of ways.
Maybe it's because there's a bit of a cultural divide between our families that I hope the boys' friendship will transcend geography. But mostly it's because Johnny and Benny have been like Jack's big brothers.
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