I think I finally understand all that my pops used to say when I was a kid.

“Trust is something hardly earned and easily lost”

He was right. Of course, at the time, I didn’t understand what he truly meant by this. I mean, once I lent Bob my plastic T-rex, and he lost it. Man, was I mad at him, refused to speak to him for what felt like an eternity but was more like 20 minutes. He apologized, and we moved on, after all, he was my bestie.

“Friends are only good in movies and TV shows. In real life, trusting people will be no more than a weakness, kiddo”

I always pitied my father, I thought he was sad and miserable, that sometime his best friend might have disappointed him, and he never made friends anymore. Poor pops must be very lonely, I used to think.

I used to tell him that Bob would NEVER betray me, and our trust and friendship would last a lifetime. He would laugh.

But, although it hurts me a lot to admit this, pops were right. Our friendship didn’t last a lifetime. Hell, it didn’t last through college!

“Bob, this really hurts me more than it hurts you, believe me. You shouldn’t have slept with her”

I knew he couldn’t answer me, but weirdly I was expecting an answer. For old times’ sake, you get it, don’t you?

But all I could hear were his mumbles as I put the last brick on the wall.

Just like pops taught me that day when he put Uncle Lou and momma to rest in the wall.

Pops would be proud of me.