This is...

This is two childhood friends,
formerly known as best friends,
at a birthday with the theme of Madagascar,
echos of very few children hum in the background,
both wearing Alex the Lion masks,
that reflected the courageousness in their youth

this is bold, bright smiles hidden behind masks,
before the big move, before high school or even middle school,
before puberty and the separation of parents,
before we got lost in our adolescence,
and forgot what it was like to pick up the phone and project,
a hearty 'hello'.