CityView Magazine

CityViewNC .com | 31 stay inside playing video games, in particular, Minecra. Eleanor and Jack, the more talkative duo, prefer pretend games played outside. But in spite of their collective similarities and differences, they said they savored the time they were together, regardless of how they spent it. e quartet crossed back and forth between their stucco houses each day aer school to watch movies and entertain themselves. ey constructed a fort between their two houses inside a hollowed-out and overgrown bush. It was these seemingly small but significant moments that moved their relationship from warm neighbors to best friends. "Probably just sitting on the couch all scrunched together," Eleanor said, in response to her favorite memory involving the Kearney boys. The next summer, the four attended a summer camp focused on marine life and oceanography at the Nor th Carolina Aquarium. They purchased matching otter stuf fed animals, a recurring centerpiece of games they played at the local playground. Only together for one year, the friendship that formed initially out of close proximity was put through the test of long distance. Danny and Jack moved to Somerville, Massachusetts, while Lillian and Eleanor moved to Fort Leavenworth, Kansas. Danny and Lillian, who were old enough to have cellphones, managed to stay in touch through text messages. "We texted every once in a while," Danny said. "Really the only communication that we had was between me and Lillian texting." But in Aug ust, there was a bright spot in the midst of global ly chal lenging year. Both fami lies moved back to For t Bragg. The t wo mothers, Bronwen Pence and Lauren Kearney, planned a surprise reunion for the chi ldren at the Kearneys' house. Danny and Li l lian, now 13, Eleanor, 11, and Jack, 10, picked up right where they lef t of f w ith the dai ly banter, enter tainment and conversation. The days that have fol lowed their homecoming have marked a return to the old days. Now, when she reflects on their friendship, Eleanor said her friendship with the Kearney boys feels more similarly to that of family. "ey're our cousins," Lillian quipped in agreement. Contributing writer Michelle Kurilla is a junior at Harvard who lives on Fort Bragg with her family. NEIGHBORS SERVING NEIGHBORS NEIGHBORS SERVING NEIGHBORS CELEBRATE PUBLIC POWER! As a Public Power provider, PWC is community-owned and locally- operated. Our customers have a voice through local leadership, because PWC leaders are customers too! Our employees live here as well. And they're our greatest asset, providing their family, friends and neighbors with reliable, high quality services every day. Learn more at faypwc.com/public-power-at-work 17040 9/2020 FayTV.net

• Cover