To quote an old song, “It takes two.” Well, maybe there’s some truth in that. Just ask seniors Jennifer Thompson and Jennie Wigner. Thompson and Wigner first met in grade school. They were not close friends, and at times even considered each other enemies. They didn’t become close friends until ninth grade. Never did they believe that they’d become best friends, and not in their wildest dreamsdid they think that nearly five years later they would be roommates. “Until eighth grade, we didn’t like each other,” said Thompson. “Inninth grade, we began to think, ‘it would be nice to have a house together.’” Last August, Thompson’s parents moved from Kalispell to become professional truck drivers in Arizona. According to Thompson, her parents wanted to “see the country and make more money.” Instead of leaving Jennifer to live on her own, Thompson’s parents asked Wigner if she wanted to live with Jennie. Wigner didn’t encounter any resistance from her mother who is a “career woman,” and within three days, Wigner moved in with Thompson. Now, both students still maintain positive relationships with their parents “I waited three days,” said Wigner. “I didn’t want to rush in, but I wanted to live over there.” “I’d never heard of any parent doing that before,” said Thompson. “But that first six months was like a test for us.” One cooks and one cleans. But “one” has very little to do with Thomp-son and Wigner. The more operative word would be “two” when it comes to getting things done. Thompson and Wigner do almost everything together, and split the household chores. Both teenagers feel the time spent living without supervision has been a growing experience. “The only people we have to depend on is each other,” said Wigner. Supported with Social Security and money from Thompson’s parents, the pair is responsible for everything at their home. After so much time living on their own, both Thompson and Wigner feel they can handle “about anything.” But it wasn’t always like that. The first six months, which Thompson referred to as “a test,” was hard for both seniors. “We had this fish tank,” said Thompson. “We were sitting watching TV one night and it sprung a leak. We got it fixed and then it sprung a leak again a month later and all the fish died.” “After that, my truck broke down,” said Wigner. “I fixed it myself — it took me about six hours. But then I (accidentally) hooked the gas line to the oil and the oil line to the gas. It could’ve exploded.” Wigner attends FHS for seven periods a day, Thompson for six. Both students believe that not having parents around makes school more difficult. “I’m struggling to graduate,” said Wigner. “With homework, looking for a job, errands, it all seems to add up.” “There’s no authority to push you,” said Thompson. “If you live alone, you can excuse yourself from school. You really need to motivate yourself.” Wigner never spent much time with her parents, saying that her mother was a “career woman,” and moving away from home wasn’t too difficult. But for Thompson, whose parents were home every day after school prior to the move, the change was difficult. “I was close with my mom,” said Thompson. “Now, we talk on the phone and, we don’t have a lot to talk about.” But both seniors have become more than best friends — in fact, when Wigner and Thompson were interviewed for this article they inadvertently dressed alike. More along the lines of sisters than simply friends, both girls believe that they couldn’t have made it through the past without the other. “Our friendship has really grown,” said Thompson. “I guess that’s what happens when you’re together 24-7.” After the fish tank incident, Thompson and Wigner purchased two cats. Both cats are deaf, have one green eye and one blue eye. The identical nature of the cats are similar to the near-identical nature of Thompson and Wigner. “They reflect personalities,” said Wigner. “Mine’s like me. Jen’s like Jen.” Thompson’s parents returned to Kalispell at Christmas. According to both students, the Thompsons were very proud of both girls. “My parents felt we had done so well,” said Thompson. “When they left, the conditions were we had to graduate.” School isn’t easy for either student. But with the end of senior year two months away, Wigner and Thompson both look forward to graduation day. “After living alone for nearly a year, it’ll be such a great accomplishment,” said Wigner. “I can look back and say I did this, and be proud of myself.” Next year, Wigner will join the Army and Thompson is moving to Arizona to be with her parents. Both Wigner and Thompson believe that the time on their own has been an invaluable experience. “We’ve had to endure a lot together,” said Wigner. “Right now, I feel our friendship could endure anything.” |
