Miriam Mendelsohn was the kind of friend everyone wished they had. She was loyal, funny, and always there when you needed her. With her skateboard under one arm and a goofy grin plastered across her face, Miriam was a ball of energy and positivity, ready to take on whatever life threw at her. But behind that easy-going exterior was a heart of gold, especially when it came to her best friend, Mei Lee.

Growing up in Toronto, Miriam had always been a bit of a tomboy. She loved skateboarding, playing the guitar, and goofing around with her friends. She wasn’t one to worry about what others thought of her; she just wanted to have fun and enjoy life. And when she met Mei in elementary school, the two became inseparable.

Miriam loved everything about Mei. Her quirky personality, her passion for school, and even her sometimes over-the-top enthusiasm. Mei was the planner of their group, the one who kept everything in order. Miriam was more of the wingwoman, always ready with a joke to lighten the mood or a spontaneous idea to shake things up. Together, they balanced each other perfectly.

When Mei started acting strangely one day, skipping school and avoiding her friends, Miriam knew something was up. Mei wasn’t the type to keep secrets, especially not from her best friends. So, when Mei finally confessed that she had been turning into a giant red panda whenever she got too excited, Miriam didn’t freak out. She didn’t run away or call her weird. Instead, she did what she always did—she stood by Mei’s side.

“Whoa, that’s so cool!” Miriam exclaimed when she first saw Mei transform. “I mean, sure, it’s a little freaky, but think of all the awesome things we can do with this!”

Miriam was determined to help Mei see her transformation as a gift, not a curse. She started brainstorming ways they could use the red panda to their advantage. From selling panda merch to raising money for their favorite boy band, 4*Town, Miriam always had a plan. But more importantly, she made sure Mei knew that she wasn’t alone in this. Whatever Mei was going through, Miriam was going through it too.

When Mei’s mother, Ming, tried to keep Mei from hanging out with her friends, Miriam felt a pang of guilt. She knew how much Mei loved and respected her mother, and she didn’t want to be the cause of any tension between them. But at the same time, she knew that Mei needed her friends now more than ever.

One night, after a particularly stressful day, Mei confided in Miriam about how hard it was to please her mother while still being true to herself. Miriam listened quietly, her usual playful demeanor replaced with a rare seriousness.

“Mei, I get that your mom wants what’s best for you,” Miriam said, choosing her words carefully. “But what’s best for you is being yourself. The Mei we all love is goofy, and smart, and yeah, sometimes a little bit of a giant red panda. But that’s what makes you, you. And that’s pretty awesome.”

Mei smiled through her tears, grateful for Miriam’s unwavering support. It was moments like these that reminded her why Miriam was her best friend. No matter what, Miriam always had her back.

As the challenges continued, Miriam was there for every step of Mei’s journey. Whether it was helping Mei control her emotions, planning secret outings to see 4*Town, or just being a shoulder to lean on, Miriam proved time and time again that she was the best friend Mei could ever ask for.

In the end, it was Miriam’s loyalty, humor, and unshakeable belief in Mei that helped her friend find the courage to embrace her red panda and everything it represented. Miriam showed Mei that true friendship means standing by someone’s side, no matter how crazy things get. And for that, Mei knew she could always count on Miriam—her best friend, her confidante, and her partner in crime.