A friend is "Some people come into our lives and quickly go. Some stay for a while and leave footprints on our hearts. And we are never ever the same" (Unknown). What is a "friend"? Everyone has one, and everyone is one. .
In Hurston's piece "Dust tracks on a Road" she explains her thoughts on what type of friend she needs. With a woman trying to kill Hurston, in addition to not being familiar with a weapon, she realizes she needs a friend that can protect her.
In a way, Hurston did not really need a friend. Hurston needed a bodyguard. Hurston hears what type of person Big Sweets really is. In a conversation with Hurston, Big Sweet mentions, "I aims to look out for you. Do your fighting for you. Nobody better not start nothing with you, do I"ll get my switch-blade and go round de ham-bone lookin for meat.".
One should not become friends with someone just to benefit themselves. To commit an act like this is iniquitous. Everything in life happens for a reason. Mainly, people go through life and commit mistakes. Man is human, and humans are deficient. The beauty of a man is when he commits a mistake and learns from it and takes it as a lesson. .
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For instance, I can relate to Hurston's piece because I was in a similar situation. Back when I first started middle school, I got picked on a lot by the older kids. I kept getting picked on until one day an eighth grader stood up for me.
His name was Bernie, he and I ended up being good friends and we continue our friendship till today. I started to wonder weather I was friends with Bernie only because he is protecting me?.
I confronted Bernie about my thoughts and explained that if anyone picks on me, I would like to deal with the situation. When people would bother me, I dealt with it by myself. Even though I ended up with a black eye, at least I was not using a good hearted person just for my benefit.
To sum it up, one should not become friends with someone just to benefit themselves.