Remembering Celeste

Over on Facebook, I've joined a group called "Chamblee High School Memorial", a group formed to remember those from my high school that have passed away. One of the memorials was to Celeste Marley, who passed away in an accident in 1977. I never understood the phrase "laughing until tears come out of your eyes" until I met Celeste.

Let me explain:

I took third-year French class with Celeste. The class was mostly juniors and seniors, with the exception of one eighth-grade phenom, a very tiny boy named Eric who had spent his childhood growing up in France. Third year French is mostly conversational, and the following exchange was the highlight of my year: (Note: entire conversation is in French)

Teacher: How are you this morning, Celeste?
Celeste: I am very happy, my little friend has come to visit this morning!
Teacher (slightly confused, then looks over at little Eric): Your friend came to visit?
Celeste: Yes, my little friend visits me once a month. Sometimes I don't like it when my little friend comes to visit, but I was very very happy this month.
At this point, I'm laughing, so the teacher turned to me
Teacher: Robert, is something funny?
Me: No, no, I was happy when Celeste's little friend came to visit this month too! Very, very happy!
(Celeste is giving me dirty looks now)
Teacher: Why is that?
Me: Celeste was afraid her little friend would not visit her for a long time!
Teacher: I see. Do you visit Celeste's house also?
Me: Sometimes I do, but not when her little friend is visiting.
Teacher: And why not?
Me: Because she never wants to play with me when her little friend has come to visit...
Celeste (interrupting): *ahem* I never want to play with you even when my little friend is NOT visiting.

Only now, after three minutes of conversation does the French teacher suddenly get the inneundo....I watched the light bulb go on over her head and she turned seven shades of scarlet. The entire class breaks out in laughter, I'm laughing so hard I have tears rolling out of my eyes and the French teacher is spluttering nonstop in French at me for almost a minute.

I miss Celeste.