I don't know what we'd do if we didn't have each other.

Most of us have been friends since grade school (and some even before that).  Now that we're almost in high school, our friendship bond has only intensified; it is stronger than ever.

Name's Gilles.  Gilles Martin.  I'm sixteen.  My friends include Beaux Darbonne, Yolande Duplechain, Vernice Rideaux, Raymundo Cruz, Eriq Hayes, Bear Duson, Fredericka Poulin, Wyatt Earl Pitre, and Bobby Joe Bellot.  We range in age from thirteen (Bobby Joe) to seventeen.  As you can see, most of us are of Cajun French haritage.  We live in the tiny southeast Texas town of Orange, which is near Port Arthur. 

We live smack dab in the Golden Triangle, or Cajun Country (Cajun Country encompasses southeast Texas and southwestern Louisiana).  We all grew up on not only rock and roll, rap, or popular (top-40) music; we also grew up on Cajun and even country music, so it isn't unusual for us to listen to country or Cajun besides rock, rap, or popular music.

We all take our Cajun heritage very seriously.  We all speak Cajun French and English, some of us can play music or whip up a mean jambalaya, gumbo, or crawfish bisque, and we are all upstanding members of the Cajun French Music Association (CFMA), which is a club for Cajuns or Cajun music fans in the hope of preserving the language, food, and very culture of our people.  I've been a member of the CFMA since I was six.

Every month, we all get together for a dance; some of Cajun music's best and brightest stars play at different areas, and we always have the best time.  This was how I met my current girlfriend, Helene Reaux, who is a fox!  She and I have been dating since March, and we've fallen crazy in love over one another. 

We also hang out after school when we aren't bogged down with homework; now that summer is here, we spend our days swimming, going to the mall, playing b-ball or skateboarding, going to Mass every Sunday if we aren't too hung over from the dance from the night before (LOL), and just having fun.  With the Fourth of July quickly approaching, we also are in the middle of making some hot plans for fireworks, food, fun, and frolic, Cajun style! AAIEE! :D

We do have our bad days where we get mad or fight, but more often than that, we are closer than even our own family members.  We are a team, a gang, and we will stick together, no matter what life manages to throw at us.  I guess I am the designated leader of our gang because I am great at making snap decisions or coming up with great ideas on how to spend our time together. 

I wouldn't trade any of my friends (or even my girl) for all the gold or tea in China!  I love each and every one of them too much!