One is soft-spoken and demure.

The other is extroverted and chatty. They have been the best of friends for 46 years.

Accounts executive Goh Beow Leng is the quieter one while housewife Ann Solomon was nicknamed 'chatterbox' in their schooldays.

The two chums found themselves seated next to each other on the first day of school in Secondary 1 in 1964.

Their first 'hello' to each other sparked a steady friendship which has seen them through 41/2 decades.

Recalling that first day, Madam Solomon, 58, said: 'We were making the transition to a new environment, from primary to secondary school. We were terrified, so we stayed next to each other.'

Their friendship blossomed at school. They both joined the Girl Guides and bonded over badminton, netball and swimming sessions.

They also poured their hearts out to each other.

'I could talk to her about my boyfriends and she could talk to me about hers. We could talk about anything and not feel judged. She was like the sister I never had,' said Madam Solomon, who has two brothers.

Said Madam Goh, also 58: 'We could be frank with each other.'

Their different backgrounds - Madam Goh is Chinese and Madam Solomon is Eurasian - did not prevent them from forming a strong bond. In fact, it brought their friendship to a deeper level.

Said Madam Solomon: 'As a Eurasian, I was brought up with constant hugs and kisses from my family. So it was natural for me to do the same to people who were close to me.'

Said Madam Goh: 'Whenever I meet Ann, she always hugs me. It has always made me feel accepted.'

Said Madam Solomon: 'We never saw each other as people from a different culture; we saw each other as friends.'

Their strong friendship continued throughout school, but took a different turn after the O-level examinations. Madam Goh started working and Madam Solomon went on to study for her A levels.

Three years later, Madam Goh got married and had two sons. Madam Solomon found a job which required her to travel often and she also got married and had two daughters.

'When the children started coming, we met less,' she said.

However, their friendship endured and they would meet for lunch and talk on the telephone. Both were also respectful of the other friendships that each had forged.

Once their children had grown up, they had more time to spend with each other.

Their bond was deepened when Madam Solomon's mother, whom she was close to, died suddenly in 1999.

Few words were exchanged during Madam Goh's visits, but her presence brought immense comfort to her grieving friend.

'It feels warm when you have a good friend who just sits there silently supporting you,' said Madam Solomon.

For the two, their journey over the decades have left an indelible print on their lives.

Said Madam Solomon: 'Peanuts creator Charles Schulz once wrote that 'a friend is someone who knows all your faults and still likes you anyway'. That's what we have with each other.'

lingg@sph.com.sg

This article was first published in Mind Your Body, The Straits Times.