“Hey, remember that one time we got lost trying to get to Central Park, and we somehow found ourselves in Coney Island? That was a good accident.”
“No. When did that happen?”
“Oh, right. That was Andy.”
They walked through the woods in silence. Crimson light was leaking through the trees, making it look like autumn in the middle of summer. The wind softly carried the chirps of the crickets as they sang. He got closer, reaching out to put his arm around her. She ducked as a branch got in her way.
“Are you sure we’re going the right way?” she said.
“Positive. I think,” he said. “That’s really reassuring.”
“Don’t worry so much. Remember that one time you thought we weren’t going to catch that Yankee’s game, and you were so anxious you made me weave in and out of traffic, getting us a speeding ticket, only to find out we were actually an hour early?”
“Again, no.” “What? How could you forget? We were on the kiss cam!”
“I hate baseball.”
“Oh, right. That was . . . Andy.”
“You kissed Andy?”
“Of course not!”
He coughed, letting the sound fill the air. He put his hands in his pockets and tried to whistle a song he heard the other day, but he couldn’t quite match the tune. He looked up. The sky above them was beginning to turn a deep orange. A stillness rose, the kind that feels like something is about to be said, something important, but nothing is. As they followed the beaten path, the wind grew stronger, causing the trees to crackle and shake. The girl shivered.
“Are you cold?” he said.
“Yes. But I’ll live,” she said.
“Sorry I didn’t bring a jacket. I didn’t think we’d be here for too long.”
“It’s ok.”
“Hey, remember–”
“Is this another memory you had with Andy?”
“What? No, no. What makes you say that?”
She stopped and closed her eyes, massaging her temple. “Look. I understand you like me. I like you too. But my liking you doesn’t mean I’ll fall for any lie you throw my way. Contrary to popular belief, love isn’t blind,” she turned her back to him. “But it isn’t stupid, either.” She walked a few steps forward, then looked back. “I think I see the way back. Don’t call me.” She stumbled down the path. Then she stopped, as if she forgot something, and turned. “I . . . no. Goodbye.”
He watched her walk away, unable to speak. He couldn’t see her anymore. His eyes glazed over, lost in thought. He remembered the goose bumps he felt on her arms as they sat on that hill, looking at the stars. Her smile, as he tried to point out the constellations that lined the sky. Even though he didn’t know a single one, she still pretended to look surprised, and they both laughed when he realized she knew where each one was exactly. She pointed out the Swan, and asked isn’t it beautiful? And he said yes, even though he couldn’t see it, but he could see her. He felt her shiver against him, so he gave her his jacket. He remembered the smile on her face as they kissed.
A frog croaked in the distance, bringing him back. He shivered. It was cold.
Sunday, September 20, 2009
Saturday, September 5, 2009
A Dramatic Retelling of A Sitcom Tragedy
The sun hung lazily in the air as William walked out of school. He let out a sigh of content; it was finally the weekend. As he stepped past the gate, watching the rest of the students pile into their parents’ cars, or get on the bus back to their homes, William knew his mother would not be there to pick him up. It was Friday, and that meant a double shift at the post office. Nor could he take the bus, since he used up the last of his bus money to eat lunch that day. It seemed worth it, at the time. But that didn’t bother him, since it wasn’t home that he was planning to go to. For as long as he could remember, William always visited the same park just a few blocks away from the school. It was relatively close to home, and being born and raised in West Philadelphia, it was the only place he could go that was safe enough to keep his mother from worrying, and the only place he could go to blow off some steam playing the sport he loved: basketball.
The sounds of children’s laughter echoed through the trees, mingling with the distant and nearby honking of horns. As William walked past the children playing in the playground, he could hear the creaking of the swings and whispers as the little boys and girls played house, or doctor. Upon reaching the court, William saw his friends. He grinned and began to wave at them, but then he realized something was wrong. Surrounding his friends were a group of men, towering over them. Then it dawned on him. These guys were the ones recently terrorizing the locals, and from what he could see, they were definitely up to no good. William was scared. He couldn’t hope to fend off all of them, and his feet refused to move. The men laughed, keeping the ball away from the boys’ grasp. Suddenly, one of the men punched one of William’s friends in the back of the head as hard as he could. He collapsed and fell face down on the pavement amidst harsh laughter. William was stunned, then furious. Clenching his fists, he went up to them.
It wasn’t fair that people like this could do such horrible things to those who weren’t looking for trouble. All he wanted to do was play some basketball with his friends, and smile as the local children gathered to watch. But now that couldn’t happen, because of a group of thugs. He decided to change that, beginning with the basketball. Running up to the one holding the ball, a man with a dark brown shirt, William rammed into his back with all his strength. He heard a groan as he fell to the ground. He quickly got to his feet, looking for the ball. It had rolled from his grasp, and a large foot stomped down on it, stopping it in its tracks. A mean-looking man in a red shirt glared at him.
“Something wrong?” He asked with a sneer.
“Give it back,” William said, weakly.
“What?”
“Give it back!”
And with that, he lunged with all his might towards the looming figure before him. It was the last thing he remembered. Later that night, as he knocked on the door of his apartment, he smiled. Even though he was sore, even though his clothes were torn up, even though his wallet was missing, even though he sported a black eye that would make a panda bear jealous, and even though he wasn’t able to get the ball back, William was happy. Despite his fear, William stood his ground and fought for what he so strongly believed in, and he lived to tell the tale. Unfortunately, his mother didn’t share his thoughts. Horrified at the sight of his face, and fearing for his safety, she immediately sent him to live with his auntie and uncle in Bel Air.
The sounds of children’s laughter echoed through the trees, mingling with the distant and nearby honking of horns. As William walked past the children playing in the playground, he could hear the creaking of the swings and whispers as the little boys and girls played house, or doctor. Upon reaching the court, William saw his friends. He grinned and began to wave at them, but then he realized something was wrong. Surrounding his friends were a group of men, towering over them. Then it dawned on him. These guys were the ones recently terrorizing the locals, and from what he could see, they were definitely up to no good. William was scared. He couldn’t hope to fend off all of them, and his feet refused to move. The men laughed, keeping the ball away from the boys’ grasp. Suddenly, one of the men punched one of William’s friends in the back of the head as hard as he could. He collapsed and fell face down on the pavement amidst harsh laughter. William was stunned, then furious. Clenching his fists, he went up to them.
It wasn’t fair that people like this could do such horrible things to those who weren’t looking for trouble. All he wanted to do was play some basketball with his friends, and smile as the local children gathered to watch. But now that couldn’t happen, because of a group of thugs. He decided to change that, beginning with the basketball. Running up to the one holding the ball, a man with a dark brown shirt, William rammed into his back with all his strength. He heard a groan as he fell to the ground. He quickly got to his feet, looking for the ball. It had rolled from his grasp, and a large foot stomped down on it, stopping it in its tracks. A mean-looking man in a red shirt glared at him.
“Something wrong?” He asked with a sneer.
“Give it back,” William said, weakly.
“What?”
“Give it back!”
And with that, he lunged with all his might towards the looming figure before him. It was the last thing he remembered. Later that night, as he knocked on the door of his apartment, he smiled. Even though he was sore, even though his clothes were torn up, even though his wallet was missing, even though he sported a black eye that would make a panda bear jealous, and even though he wasn’t able to get the ball back, William was happy. Despite his fear, William stood his ground and fought for what he so strongly believed in, and he lived to tell the tale. Unfortunately, his mother didn’t share his thoughts. Horrified at the sight of his face, and fearing for his safety, she immediately sent him to live with his auntie and uncle in Bel Air.
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