It's a smaller short story that I have written in the holidays, more precisely two days ago. If anyone feels interested in reading it and giving it a comment, fee free to do so. Even 3 words, 1 syllable or one word comment or one number is fair enough for me. I feel there is something lacking in this piece, but I do hope you enjoy it
First Time, Last TimeIt was summer and the scorching heat meant that going outside was nothing but unbearable and intolerable. Suzanne sat by the ledge, her hands propped on top of a desk, drawing a playground, trees and people on paper.
“It’s time to go to school,” called her mother, who was down at the kitchen finishing a lunch pack for her daughter.
“Yes Mum. I will be down stairs real soon!” replied Suzanne. She packed her belongings and slid her drawing into her bag. Ran down the stairs, she kissed her mum, pattered her dress down, grabbed her lunch pack and raced out of the door.
Outside, she winced.
“It’s so hot,” she cried. The sun felt like thin sharp knives jabbing against her skin. Deciding to go back inside the house, she scoured for sunscreen.
“Sunscreen…sunscreen, where are you,” she sang. She searched the kitchen, her room and then to the lounge. She found the sunscreen on top of a shelf to her left. It was a red-coated tube with a big yellow sun on the middle. Removing the cap, she put slabs on her arms, legs and face. The whitish-colored cream disappearing as she spread it back and forth all over her skin.
Her mum walked into the room and shook her head.
“Suzanne, you are going to be late for school, I’ll drive you,”
It was afternoon that school ended, and the day was still hot. In fact, it was even hotter than before. Suzanne drudged her way home. Her face disgruntled as her arms flopped and her back hunched under the weight of her bag. It was impossible walking on this concrete pathway with its lines and lines of electrical posts that felt like the road would never end. Sweltering under the sun, her sandals did not relieve the intense heat. It was like stepping on hot charcoal that burnt through to the sole. She swiped her forehead against her elbow and she could feel the sticky wetness that clung to her skin.
“Why is it so hot today?” she grumbled
Close by, there was a local playground and she remembered that there, there were water taps. Ecstatic, she rushed to refill her water bottle. Turning the tap knob, she held out her hands in a cup-like shape. A cool stream of water squirted then drizzled. She splattered the liquid over her face and arms. The coldness dampened the heat.
“So much better now,”
Refreshed, she glanced around. She focused her eyes towards the playground and she saw someone. Someone was there, but she couldn’t see clearly. The image was too hazy, much like a blur. Foraging her bag to find her glasses, she was annoyed at herself for her lack of sight. But she didn’t know why she needed them. She didn’t need find them to begin with. There was home and her load of homework, but some strange curiosity had gripped her.
Wearing her glasses and with deep concentration, she squinted her eyes to see the blur. Her heart raced and leapt. She shoved her water bottle in her bag, and paced herself quickly back to the path way before the figure noticed her.
She walked stiffly, her arms flat straight and her eyes on the path. Back home, she flung open the front door, rushed to her room, jumped on her bed, face upwards and sighed a breath of relief.
The next day, it happened again and then again and then again. It was a feeling that felt unshakeable.
Until, one day, she mustered the courage. That day was nothing special. Instead it was her repeated cowardice that irritated her. She would muster the courage. After all, how hard was it to say a simple hi? He was by the swing, heaving himself up as he held on the two metal ropes by his side.
Standing in front of him, she swallowed, and hastily spoke, “Hi, I’m Suzanne.”
“I’m Miles. I’ve seen you around here often.” He smiled and stood leveling himself with her.
“Yeah….” Her voice quibbled as though that single syllable was a rhapsodic ramble that made no sense to anyone but herself.
Trying to calm the situation, it was actually her own excuse to calm herself, she asked, “Do you want to sit over there by the tree?”
“Sure.”
They walked and Miles’ eyes widened.
“You can see the whole town here!”
She nodded, smiled with pride, “It’s a great here.”
He turned his head and fixed his eyes on everything around him. It was beautiful. The houses looked like square clay blocks lined up against another and the farther he looked, the clay blocks turned into metallic long bricks and rectangles. His face beamed his eyes serene. He dropped to the floor, and placed his head on top of his hand to stare at the sky. Beside him, she sat, her legs hunched against her chest. They didn’t speak as the city lights began to become alight. They listened to the sound of cars, the barking of dog and the laughter of children. It wasn’t until the late in the night that the feeling was dispelled. Suzanne realized she was late for dinner, and punched herself on the right side of her shoulder for forgetting about it.
“I have to get back home…” she said quickly and awkwardly as she hurriedly grabbed for her bag and ran home - once tripping along the way.
“Hopefully I’ll see you again,” his voice trailed. He rested his head against his kneecap, and closed his eyes.
The next day, Suzanne came to the playground. She was eager and as the day was hot, she wondered if he was interested in eating ice cream with her. She looked around. She did not see him. She waited, hoping he would come by. But he didn’t.
Nightfall came, and the playground was empty. The children were long gone, the animals and cars were gone too. Rocking
back and forth, she watched the city lights turn on. She turned her back, and found scribbling on the bark of the tree that wasn’t there before.
She read it.
Again
And again
She thought, he was gone, wasn’t he?
Maybe he’ll return? Maybe
The day was scorching hot. It was summer. The water taps had not been touched since Suzanne had last used them.
Digging a hole with her fingers, she buried her piece of drawing beneath the tree.
“The day isn’t so hot today eh?” she told herself as the ground was smudged with rain.
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