“That’s for me to know and you to find out.”
He rubbed his knuckles on the crown of my head again, the way Ron used to do. The way a big brother teases a little sister. My heart stung. I didn’t want him thinking of me as one more little sister.
He leaned toward me with an exaggerated stare. “Damn, your eyes are blue.”
A thrill coursed through me. My eyes were the only feature I had prettier than Livy’s.
“Are those eyelashes real?” He lightly brushed his thumb underneath my eyebrow.
“Of course they’re real. Do they look fake or something?”
“Kind of. They’re really long.”
“They’re really mine.”
He smiled. “Let’s go find that brew.”
Gentle Way turned into High Way, with twinkling fairy lights that seemed to go on for acres. Dusk had begun its descent. Swirls of pink clouds, resembling cotton candy, peeked through the trees with an inviting summons. The sun looked like a giant tangerine sinking slowly into the treetops.
We soon stumbled upon an arts and crafts fair, with every hippie item imaginable. Leather goods, handmade beaded jewelry, blown glass, and all kinds of neato tie-dyed clothing were for sale.
“This fair is as cool as the music,” said Leon as we strolled along.
I walked right up to one of the booths, gazing at the tie-dyed halter tops. In a different world I’d have bought one, but I knew I’d better hold on to my money. Besides, where would I ever wear it outside of Woodstock? Certainly not at Union University. Definitely not at home.Home.Where was home? Would I ever go back?
One booth had a long banner strung from two trees withSmokewritten in pink letters. A sandwich board out front displayed the menu: pot, rolling papers, pipes, bongs, roach clips, cigarettes, magic mushrooms. Even LSD! All rules were off in the city of Woodstock.
“What’s that?” I asked, pointing to an oddly shaped glass vase with a long neck at the top and a shorter one near the bottom. As soon as I asked the question, I regretted it.
Leon winked at the guy manning the booth while handing him two quarters for a pack of cigarettes. “Thatis a bong. You put the grass down here.” He pointed to the short neck first. “And smoke it up here.”
“Looks cool,” I said, kicking myself for acting so naive.
A few minutes later we stumbled upon a stand with a long line of people, all waiting to buy snow cones. Some of the folks had toddlers on their shoulders.
“Don’t people care that their kids are around all these drugs?” I whispered to Leon.
“Guess not. I sure am glad I don’t have kids here.”
“I’m glad I don’t have kids, period.”
“That makes two of us,” he said as something caught his eye. He leaned forward, pointing behind one of the booths. “Wanna check it out?”
A giant tire swing hung from the branch of a maple tree. Close by, an army green tent had been pitched, with the door flaps tied open. I wasn’t sure whichithe was pointing to.
As we moved forward, leaves crunching underfoot, butterflies whizzed around my stomach. Just at the thought of camping with Leon.
“Think we could ride together?” he asked once we reached the swing.
I looked up at where the rope was tied. “Looks sturdy to me.”
He patted the top of the tire. “You sit up here. I’ll hop through the middle.”
Once we were settled, my sandals rested atop his bare thighs. His head, brushed up against my waist, caused goose bumps to rise.
At first, it was hard to get air, but soon enough we were flying. His hair against my stomach tickled and made me deliriously happy.
So delirious I almost missed the monarchs floating into the trunk of a fir tree. Thousands more had roosted within the branches. The tree was shrouded in orange. “Stop!” I shrieked.
