Her snicker doesn’t even bother me because hide and seek is her favorite game. I would rather be reading under this tree, maybe that’s why I always pick it.
We both lie down in the tall but thin grass that’s managed to grow under the shade of the big willowy tree.
“What do you want to be when you grow up?”
I crinkle my nose because she always comes up with the most random questions but I always answer her, no matter how weird. “A hairdresser.”
“Really?” She acts surprised but she’s been my best friend my whole life and she’s already asked this question a million times. I always give her the same answer and she always acts surprised.
“Really, Anna Louise.”
Herhmmmis quiet and thoughtful. “Well, I want to be famous.”
I smile because this is also not new. My best friend has a predilection for the spotlight, always wanting attention of any kind.
My momma says Anna needs to be more careful. That not all attention is good. I don’t know what she means by that exactly, but Anna says we shouldn’t worry too much about that.
“Come on, Lucy! Let’s go see if the Murres momma bird had her babies!” She stands up and tugs on my arm, but I resist.
“Momma said we shouldn’t get that close to the cliff. That it’s dangerous.”
Anna’s shoulders drop in disappointment. “We have to know! You telling me you’re not curious?”
“I didn’t say that.”
Anna’s mouth curves into an encouraging smile. “I promise we won’t get too close.”
“That’s what you said last time.”
“I bet you the babies have already hatched. If we don’t go today we chance missing them all together. You don’t want to miss them do you?”
She knows I don’t. I love watching the momma bird and six little hatchlings as much as she does but I also know how upset my momma got last time we went out there by ourselves.
Anna pokes her bottom lip out, begging. “Pretty please, Lucy. Just this one time?”
I know better than to agree because it won’t just be this one time but my curiosity outweighs the threat of a spanking when I get home. “Okay, but you have to promise this is the last time.”
Anna squeals and says, “I promise!”
We both know she’s going to break that promise but that’s a problem for another day. Anna yanks me up off the ground and we’re both running for the end of the clearing and the side of cliff to hopefully catch a glance of Momma Murres and her six little babies.
My eyes pop open, the remnants of the dream are coursing through my veins. The joy, the mischievousness of the whole scene, the connection with the two girls. All of it was so heartwarming and so real feeling.
I scour my memories, trying to place the serene setting but I’m pretty sure I’ve never been to a place like that with the towering willow tree, next to a cliff side that lead right down to the ocean.
And I’ve never met a person named Anna Louise, even though my affection for her felt so dang real in the dream. I smile because I would have loved a friend like Anna when I was younger, someone so carefree and full of life but between hospital stays and being homeschooled I didn’t have many friends. Well, really none at all.
I sigh as I throw the covers off and sit up on the side of the bed. No sense in dwelling on what could have been. Plus, there’s always time to make those friends.
I think about that handsome and kind stranger I met just yesterday. Maybe he can be my new friend. I hold on to that thought as I shower and get ready for the day.
“I would love to see this place you’ve been working at,”Dad says as he dunks his tea bag into thescaldinghot water in his favorite mug. The same mug he uses every evening to make his favorite tea.
It’s a mug with my face plastered on the side of it, except it’s the five-year-old version of me. I have a front tooth missing and it’s the year my mom decided I should try bangs, but she underestimated the bounce of my curls and cut them too short.
The dang mug is literally a poster child of haircuts gone wrong. For some reason, my dad says it’s endearing though and refuses to throw it in the trash or at the very least shoveitin the back of the cabinet where it could collect dust like a good little ugly mug should.
“I know, but I kind of like having this one little thing to myself, you know?”I’m not worried about hurting his feelings. Same withMom. We’ve always had a relationship where we could tell each other anything. It became almost vital with the heaviness we’ve all had to endure over the years.
