cherrykate
First. Almost Out. Second. Easy. Third. Getting closer.... Fourth. Home base. High five.
The warm chocolate melts in my mouth, and the grahm cracker breaks in my hand. I smile at the texture of the marshmallow and close my eyes, enjoying the moment. The heat from the fire drifts over to me, and if I opened my mouth, I swear I could taste the smoke.
Teacher writes a note and puts it in her blue balloon, and she shows us how it flies away. She says somebody somewhere far away will find it. I scribble something down in my messy childhood way of writing and let loose my bright red balloon. Seven years later I'm no longer living in my hometown in Texas but in Arizona, and times are tough. I see a bit of red caught on one of the cacti and find a little note nearby. I grin. On the paper is a little smiley face and the words "Hope the weather's nice wherever you are."
I stare at the poster on my bedroom ceiling while I try- unsuccessfully- to fall asleep. I remember when I got that poster three years ago, back when I had a huge crush on the actor in the picture. I remember staring at it, like I am now, except then I was admiring his looks: how dreamy his brown eyes were, how his black hair made me want to swoon. My cell phone rings from its place on the nightstand and I reach over and read the message. "Look outside."
Smiling, I do just that. The boy waiting outside has brown hair and clear blue eyes, which are looking back at me. I lean over the balcony's railing to hear what he says next, and then I answer with a grin, "I love you, too."
I've never looked at that poster the same way again.
Traveling at the speed of sound, it's a blur. D flat, C flat, minor, major...do you hear the animals calling? Loud, quiet, soft, sharp, noises filling my ears. A melody in E major...sounds that are distantly close and close but distant. I close my eyes in orbit and listen to the beautiful cacophony.
Do you see the swan? How it glides through the water? Do you see the pure white feathers, and how they seem radiant as she swims through the lake? I saw a swan- the real thing is more beautiful than any number of ballets. I think it saw me, too, but then it went away.