say yes. (dwayne hoover)

chapter five

The walk back to Dwayne's house was largely lengthened because of their random excursions. Ramona didn't come to that part of town often and she was interested in knowing the lay of Dwayne's land.

They stopped at the neighborhood park and sat in the swings for a bit, pointing out constellations as they swung on their backs.

"That one's Orion! And that's Venus!" Ramona pointed into the sky.

"How do you know this stuff?" Dwayne laughed incredulously.

"I wanted to be an astrophysicist when I was younger. Until I realized how much was math was required."

"What do you want to be now?"

"A writer. Maybe in journalism." She hung backward on her swing. "How about you?"

Shit. Why did Dwayne ask that? He should've known he was getting into rough territory. "I wanted to be a pilot. For the Air Force." She looked at him as to wait for him to continue. "I took a vow of silence, actually. Said I was going to wait until I got into the Air Force Academy. Didn't talk for nine months."

"What happened?"

"I found out I was colorblind. Just last week."

Ramona looked over and frowned. "I'm sorry." Dwayne shrugged nonchalantly and looked back up to the stars. After a moment of silence, Ramona spoke up again. "Helen Keller flew a plane."

The random, almost insensitiveness of it, caught Dwayne off guard and he let out a shaking laugh. "What?" he snorted out.

"I'm serious! I read about it in a book," she laughed even harder. "I mean, she didn't do it by herself, of course. She had help and she didn't fly the whole time. But, yeah, she flew over the Mediterranean Sea!" They were both laughing loudly now, even harder each time they looked at each other. As she giggled, Ramona whispered, "If Helen Keller can do it, I'm sure you can."

Dwayne lost it, laughing harder than he ever had. "What would Helen Keller do? Words to live by."

"Absolutely."

Shortly after, they left the park and continued off. Ramona dragged Dwayne to the 7/11 and they loaded a basket full of junk food and Slushees, paying with the slim pocket money they had. By the time they reached Dwayne's house, it was already 11:30 and all the lights were out.

Dwayne unlocked the door as quietly as possible as Ramona trailed behind him with the bags.

Frank was in his room now so they had to go to the basement. "Follow me."

Ramona playfully shushed him and they made their way downstairs in a fit of laughter. They threw the plastic bag of chips and candy on the side table and sat on the shaggy couch in the corner of the room. Ramona took in her surroundings and laughed at the decorations. "You know, the NSYNC and Kelly Clarkson posters really tie the place together. Is this your room?"

Dwayne laughed. "It's my sister's dance studio."

"Aw! I was a dancer when I was little. How old is she?"

"She's seven. You were a dancer?"

"Yeah. I did ballet and hip-hop as a kid. Used to do competitions and stuff before I moved."

"When did you move?"

"Just last year. From Jacksonville."

"Jacksonville? That's where my dad lives."

"Really? It truly is a small world," Ramona laughed. "I really did love it there."

"Why'd you move?" Dwayne asked quietly.