Hearts

ocean waves

I don't know much about the ocean. I've seen it once but it wasn't like how I thought it would be. It was cold and cloudy and it didn't smell that good and the waves were too big to go in. The red winged black bird was all I remember being excited about. It perched on a stalky plant far from the water. I'm sure he enjoys the sounds of it. And the view.
I'm in this Midwest river and it's summer but my friends aren't here. No one is but me and the people camping who I can hear through the woods. They don't notice me because they can't hear or see me. I forgot to put on a life vest and I don't know how to get back into a kayak. Once or twice I tried but couldn't. I got to the shore just fine and dragged the kayak with me. But now I'm soaking wet and don't know whose land I'm on or how to get back from here. And I would for sure not win a wet T-shirt contest by the way. I got the kayak back in the water and jumped in almost tipping it over again. The paddle floated quite far down the river so I would have to use my hands to get there. After getting very tired arms and looking very silly, I got it and headed back the way I came to get to my car. After all this and feeling like I was gonna die alone in the river, I just wanted to go home and watch cartoons or something.
Of corse when I got to my car, the parking lot was crowded with campers unlike early this morning when I came and a man called out "Looks like someone took a swim," and laughed. I put a towel on my seat and drove away. As fast as I could I got home without even turning on the radio. Next on my list for today was taking a bath. I watched the birds out my window and wished to have someone always looking out for me like their partners do for them. The next morning I climbed down the ladder from my bed and went downstairs to watch tv. My dad was down there watching football and I have the noise of it so I went outside to do an art project. I lost all my paint when I moved my bedroom around, and felt like a nuisance for still living with my family when I could have moved out at my age. The birds sounded beautiful and calming. And the air was fresh as a peach and an orange. Now I was bored.
I walked to the library and started thinking about all the old people who probably have the same boring routines as me.
I picked out a book with a Princess on the cover that didn't seem too novice and sat down at a tall table next to a window at the library. I needed to stay out of the house for awhile.
When I looked up from the book I felt dizzy and that's a good sign the book is a good one. I looked around and gave a dopey smile at the librarian and the mom with her kid who noticed me. About to get up and check out and leave, I felt a hand at my waist. I jumped up and turned to look and it was Justin. Jessicas cousin. "Oh, sorry, my bad. You looked like you needed some help."
"Don't touch me, unless you want a kick in the pants." I went up to the counter and checked out and the librarian looked at me uncomfortably. Yeah, maybe I shouldn't have said that so loudly in a library, but what can you do. I showered and sat outside in the sun to get that icky feeling off of me after that encounter. And I felt better. Then I joined my mom in the kitchen to help her cut up fruit for the party later. She started singing a silly song and I joined even though it was annoying because why not sing a silly song on a summer afternoon?