The Day That Lasted Forever

Part Five

 A Few Months Later

I awoke to the sound of birds chirping outside my window. Sunlight filtered through my blue curtains and onto my cheek, warming them. I glanced over at my alarm clock that still sat beside my bedside table, which read "Eleven fifty-eight A.M." I gasped before noticing that it had said eleven, and not one. I sighed in relief and laughed softly to myself. I started to think about December. It seemed like only yesterday that James and I had met. It felt like some distant and wonderful dream of ours. I closed my eyes once more and let the memory, permeated with sheer nostalgia, wash over me. From that moment on, James and I had become inseparable. We spent the entire winter together. And the spring that came after, has been warm and beautiful. Lenny and my mother had gotten engaged, set to get married in the Fall, business was booming and as busy as ever over at the Deli, and James and I were together, happily. We never questioned anything that happened to us after that day in the tree house. Although we never did gain answers as to what happened, or why, our gratitude was eternal. And so we spent our days with noon rays in our hair and a sense of knowing in our hearts.

I got out of bed and shuffled over to my closet. I didn't really put much thought into what I was gonna wear for the day, as it was only going to get ruined anyway. I picked out an old t-shirt that I haven't worn in years and a pair of cargo pants that were just a tad bit too large for me. I didn't want to risk ruining any of my good clothes today.

"Lucille? Are you ready? We're supposed to be there at noon, we're gonna be late, honey!" My mother shouted from the other room. I grabbed my shoes and walked out into the hallway. "Oh! And does James need a ride today?"

"No, he said his mom is gonna bring him." I said, tying my hair up. We had all planned to meet up at the Deli, to help Lenny finally repaint the store today. In usual Lenny fashion, as stubborn as he is, he insisted on doing it himself, but we wouldn't let him. It was far too much work for just one person. Besides, we were all happy to do it. I grabbed my backpack, slinging it over my shoulders, and skipped down the steps outside to the metal gate.

We arrived at the Deli a few minutes later and found Lenny standing outside watering his hydrangeas, which had now fully blossomed. James stood beside him smiling, with aprons and paintbrushes in his hands and a can of paint at his feet. They both turned and gave us a wave. I quickly opened the car door and ran over to the two of them. A radio sat on the concrete, playing an upbeat Italian song.

"Buongiorno, buongiorno, good morning, good morning!!" Lenny shouted, smiling ear to ear. He embraced my mother with a kiss, as James and I looked away and at each other, laughing. James raised the aprons that he held in his hands and offered me one. I tied the apron around my waist and neck, and grabbed James' hand.

"Alright everyone!" Lenny said cheerfully as he picked up the paint can. "Let's get to work."

The End