"You'll like what I got you," my mother smiled on that first day of summer holiday. I didn't ask what it was I was going to like. I was afraid to even imagine.
They were in my top dresser drawer, right next to my underwear. Try as I might, my mind refused to even consider that three-letter word. I took one out. Let me see, they were soft, stretchy and white. Very much like, a double shot slingshot.
"You hook them in the front of you," my mother yelled from downstairs. "Then spin them round and slide your arms through the straps."
The good news was with them there the Girls didn't jiggle around or tent my tee anymore. The bad news was they just kind of sat up front at attention, perky and pretty, where everyone could get a good looksee.
The first few weeks of summer, I spent pretty much all my time in my darkened bedroom by myself reading. I swore I'd never talk to anyone or want anything again for the rest of my life.
But... I guess... I'm not cut out to be a loner.
Jolene saved my life. My savior had lived two houses down to the right forever. But I'd never paid her much mind. Maybe it was because I was way older—more than a year. Anyway, she saw me sitting on the rocker out on the veranda that ran round the front of our house. One sunny morning the girl just walked right up the steps and stood in front of me.
"Hi. I'm Jolene."
"Please to meet you, Jolene."
"Beautiful day."
I looked at the yard—I looked at the peach trees right across the ways—then I looked back at Jolene's welcoming smile.
"Yes, Jolene. Pretty as a Georgia peach."
She hunkered down, right next to me on the rocker and started gabbing and didn't stop. I didn't mind a lick though. Beauty like her's was Genius. She had plenty to share. She knew a little something about everything and everyone. And, she said it in a way that was way better than any book I'd ever read.
Later, we went into the meadow down a ways. We regarded the birds and their ways, counted the blue cars from atop the overpass of US-1 and climbed a few trees, like we were great cats.
Jolene became my Best Friend on that day. Forever.
YOU ARE READING
Io
Short StoryI said, "Gee mom, give me a break. You've got it easy." "Easy?" she says, cocking one well plucked eyebrow. "Well, yeah. All you have to do is look pretty." Then she popped THE QUESTION. "So, you'd like it easy too, I suppose?" I'm Io. And that is...
