When Summer Arrives (On Hold)

The Encounter

Sorry for any errors.  Originally, this part was suppose to be the first chapter but then I added the other parts before this so this chapter is where it all actually starts!!!! I'm so excited!!

The sun beamed through the shade covered window, it had been little past eight o’clock.  I had woken up late yet again, one day the school was going to get cross probably have me suspended or something.  It was all because of that dream it kept me restless at night. 

My dream, though it had seemed more like a nightmare, had me waking up more than once in a single night every night.  There wasn’t much in the dream just darkness at first, but as the dream progressed a small number of images started to form.  A dainty wooden swing a single rope on each side reaching upward to the endless darkness, and soon a wall made of bricks.  Dark maroon, brown, and grey colors made these bricks look frightful.  This brick wall was what made the dream seem so scary, what changed it from a dream into a nightmare that haunts my sleep.  Nothing can be heard from outside the wall; not a person or animal, if it rains in the dream I can’t hear the sound of the raindrops hitting the ground.  And that over all made me silently scream myself awake every night.

            I had twisted my body so my back pressed against the mattress, my lower half naturally followed in the movement.  As I sat up my blanket slid down falling into a pile of dark material in my lap.  Pulling my dark bed sheets off my legs I swung my feet over my bed leaving them to dangle for a moment before I stood up.  The apartment where I lived was quite I had been living alone since the start of the school year.  It was small narrow place and the rooms all ran together.

The living room and bedroom were wrapped into the middle of the apartment.  The kitchen was just a long strip at the entrance hall next to the washer and dryer.  A small closet and bathroom were packed into the back corner of the living area.  It only took a couple steps to get to the bathroom from my bed. 

As I got up I went towards the bathroom, I aimed to stand on the floor mat next to the shower instead of the ice flooring people call tile. I closed the door shut and habitually locked it.  Although I lived alone I was never akin to showering with an unlocked door.

            I stripped and threw my pajamas into a woven laundry basket in the corner.  I pulled my hair tie out of the bun on top of my head causing my dark black hair to fall down, ending at my waist.  It swung across my back and over my arms as I stepped into the shower.  Turning the knob allowed cold water to trickle from my forehead to my feet, wetting my hair and body.  I stood there waiting for the water temperature to rise to at least normal room temperature before lathering my hair with some soap and conditioner.  It wasn’t too long before I had gotten out, grabbed a towel, and covered my bony body.  I proceeded to get dressed. 

Out of my closet I grabbed my mandatory school uniform; the colors weren’t exceptionally dark however they weren’t bright either.  The skirt was an odd shade of green with complimenting colors of grey and black, I’m sure the designer was aiming for a plaid pattern but it didn’t really turn out that way.  The white button up shirt was actually comfortable, but at the black jacket’s expense. That thing was just annoying; though the worst part about the outfit was the necktie.  I’ve worn this uniform nearly every day for five months and I still can’t figure how to tie the damn thing.

            Here I was just now leaving my apartment at quarter ‘till nine; classes had started at eight.  Not even drying my hair or eating breakfast, just shouldering my back-pack and waltzing out the door as if I were leaving early.  I double checked to see if my front door was locked, after all one can never be too careful.  The apartment that was set across from mine, which had recently been rented out, sat with its door wide open.  Probably moving in some of their stuff right now. I thought.  On my way out of the apartment complex I ran into Sal, the groundskeeper. 

“Hey Sal!” I raised my hand in the air and gave a quick wave to the old man.  He hobbled around using his rake as a cane looking for the source of the voice that had called for him.  His face lit up with a glow that came from the sun itself, he smiled a full denture smile and leaned further on the rake.

“Oh, why hello Victoria!  Beautiful day isn’t it?”  Sal’s voice was soft and worn with age, but strong and cheerful.

“It is, one of the best in a while. But Sal, my name isn’t Victoria.”  Sal might be physically fit enough to be a groundskeeper, but his mind was not completely there.

“Huh, it’s not?” Sal looked surprised, “Then, what is it?”

“Winter, its Winter.”

Sal shook his head, “It’s not winter, todays the first day of spring!”

“That it is Sal,” I said in defeat. “well I got to go to school now.  See you later.” I had started walking away towards the main road; I could easily get to school from there.

“Good-bye Victoria!”

I turned around and waved one more time to Sal, “Good-bye Sal!”  Sal and I have had the same conversation every day since I moved into apartment 112b.  Apparently, Sal has lived here working as the groundskeeper since the opening, he was 17 then.  It’s still a mystery who Victoria is, or was, but she probably looked like me in the past.  Sometimes I actually wonder if I’ll ever meet her.  I would have looked her up by now, but all I know about her is her first name Victoria.

So we get to meet Sal the funniest crazy old man ever!  And I will be posting again soon I just have to make some minor changes to the next part of the story.  A comment would be wonderful, a vote would be unbelievably great (although I have to admit, I have no idea what the votes are for...), be more importantly just continue reading and enjoy.  Again sorry it takes a while for my stories to get into motion... my bad :( Oh well :)