stars ; j.s.

4

J A C O B

When I was younger, I absolutely loved coming to visit my grandparents. I didn't care that I had to ride for 5 hours in an overheated car and I certainly didn't care that I couldn't use electronics. It was the highlight of my year because for three months I could have the time of my life and nobody would stop me. Since then, I've grown and my interests have changed quite drastically. Three years can do a lot to a person. These days, I rely on my phone for everything. By saying that I probably sound like a dramatic teenage boy, but it's true. My job, my friends, my life is on that phone. Sometimes it becomes a bit too much for a 13 year old to handle. I'm still a kid and I think sometimes that I miss out on the things kids should be doing. Though it's been my entire life for the past few years, maybe it's time for a break.

That's why I was sent here. My parents think I'm beginning to get a little overconfident and I need to be humbled by being around something other than social media. So, to my utter dismay, here I am.

"Hey, can I ask you guys something?" I asked my grandparents.

They turned off the old television they had been watching and turned to me from their spot on the sofa. "Of course,"

"So, that grocery store on the corner. Who owns that?"

"It's been a family business for years. Do you remember Mr. Monroe? He used to give you candy whenever you'd go into the shop." My grandpa reminded me.

"Oh that old guy?"

My grandparents looked at each other as if insulted by the term 'old.' "He passed away a few months ago. Now his son, James, owns the store. I think he's got a daughter about your age."

"Yeah, that's kind of why I'm asking," I told them. "Do you know anything about her?"

"Her name is Violet. We've seen her a few times, she seems like a nice young lady." My grandma grinned. "Why are you asking? Does someone have a crush?"

My face went instantly red. First off, I didn't know the word 'crush' could even be in the vocabulary of someone her age. Second, I did not have a crush on this Violet girl. Yeah, she was pretty. Very pretty. But, I had only just met her. "No, I do not have a crush on her. I was just wondering,"

"Actually that reminds me. Would you mind picking up a carton of eggs for us? We're running low." My grandpa handed me a few dollars and ordered me to leave.

I would never admit it, but I really hoped that Violet would be there. She was easy to talk to and I liked that.

Unfortunately when I got there, she was nowhere to be seen. Her dad greeted me at the door, then proceeded to type something into the cash register. I strolled to the back of the store and quickly grabbed a carton of eggs from the freezer, paid, and I was out.

Merely a few feet from the entrance of the store, I saw something quite unexpected. A rooster ran across my foot and startled me to the point of dropping the eggs I had just purchased. Yoke covered the ground and I sighed deeply at the aftermath.

"You okay?" A familiar voice asked.

It was her.

Suddenly, I was mortified at what just happened. "Uh, yeah. I'm fine I just, um-"

"You're not from around here, are you?" She giggled, noticing my sudden nervousness.

"No, how could you tell?"

She raised an eyebrow. "It's only slightly obvious by the way you dress and the way you react to a chicken running around. This is farm country. There's chickens everywhere."

"That's just another thing I'll have to readjust to again."

"Again?" She asked.

"Yeah, I used to come here every summer to visit my grandparents. I haven't been here in three years." I explained.

She smiled. "Well, at least someone my age is going to be here. This place is filled with a lot of younger kids and older adults. Not the best."

"I remember that." I recalled. "I should probably go get another carton of eggs."

"Oh, don't worry about it. I'll get you another so you don't have to pay again." Violet offered.

Before I could protest, she was already jogging into the store and soon enough she was out with a fresh carton.

"I can pay if you-"

"Don't worry about it. I'm Violet by the way,"

I pretended like I didn't already know to avoid sounding like a total creep. "Nice to meet you, Violet."

And I meant it. This girl was certainly someone I hoped to be spending a lot of time with.