Meadow

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!" I shouted as soon as darkness invaded my sight. For a brief second I thought I saw hands coming over my eyes. Well, I guess I was right as soon as I heard stifled laughs at my right ear.

"Chase..." I slowly said.

"Nope, guess who?" he said playfully.

"Do I really have to guess? Dude, if you're gonna trick me next time, be sure to change the tune of your voice or something. It really gives you away."

"Ouch! Why so mean?" he took out his hands from my eyes and sat beside me on the tree trunk we found a long time ago.

"Just a word of advice," I nudged him and he pouted. I almost laughed.

"Ouch! You are so wounding my ego, Brenda." he pouted once more.

"How come?"

"You're laughing at me."

"Cause you look so funny!" I laughed some more.

"You're laughing at my face and not because of my joke," he said. Simply it wasn't a question.

"What joke?" I asked. Confused.

"Oh man! Brenda, you are so slow!" He laughed this time.

"Well, look who's laughing now," I crossed my arms and made a face "if your 'guess who' was a joke it wasn't that effective." I half smiled, grateful that I caught up with it.

"Yeah, I know. That's why it's so funny right?" he laughed again.

"Right," I said very slowly while nodding my head. "Ha-Ha. Very funny. I should've laughed before." Note the sarcasm here.

"Come on. Will you at least laugh for real? You'll never know that maybe this would be the last time that I could make you laugh."

He looked at me straight in the eye and it troubled me how he suddenly seemed serious. Oh well, maybe one of his tricks. But, this week he'd been acting up so weird. Whenever I ask him what's up, he'd just shrug and smile. I reckon, there's something bothering him. One time in school I asked him, 'So, when are you planning to tell me?' and he'd just say 'at the right time.' So I waited. When you love, patience is a must. That's what they say.

"Whatever," I stuck my tongue out.

And he laughed once more. But there was something more to it than a laugh itself. Something...strained?

"Shhh! You'll wake up every bird in town!" I clamped my hands over his mouth in order to shut him up. Wiling to keep the mood light once again.

"Okay, okay. Chill. Guess you've improved well from your 'slow syndrome,'" he teased.

"Oh shut up, Chase." I flicked his ear and there was silence for an immeasurable time as we drifted into our own thoughts.

Being in the meadow with Chase is one of the reasons why I love this place. Every dismissal time, we would always meet up here, teach each other lessons, and talk about our friends and the teachers we hate. Since we seldom have the same schedule in our classes, we catch up with each other. Twice, when he had a problem with girl issues I would advice him and hope that he could also see me not only as an advisor and a friend.

The meadow makes me happy. It keeps me calm and in control. It makes me think and see clearly. Seeing the beauty of nature makes me appreciate the gift of life God has given us. Seeing birds fly above us, the songs of the crickets, and the hoots of the owls. Looking out for colorful butterflies, wild animals and wildflowers surrounding us. The scent of fresh air, the swaying grasses beneath our feet, and the buttery sunshine. It makes me feel in peace and blissful.