When Spring Returns

Chapter 2

One of the men surprisingly notices my laughter, and turns around towards me. I act like I'm searching for something else in the shelves and desperately try and make it believable. After a while, I turn back to face them. Both of them are very tall, with broad shoulders and wild hair. I also can't help but notice piercings behind both of their ears. The silver earrings look oddly familiar, but I can't remember where I saw them. The men walk to another aisle. I can't help but follow behind them. I peek through the next aisle. They aren't there. "What?" I whisper. I look through the rest of the aisles, even the checkout area, but they aren't there. I give up after a while and resume looking for my supplies.

I can't help but wonder what was of those men, I think to myself as I checkout my items and head for the bus stop. I left earlier than usual due to the encounter. I don't know why, but I assume it was because I was still hoping I could catch them walking outside, but I was wrong. The closer I got to my bus stop, the less the hope that I would find them. "Mayra! Hi!" I hear a familiar voice behind me. Eric, my neighbor, is running towards me. "Oh, hi Eric. What are you doing here?" Eric is my childhood friend, we both grew up together. When one of us was feeling upset, the other would help out. He was always the energetic one of the two. Sometimes I don't know how he gets all of that energy. "I was here grabbing some soda, i'm hanging out with my friends later this afternoon. Why are you here?" He asks. "Well, I came to get some supplies for something I wanted to build." I look at his face and see him smirk. "Don't tell me you're building one of those little garden sculptures again? You've been doing that since you were a kid."

He's right. It has always been my hobby. As a child I would build all sorts of things for gardens such as decorative pots, small terrariums, fences, miniature chairs and tables, etc. Right now, I was interested in making a trellis fence for a grape vine that I bought recently. "So? My hobby isn't anything bad. It's not hurting you." I shuffle my feet. Eric laughs a little. "But don't you think it's a bit, I don't know... childish?" I feel my neck become warmer. "Whatever! At least it's something that's worth it! Not like your videogames." He continues to laugh. "Okay, okay I get it. Anyway, i'll be going now. I'm sure you don't want to miss the bus either." He grabs my shoulders out of nowhere and turns me around to face the bus stop. I look up, and the bus is just arriving. I rush to wave him goodbye and run towards the stop.

I get home just in time. At least I know today is not the day for my mom to scold me, since I followed her orders. I rip open a bag of chips and begin building the trellis fence. It's very easy. I make the wooden frame first. Then I cut aluminum wire and place some pieces horizontally, then vertically, and fit it onto the frame. I take the fence outside and place it right beside the new grape vine. I really hope it grows large and healthy. Liza walks towards me. "This is really pretty Mayra." She looks towards the grape plant. "Can I touch it?" Her intentions don't seem bad, so I give her permission. "How do you know how to make this stuff?" She asks. "You have to look at what you want to make first you know. Then picture it in your head, or look for a picture on the internet." I look down to see if she's still listening. "Then make a drawing, and find all of the parts." Liz is digging a little hole. I assume that she isn't listening to me anymore, so I watch her instead. "Don't you want a shovel?" I ask her. She doesn't answer. I crouch down next to her as she continues to dig. Liz opens her lunch bag, and cups something with her hands.

She goes to the hole and opens her hand, revealing a small seed that has just begun sprouting. "What type of plant is that?" I ask her. "I don't know, my friend said it was a Morning Glory. She took it from her mom's garden and stuff." I let her continue to replant the seed in our garden. "You'll take care of it right?" She nods. I stand up and walk inside the house. I never knew Liz wanted to grow plants as well.

My room is small, but atleast I have my space. I turn my tv on and search for a good movie to watch. Once I find one, I begin doing my homework. If I do it now, I won't have to worry about it later. Vzzt, vzzt.

Hey Mayra

Hi Carmen, what's up?

Nothing much, I wanted to tell you something actually

Really? What is it?

Well... I had the guts and I asked Jacob out to go shopping with "friends"

OMG really?? That's great! What did he say??

He said sure. But that's not the problem here..

What? What's wrong?

You see, about those "friends".. I didn't actually tell anyone to come with me that day.

Haha wow, so you want me to go with you guys?

Yeah i was going to ask you that.

Ok sure, is anyone else coming?

Yeah i asked a few people.

Ok, count me in. When is it?

It's on Thursday @ 6pm

Ok! Thanks :)

Tysm Mayra!

Np!

The only thing left is to ask for permission. I'm sure that if I do a few chores around the house, my mom will let me go. Thursday is 3 days away so i'll have enough time. For now, I need to focus on this work. Carmen did a good job distracting me with her love life. I finished my work in no time, and right before my mom called me for dinner. I sit down and begin eating my food. "So what is this i'm hearing about a plant?" Did Liz tell her about that? "Well yes, Liz brought a little seed that she wants to take care of. I saw her planting it in the garden while I was there." My mom turns to Liz and smiles. "My little girl is going to be just like her sister. I can't wait until I see the flowers." Liz smiles back and continues eating her food.