One Voice, One Song

panic attack

In a small town like Cape Elizabeth, everybody knows everyone; which means that rumors tend to spread around quickly like a widespread disease.

I was walking to school, that bright, early May morning. Walking along my favorite route to school, where the trees were blooming their light pink buds so the sun would shine through their early buds. That loose bridge that hung just above the glistening blue water, enough to make someone's heart jump at the thought of falling into it.

I walked through the big bushes that grew beautiful thorned roses and through the tall white spruce trees that towered over Birmingham's backyard. I climbed over their fence and knocked on the backdoor.

Mrs. Birmingham opened the door, coffee in hand. "Why good morning, Mel. Diana has been waiting for you for quite some time."

I went right through the door, setting my school bag down on the floor and made my way towards the barstool. "Good morning Mrs. Birmingham. I was quite hasty this morning, woke up late due to my late slumber last night. Pre-calc tends to bite you in the ass at times."

It was evident that I was close to the Birminghams'. Diana being my best friend since I had been born, my mother and Di's mother have been close friends since grade school. Growing up in the rural, small town of Cheshire in Massachusetts where, according to my mother, they sat on railroad tracks at Dean's Crossing, eating grilled cheese sandwiches and big dill pickles while they play silly hand games and ranted on about their day.

Mrs. Birmingham handed me a large plate of wild blueberry pancakes with maple syrup drizzled on the top and blackberries on top. It was always served on Mondays and Fridays.

Diana appeared through the hallway, her bag thrown over her shoulder. Her amber locks swaying side to side as she ran down the stairs. "You're late."

"Says the one who wasn't even ready," I roll my eyes playfully and she grabs a plate on blueberry pancakes. "I have a formative test in Pre-Calc today, I'm going to die."

"I know right," she says, stuffing her mouth with pancakes. "I was up 'till four last night, I can barely open my eyes."

"You girls should be getting to school by now," her mother comes near, pouring coffee into our mugs then pouring almond milk. "School will be starting soon."

We finished up eating as fast as we could and walked through the main hallway just below the foyer, "Goodbye, Mrs. Birmingham," I tell her as I put my shoes back on as Diana kissed her mother goodbye.

Exiting the house, we rushed out through the front door, the warm air hitting us like a paper against a rock. "You think we'll have enough time to see the shore this morning?" I hear Diana press.

"Of course we will, it wouldn't be a normal day if we didn't. We just need to run a little faster." It wasn't such a hard task to do, I'd say. I was wearing a baggy shirt that was tucked underneath my oversized mom jeans fastened with a tight belt that I borrowed from my dad's closet. My only concern was my white high tops that were clean as if they were just bought. Getting them dirty would just spoil my mood.

We hurried down the tall hill, careful not to fall flat our faces because just beneath was the glistening sand that shined gracefully, immersed in the dawning sunrise and the greatest sight of all was the crashing waves in the most admirable shade of cerulean.

"Now this is something worth the look," Di gushes as she sat upon the sand, not caring about ruining her newest vintage jeans.

"Well we can't just sit and admire it for too long," I retort as I whip out my phone from my back pocket. "We need to take some pictures first."