That was the Summer

2) The Reading Nook

That night I tried to stay at Kayleigh's house as long as possible, but as usual, her parents started using transitional words like, "Well, it was fun having you over, Marcie," or they would begin to check their watches way too many times. So, like a good guest, I thanked them for the time I was able to stay. I hugged my best friend and together we walked to the door. When she opened it both of our eyes looked to the dark gray sky.

"You want a ride, Marse?" Kayleigh asked, "I could get one of my parents to run you down to the beach." I said no, and now I wish I had said yes. The rain pours though me, drenching my soul in despair. It wasn't a long walk down to the beach, but it was long enough to make me freeze through. I shiver in my thin cardigan, shorts, and sandals. Hey, it's Southern California; you don't plan for this weather in the summer, especially in this supposed drought.

It takes about fifteen minutes to climb down through the hilly neighborhoods. Finally, I make it to our old wooden beach house. I go to twist the knob but the knob won't turn. Locked. It's alright, I don't panic. Instead, I walk around to the back door and try that one. It's locked tight too and here I am standing out in this freezing weather.

"Are you for real!?" I slam my hands against the brittle paint, peeling from the sea misted wood, "How is there nobody home!?" A string of shivers makes my teeth clatter. Right about now, I'm wishing I own a cell phone... but I don't. So, I'm kind of stranded.

"If you ever need help," Mrs. Yasakawa's words echo in my head, "you can come on over to our house." So that's what I decide to do. I take off, running through the alleys and streets between our houses. The Yasakawa house is hard to miss when I find their street. It's large with clear glass windows, new smooth paint, and has clean outdoor couches on their side patio and on their beachfront patio that are currently covered due to the weather. I open their gate that is embellished with coiled designs and on knock hard twice on their door before ringing the doorbell.

"Marcie?" Shotaro opens the door and is obviously shocked to see me, "You'll catch a cold in this weather. Where's your rain coat, boots..." He looks me over and making my blush, "... and umbrella?"

"Don't you think I'd use one if I could? My family's gone and my house is locked tight. Let me in!" I push Shotaro to the side and step in without being told I'm allowed. I slide out of my soggy leather Rainbow Sandals, leaving them in the shoe shelf next to the door, "Mrs. Yasakawa?" I call walking deeper into the house. I make sure I stay on the tile so my dripping clothes won't get the carpet damp. My bare wet feet squeak wherever I walk.

"Oh, is that Marcie I hear?" She responds, inside the kitchen. I wave at Shotaro's three younger siblings, playing a card game in the living room, before continuing in the direction of Mrs. Yasakawa's voice. When I find her, she's chopping vegetables; potatoes, carrots and onions.

"Hey," I say standing in the doorway, waiting for her to turn and look at me. When she does, she gasps and sets her blade down on the cutting board, "I got caught in the rain. Nobody's home at my house and the doors are locked. I didn't know what to do." She smiles in a sympathetic sort of way before saying.

"Well, call your parents." I did and found out they were out on a date. Dustin, coincidentally, was too, with his girlfriend Blair. And... my younger brother, Talon, was gone at a sleepover with one of his school friends, "That's alright," Mrs. Yasakawa says, "Your parents can take their time. Your Mom left some clothes here in case something like this ever happened. You can change into them after a hot shower if you want one." Of course I did. "And after wards, the curry will be ready and you can eat with us." The shower was amazing, and warmed my shivering spirit, and the clothes Mom left here turned out to be perfect. I had wondered where my Nyan Cat T-shirt went, and dinner was by far the best part. Sometimes, I wish I could eat dinner with the Yasakawa's every night.

After dinner, time ticked by slowly. I waited for my parents to call, saying they were back, but ended up falling asleep in the second living room that was turned into reading nook. The couch wasn't long enough to lie all the way out so I partially sat up as I drifted away from this world and into a dreamland that resembled my childhood in elementary school.

"No, you don't say it like that," Shotaro teased me in second grade as he relentlessly tried to teach me Japanese phrases, "It's Ohayo-gozaimasu! Try again!"

All of a sudden, it felt like my legs were being picked up. Then in the next moment the cushions on the opposite side of the couch were unsettled by new weight. Slowly I cracked my eyes opened to see what person was sitting there. Of course it's Shotaro, sitting, reading a summer assignment novel with my legs across his lap. His arms rest across my shins as he reads. The constant contact makes me just about lose it. I want to grin, laugh out loud even, but I opt for pretending I'm sleeping for a little longer.

Suddenly, I don't mind the weather. I like the way the rain comes down in giant drops, and I don't mind the way the waves beat upon the beach. I like the way the wind howls like attic ghosts. Because of the weather I am here.

I also appreciate my parents and the time they take out of their busy schedules to go on dates like they used to when they were first going steady in high school. Then, I find myself thinking of Blair and the perfect match she is for Dusty. And weirdly, the hate I usually hold in my heart for Talon's bratty middle school friends leaves for a moment. ...And I just don't mind. Because of them I am here.

That was the summer it poured hard! That was the summer I knew I had to confess to Shotaro ...but I struggled to find the right moment.