Street Smart

Chapter 53: Sam

It felt like ages had passed when I finally got to the park to meet Benny. It had taken me so long to get here. The sun was already set, thanks to the wonders of winter. He was waiting patiently with a guitar in his hand. The weather wasn't too bad and there were other people mingling about. Some dog owners and some families letting their children run around the grassy area. In fact, as we walked the cement pathway through the park I could see people just as crazy as us with their ice creams. Benny insisted on buying mine. I felt weird letting him, but who passes up free ice cream? No one. Then we found a seat on a bench and nearby there was a pond that was partially frozen. A tall oak tree cast a mystical shadow over our bodies. Fallen leaves were scattered everywhere, crisp and crunched.

    "What's the guitar for?" I asked. A smile creeped up on his face.

    "I was going to ask if you'd mind if I played you a song?"

    "Oh my god, of course! I've always wanted to hear you play!"

    The whole time I've known Benny was a musician, I've never heard him sing or play his guitar. I know he's passionate about it, but I guess he was always too shy to share it. Watching him put his ice cream down and settle his guitar on his lap, I was kind of nervous to hear him sing. What if I don't like it? What if he's not good? I ignored the feelings. He's Benny. He's bound to be good. I didn't know what to expect, but I listened intently as he cleared his throat and began strumming. When his mouth opened, it wasn't just his voice that was beautiful. He had a thing with words I've never experienced before.

    "Caring

    Honey, ain't no need to worry

    I'll be there in a hurry

    Swearing it on my life

    Crossing my heart

    For the strike of that light

    Caring

    Darling

    I'll be there

    In the beat of our hearts

    I've cast you as the part

    You've got the starring role

    All control"

    It suddenly dawned on me, halfway through his song, that maybe he was singing to a specific person. To me? The way he nervously looked up at me while he sung and the way he spoke such truth.  His lips moved with passion and quivered when words weren't coming out of them, when the guitar was telling its own story.

    "Caring

    Honey, I swear

    I'll be there

    If you find yourself hanging by the thread of a sweater

    Caring

    Honey, I'll be there."

    I couldn't speak when he was finished. I was too overwhelmed. He knew I knew, I could see it in his eyes and his little smirk.

    "I don't know what love is, Sam. I probably won't for a very long time. But, I do know what care is, and that I will care for you forever, whether or not you feel the same or where our worlds take us. I just want you to know that I'm going to be on your side no matter the circumstances. "

    The thing about Benny is he doesn't just speak. When he says something, he says it like it's something written by the most famous, brilliant writer in the world, but like it's meant only for your ears and your heart only.

    Acting on a burst of excitement and an urge, I leaned over the ice cream on the bench and his guitar that was still in his lap and I kissed him and he kissed me and we sat there feeling something I've never experienced before, kissing like our lives depended on it, because they did.