Red Converse

Chapter 1: Drifting Thoughts

A rainy day. A cloudy sky. A puddle-filled playground. An elementary school down the street. That's where I met Aaron.

We were second graders with a wild amount of energy which I wish I still had. I had trudged onto the muddy playground for recess, no friends in sight. I had stared down at my little red converse, hoping no teacher would force me to join a group. With my attention on everything except my feet, I had tripped over a rock and fallen into a giant puddle. Completely covered in mud and very close to tears, I didn't even try to get up. My cheeks reddened in horrible embarrassment and I didn't dare look up. Just as my tears started to drip into the puddle, I heard a splash. I peeked over beside me and locked eyes with who I later found out was Aaron Walker. His green eyes sparkled as he smiled at me and wiped his muddy hand on his face. His smile was contagious and soon enough, we were laughing for no reason at all.

Two boys laughing in a mud puddle became the center of our classmates' attention. Aaron and I were dragged to the office by a furious teacher and ended up in a ton of trouble.

That's the short story of how I met my best friend. It's a shame that life's problems weren't as simple as a puddle in the playground.

I guess Aaron and I found that out the hard way.

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Now that thirteen years had passed, the solutions were much harder to find than trying to wash the mud out of your little red converse.

"Peter Bennett," my best friend greeted in his usual calm tone as he patted my shoulder softly.

"Aaron Walker," I replied politely.

"Where are your thoughts, my dear friend?" Aaron took a seat beside me in the warm cafe.

"As far away as always," I sighed and turned to face him.

His light brown hair had grown so long in the past year that it fell over his eyes, but he didn't seem to mind. Since he was no longer at the house, he wasn't around for his mom to cut his hair like she always did since he was a toddler. His green eyes glimmered at me, and I took a moment to question why he always seemed so happy to see me.

"You need to get your haircut," I commented as I pulled at a strand of his shoulder-length hair.

"Sorry, my friend, but I must let it grow." He smiled warmly at me and shrugged.

"Stop addressing me as 'my friend'. It makes you sound like an old man," I grumbled, and turned away so I could no longer see his gaze.

I still felt it though. My thoughts drifted away again as I thought of the past.

"Aaron! Peter! Dinner time!"

"Peter, are you ok?"

"My baby! My baby! Give me back my baby!"

"Hey, let's go outside," Aaron offered as he grabbed my hand and pulled me towards the cafe door without waiting for my response.

"But it's freezing," I complained as the bitter wind hit my face and the snow crunched under my shoes.

The constant snowfall had made huge piles of white crystals in the road, so the only way of travel was walking. Seeing that the road was empty of travelers, Aaron led me out onto the street.

"Stick your tongue out, Peter! Just like old times!" my best friend encouraged as he gathered little snowflakes in his mouth.

I felt like crying as his simple words sent me back into our childhoods. Not wanting to ruin the moment, I looked up at the cloudy sky and stuck my tongue out.

Just like old times, I thought, just like old times.

Winter raged at the two of us as the wind whipped at our faces and the temperature dropped rapidly. The sun seemed non-existent and people locked themselves in their warm homes. The two of us, though, we stood in the blizzard. In the frigid cold, Aaron still managed to make me feel warm.