Thursday, March 11, 2010

Love In Spring



She usually stayed with her grandmother across the street from me. I never asked why. Children don't question these things. Sometimes her mother would come and take her away. Then, one day, she would be back. That's all.

Her name was Michelle, but I called her Mickey. She was springtime sunlight and the scent of apple blossoms. Smiles and laughter and sweet cut grass. Lemonade and clear blue skies. I loved her and she loved me. She was my best friend in the world back then.

We didn't dream we would grow up and get married. We didn't dream we would grow up at all. We were happy to play under the apple blossoms. We would spin ourselves dizzy and fall in the grass. We'd run past the rosebush alive with bees, around the old house and under the lilacs, to fall down in the yard once more.

Holding hands and watching the clouds, we were not at all in love. We were love. I loved her and she loved me. Ours was a love uncomplicated by expectation. We were happy just to be together. That's all.

We walked home from school hand in hand. It was our custom. It was uncomplicated by expectation. It was just what it seemed. Of course, we knew about boyfriends and girlfriends, husbands and wives, but we didn't dream of that for ourselves. We just loved each other. We were happy to be together. She was my best friend in the world.

One day we found ourselves surrounded by a curious group of big kids. Snickering, they began to question us. We answered them, all blue eyes and innocence.


Ooooh, is she your girlfriend?

No.

Is he your boyfriend?

No.

Do you love each other?

Yes.

Well then, why don't you kiss?


We hadn't given that any thought before. We looked at each other. We thought that would be all right.


OK.


Mickey stepped up onto the curb to be a little taller. And we kissed under the apple blossoms. Not too quick, not too long: just a kiss between friends and love in spring. We were not embarrassed. We were not in love. We were love. It was the most natural thing in the world.

We looked at the big kids to see if they were satisfied. They stood there confused, as if they had not found what they were looking for; as if they did not understand what had happened. They broke up and walked off in twos and threes. We looked at each other, all blue eyes and innocence, wondering if all big kids were such fools. I took her hand and we walked home.

We didn't talk about it. Why would we? It was the most natural thing in the world: a kiss under the apple blossoms and love in spring.


Respectfully Yours,


Cricket



22 comments:

Pauline said...

I remember feeling JUST like that! Delightful.

Dianne said...

this is such a sweet and lovely - and loving - story

your comment on my post about my granddaughter made me laugh - never thought of a glass for tips!!

will you be her agent? ;)

Michelle H. said...

What a beautiful story!

Suldog said...

Beautifully written. You didn't overly embellish. You didn't try for flowery descriptions that would have drawn away from the innocence and simplicity. Spare, but beautiful.

I'd be even more effusive in my praise, but that would have the same failings you so wonderfully avoided.

Beautiful. Just that.

Ananda girl said...

My best friend as a kid was Gregory. I played with his trucks, he played with my dolls and we never even considered that we were not exactly alike. We simply were us.

Sweet post, Cricket.

Land of shimp said...

That was thoroughly charming and sent me time-traveling, Cricket. It's wonderful to remember times when we didn't have to make an effort to simplify things. Things just were, and we were pretty straight forward in our approach to life.

Be lovely if we could upload a goodly dose of that regularly. That's what your post did.

Jeanne Estridge said...

Kids get such a short time to be so innocent....

Hilary said...

Ahh you brought back memories of my own best friend from that magical point in time. Beautifully done.

lime said...

just pure and innocent and natural as breathing. simply beautiful in the simplicity. thank you so much for sharing.

From the Old InkWell said...

Congrats on post of the week!!

ds said...

Beautifully written--you really captured the moment, and the emotion. Congratulations on Post of the Week. Very well deserved!!

Brian Miller said...

what a beautiful story...congrats on teh post of the week!

Sueann said...

What a magical and beautiful story! I too remember and it was beautiful and sweet and uncomplicated. Thanks for taking me back!
Congrats on your POTW award too!
Hugs
SueAnn

Land of shimp said...

Doubling back to say congratulations on the post of the week, Cricket :-)

Daryl said...

Lovely ...
Congrats on POTW from Hilary

LadyFi said...

What an enchanting slice of spring childhood.

Linda said...

Lovely story. Sometimes sweet things make you sad, though. I would like to have had a special friend like that.

Joanna Jenkins said...

Congratulations on Hilary's Post of the Week! Great job. Your story is lovely.
Cheers,
jj

Unspoken said...

I. Loved. This! BEAUTIFUL! Here from Hilary's.

CiCi said...

There is such a lovely love! Your writing about it is sweet and kind and reminds us all that there was such a thing as innocence. Really wonderful post. Congratulations on POTW.

Hilary said...

Sweet, very sweet. Thanks for sharing that.

blunoz said...

That's priceless! Very well written - bravo! Congrats on Post of the Week!