A Moment In Time

It was hot; not just hot. It was incredibly humid, which made it feel as though you were in a pressure cooker as the sun slowly climbed in the sky. In the morning, he had gone out for a walk. It was sunny with no breeze. As he walked, he felt the temperature steadily increase. Even the air began to feel very warm and thick. He had wanted to get some exercise, but this was getting to be too much. It felt as if every inch of his clothes were stuck to him as he walked. The heat just sapped his energy, his desire to continue. He decided to keep his walk short. He couldn’t believe that this was only the beginning of his summer vacation from school. He headed home as the first clouds started to accumulate. He didn’t really notice the clouds just how oppressive the heat had gotten. He decided to grab a quick shower to cool off and feel human for at least a few minutes. As the water sprayed onto his skin it was an immediate relief.

He sought refuge from the heat and mugginess of the Saturday afternoon in his room, in his parents’ home, in front of a fan. He sat at his desk trying to read a “Mad” magazine he had managed to buy the day before with lunch money he had saved. Occasionally he would look out his open window which looked out to the thick woods near the house. He didn’t really want to read at that moment. He wanted, as most sixteen-year-olds do, to explore and discover. He wanted a job to earn money so he could go out, socialize and explore not just the woods and the world around him but relationships as well. Like most young people, there was so much he wanted to experience. However, his parents had decided to move out to the middle of nowhere, over twenty miles from town to this rancher on top of a hill, next to a forest to the east and a spectacular panoramic view of the river valley to the west and north. So, he sat and read his magazine.

Suddenly he heard something of interest outside. It sounded like a loud laugh. He put down his magazine and immediately walked out to the living room for a better view. There was a nice steady breeze channeling down the hallway as he left his room. His stepdad had installed a whole house fan which would move air through the house. It felt refreshing and invigorating. He looked out of the window and saw Donna outside in her yard playing catch with her cousin.

Donna’s family had moved into the house next door over the winter. She was tall and thin with all the perfect proportions for him. She had long sandy blonde hair which flowed over her shoulders. Her face was very attractive with her blue eyes and petite slightly upturned nose carefully sprinkled with a light dusting of freckles. She had a warm smile which lit up any occasion. She reminded him of a perfect California Beach girl. He had spent six months in California the year before she moved to the hilltop. He had never seen a California Beach Girl in person, but he knew Donna was what they looked like. She was two years younger than he and she was playing catch in denim shorts and a bikini top. She was an experience he wanted.

Shortly after her family had moved in, they both became quick friends. They talked about everything and learned that they both had numerous similar interests but were intrigued by those they did not share and learned from each other. He loved how she was so full of life, and she enjoyed his wit and many interests. He helped her with homework. They played board and card games. They liked to go on walks with one another and sometimes even go for a run. He was even a shoulder for her when she found out her boyfriend was interested in another girl at school. Donna had asked him to be there for her. They were friends and he hoped that they could move on to the next level of this relationship.

Without thinking he smiled to himself and quickly went out. But he didn’t just come running out. He didn’t want to look like a starving dog charging the dinner bowl. He had to play it cool. So, he walked out the front door and walked down to the mailbox at the end of the drive and looked inside. When he finished, he closed the door and looked over as if he was just nonchalantly checking out what was happening and saw what he wanted. Donna was waving to him and calling out his name. He smiled at this successful segue to working on that experience.

It was still very hot outside but there was a nice breeze picking up as clouds were forming overhead. The breeze took away the mugginess and made the day bearable. He walked towards her as she moved towards him in a light jog with her incredible smile. They were totally focused on one another and didn’t notice the world around them as they closed the distance between them. He met her by her family’s lawn furniture carefully arranged in a semi-circle about a fire pit.

“I was hoping I would see you today.”

“Oh, really?” he asked with a slight smile.

“I was going to knock earlier but I know how you like to sleep in so, I decided to wait,” she responded looking proud of herself with her ability to know him.

“Yeah, nothing like sleeping in and getting up at the crack of noon,” he smiled again looking into her blue eyes. He had thought about mentioning that he had gotten up earlier for a morning walk but just let it slip out of his mind.

“Yeah, I wanted to ask you if you wanted to go for a run again this evening.”

Donna loved to run. She loved that adrenaline high you felt when you broke the barrier and got your second wind. But these were lonely country roads, and he was not only the first guy she met who could keep up with her, but he was fun and with his strong build he was reassuring, comforting to have along. He was more into hiking and thought nothing of hiking for ten to fifteen miles. He would average eight miles a day, which was just enough to go jogging with Donna for two or three miles and stay up with her.

He looked about and noticed that the day did seem to be cooling off with the increase in clouds blocking the punishment of the sun and the breeze. He started to feel a weird tingling sensation which kind of energized him.

He smiled while nodding his head, “Sure, what time did you want to go?”

“I was thinking about two hours after dinner.”

He looked about as he considered her suggestion.

“Hey, I was also wondering if you could help me practice my pitching?”

“What, now?” he asked in a calm voice.

“Sure, I need all the practice I can get. My softball team made it into the finals.”

“That’s fantastic,” he smiled, “Sure, but I left my glove at a friend’s house.”

“You can borrow my dad’s,” she suggested.

As they walked towards her house he thought for a moment or two as the tingling seemed to increase as it surged through his body. It had really gained his attention as it felt so wonderful. He didn’t know that she felt it as well, which each started to think that it was because they were with each other and tried to understand the feeling while enjoying it. But then, it always felt right to each of these youngsters when they were together

“Yeah, I think an evening run would do us good, it will be cooler and there would be little to no traffic to bother us,” he said as they walked.

“Hey look,” said Donna’s cousin who had been standing near them.

Both looked to see what she was pointing at. Both expressions changed to one of wonderment as they saw individual strands of the cousin’s long hair rising into the air. They looked at one another with intrigue. Donna’s sandy blonde hair was doing the same thing as was his light brown hair.

“What the hell?” he asked as Donna laughed.

“I’m going to show my mom,” said the cousin as she left to go inside.

“What do you think it is?” asked Donna as the tingling sensation intensified.

“I don’t know,” he answered.

He led as they both started to walk to the patio of his parents’ house.

“This is really interesting. Do you feel all tingling too?” she asked as she walked with him.

“Yeah, what do you think this means?”

He stopped and turned to look her in the eyes. She looked and found herself deeply in his. They both smiled with anticipation. They were only a couple of inches apart. He carefully reached out and started to place his arms gently about her. She let him. It felt so natural, so magical, so right, especially while being fully enveloped in this tingling sensation. It drew them together. It felt so intoxicating for both. He started to lean in as she did. Just as their lips were about to meet, there was a brilliant flash of light as the blast of thunder ripped through the air and echoed down the valley.