Cruel Summer

I watched her brown curls bounce on the shoulders of her pink tee, above the line of bra-strap which held what I most wanted. She was the biggest tease at our school, to the boys like me who were older than her, and younger ones like the only-just-teens who timidly watched her now as she proceeded down the high street.

She paid them no attention, her milk-bottle legs continuing to cross heedlessly as she passed. I pictured her with her nose in the air, the picture of a cheesy girl who thought she was that far above everyone else. It was the summer holidays, but even in sneakers and socks instead of school stockings, she captured the breathless attention of every boy.

Thirstily I trailed her until at last a breeze lifted her light green skirt in back, giving me a long-awaited look at her black underwear. She may have acted all innocence, but she’d never have been seen in white ones!

I came to know her times, and would lie in wait for the moment she appeared and started off along the shopping-street. Ooh, but she was a little tease though, and not just to me!

For example one small boy watched her once, and as she passed by she trailed a finger on his cheek. Helpless with longing he turned his face with her motion, and I saw him shiver and almost collapse as if fevered.

Then another time a boy advanced, smiling. He looked to be in the year above her, but she put one hand on his chest and pushed him aside, not even slowing as she strolled past. He stumbled back, trying to look just indignant, but all his attempt at charm was crushed and no boy could hide the hollow helpless feeling that gave.

Next boy though I was jealous, because it seemed for a second she liked him. Oh, how close she stood. One of her knees was pointing towards him, and she’d lowered her little pouty face to his breast as if shy, though the big limpid eyes looked up into his. How near to those precious boobs was he? And how much smell was he getting?

I was certain that sight and those thoughts were going to send me mad with envy there and then. But suddenly...slap! A whipping stinging palm upon his cheek, and she whirled from him to stride off again.

The boy stood rooted to the spot, trembling a little, one hand clasped to the cheek that was turning a hotter red than any blush. I'd never seen such a hard glare as he was giving the silky brown curls which bounced away carefree down the high street.

I flurried over to him. I didn't think it would be polite to stare at his burning cheek, so averted my eyes - only to find myself staring at another trouble she’d left him with, one that was even harder to hide than a palm-print on the face! He must have known I was looking, because he tried to move his hand to cover it. Embarrassed, I flicked my eyes back to his.

"Are you alright?” I cried. “Why did she slap you like that?"

He heaved a big sigh in response. "Because she's a pain," were his heartfelt words.

I certainly knew how he felt! He was probably younger than me, but it felt like he was older. This had something to do with the different ways in which the girl we both wanted teased us. With me it was like she was playing no more than some schoolyard game, whereas this other boy she'd treated at least like someone her age. So, however sympathetic I was towards my new friend, I was jealous of him too. For I knew that as far as you-know-who was concerned, I might as well have just been some little boy.

Being teased day by day, and by the same girl, steadily wore your confidence down. I was fitful all the time, often panting to breathe, flushed and distracted. Most mornings I had to struggle to get my underwear on. If only I could share a little intimate moment with her, like that other boy had! It would be worth the slap on the cheek that came afterwards!

Mostly she didn’t even look at me, though I was sure she knew how I followed her every day, and that my eyes burned at her nonstop. One day though, all of a sudden we were face-to-face, me staring dumb at that heart-stopping pout. Was this it?

One of her hands moved behind her back. She crinkled her perfect little nose minutely, as if smelling something she didn't like. Then she twanged her bra-strap so her boobs bounced at me.

How I wanted to hold them in my hand! My mouth dropped open and I gaped, powerless. I’d known she was a tease, and she knew full well she had what I desired most, but even so I’d never dreamed she'd go that far!