GRANNY'S BARN

The time is nearing for me to meet my destiny. I’ve felt responsible for her since 1st grade after Curtis pushed her down, I made sure Karma took care of him. And held her hand while she cried and we waited for Miss Metcalf to bring the 1st aid kit. Now, nearly a decade later, I’m on the cusp of a lifetime commitment to her. I will be my Love’s first. 

I walk to her granny’s carrying a single rose, a homemade card and a perfume box filled with chocolates all tied together. As I turn the corner to her granny’s driveway, she is waiting under the carport. My Life looks like a Pre Madonna beauty, who doesn’t appear to be turning 15. On the surface, at first blush, she could be mistaken for a 20-year-old Cougar. However, as she skips to my personal space, only a 15-year-old could be so carefree and unassuming, yet to be jaded by heartache and pain. My Air’s unguarded unpretentiousness of sweet love and vulnerability reveals her youth.

She smells of Passion which her tender kisses displays. Hey there my Romeo. She says. What do you have in your hand? She asks. Gifts for my birthday, girl. Aww thank you. She gives a peck on my check. I have a surprise. She takes my hand; I follow her to the back porch of her granny’s farmhouse. Bree picks up a lantern and leads us through a narrow path; the moonlight helps the lantern light up the dark path to the old barn. Baby, I’m scared. I say. Just hold my hand. I will protect you. she says with a cute giggle.

I help her with the barn door. I notice a light at the back. There are bales of hay filling most of the space. We go to a ladder at the back and climb toward the light. I allow my love to go first. Her face is beaming. I’m unable to stand up straight for fear I will bump my head on one of the wooden beams. What do you think? She asks. Wow, cool. I reply. It’s more beautiful than I could ever imagine from the outside.

It’s a loft with hay laid throughout the space, thick white blankets covering the hay. She has Christmas lights that light up the darkened space and bails enclose our sitting space. Bree uses battery powered lanterns with red coverings for each lantern giving the loft a romantic ambience. She hits play on the small cassette player. Classical piano. She says. Chopan serenades us perfectly tuned for the space. We sit Indian style, facing one another. This loft is almost as beautiful as you. I say.

I asked my grandmother if it would be OK to stay out here with my friend Candice and she approved. Where is Candy? I ask. She left with her boyfriend, he will bring her back later. She replies. I told her about you. She continues. She didn’t seem surprised. Pretty much everyone knows. They see the way we look at each other when we have lunch together. It’s an open secret. So now for the good stuff. What did you get me? She asks. 

Nothing as nice as the way you’ve arranged this loft, but it’s from my heart. I made the card from the construction paper left over from our Social Studies project, drew all four seasons and wrote a poem. Next I folded the 8 x 11 sheet in half to make it like a Hallmark card. I picked a single rose from the flower patch at my grandmother’s. My auntie Rachel has quite the green thumb. I went to our store, The Pantry, for candy. Decide on 15 Hershey Kisses representing each year of your life, got an empty perfume box from my mom’s collection; chose one large enough to fit all the kisses. Then retrieved a red ribbon from my sissy’s drawer tied the perfume box, card and a single rose all together. I hope this will be your best birthday ever. 

Bree unties the ribbon and uses it to put up her golden locks. Did you draw all four seasons? She asks. Yes, silly, I’m the illustrator and the author. The birthday girl slides closer. My Forever Bree, she says. Yes, it’s a poem I wrote in your honor. Would you like for me to read it? I ask. She whispers, Yes. She slides closer so that our knees touch and she places her hands on my knees. 

My Forever Brees

I offer you this rose, a beautiful symbol of our love. In honor of you presenting me your most precious gift. Your offering I will handle with special care. This gift is more valuable than diamonds and pearls, silver or gold. Tho precious the metals we can replace them each. Your flower is irreplaceable, more valuable than a Van Gogh priceless work of art I will treasure and keep it safely locked away deep in my mind, soul and heart.

I lay my head down to sleep. I think about your sensitive smile oh so sweet. I dream about your tender touches that tingle. I awaken, desperately missing you. Unable to take a deep breath and breathe.

I walk into the morning air, trying to find a glimpse of you amongst the falling leaves. Your reflection is unaware, but just when all hope is lost, I feel a hint of you and taste your touch. 

Brees are always with us Mother Nature’s gift, letting us know we are not alone. God’s Brees are omnipresent with us Summer, Winter, Spring and Fall. I promise to always be there whenever you need me. Just call. You are my past, my present, my future, My Love. My Forever Bree

I look up to see crocodile tears flowing from her baby blues. She takes my face in her hands and without speaking, gives me her mouth. I taste my heart’s tears. After several minutes, we release our lips. My Soul speaks. That’s the most beautiful poem I’ve ever heard. She sniffs and wipes away her tears. 

Who are you? She asks. Since we went to high school you seem so different from all the other Freshmen boys. You seem much older and mature. The things you say to me. The way you say them. You make me feel like the most special girl in the world. When you hold my hand and when we kiss, you make me feel like a woman. She says. 

Bree, you bring out the best in me, you also have matured from the mean girl in middle school to someone so sweet you give everyone cavities. When I’m near you, I can’t keep my hands or lips away. I say. Bree gives a weak smile. I always knew there was something special in you, someone as beautiful as you on the outside doesn’t hold a candle to the beauty inside your heart. See, I can’t keep these tears from falling. It’s partly my hormones. She says. 

We lay down. I’m spooning her from behind, stroking her hair. She checks her Timex. My future speaks. Guess who just turned 15. She spins around, and before I can answer; she is passionately kissing me. Our first time was magical; soft and sweet. 

We must have dozed off because Candy startled us awake. We are fully clothed, cuddled up between the two haystacks. Aww you guys are adorable. She takes a seat on the hay next to us. Hey Candy. I say. Hey Kincaid. Hey Bree Bree. Candy says. Bree doesn’t speak but waves. You love her, don’t you? Candy asks. Bree speaks. Candice, he’s shy. Her Romeo speaks. I’ve loved her since 1st grade and I will love her til they put me in my grave.

Aww. Bree says. He says stuff like that all the time. Bree continued. Oh yea, I start tickling Bree. She scatters hay everywhere. We crawl down from the loft and stand at the barn door. My gosh, you’re tall, Candice says. Yes, I’m 6 feet 2. I reply. Yea he is 6 feet 2 inches of my beautiful boy. Bree says; and gives me a hug. You guys get some sleep. I say. I walk down the narrow trail away from the barn and I turn and give a quick high sign. Bree tugs at her ear. They giggle and say, Bye Kincaid at the same time. 

The old barn would always hold a special place in our hearts. Bree’s granny has passed away and her dad sold the property. The new owners remodeled it and is now a garage. Although 30 years have passed, we come back often to visit my mom and always take time to visit the site. We stop the car for just a moment, have a kiss and remember our first time in granny's barn.

Our First Time in Granny’s Barn.