The One that Flew Away.

1996

Her friends were filming an old uncle near the minimart, asking him serious questions about the education system for their school project.
Holding the camera steadily, she peered into the screen...and her jaw dropped.

Behind the blabbering old man, a boy, about 17 years or so, was standing there, throwing M&M's in the air, with a crazed grin on his face. Sandy brown hair, green eyes, wearing a dirty green uniform.
He stuck out both his middle fingers behind the man's head and the guy didn't even have a clue.
She tried not to laugh but it was too late.
The strange guy was now pretending to fly from one end to the other, all this behind the old geezer who just wouldn't shut up about the virtues of the education system.

"Ok thank you Uncle! You were very helpful."

She switched off the camera and walked up to the boy. "You've spoilt the interview!!"
"Big Fuck. Interview me."
"Uh..Ok..."

The expletive- filled interview was left out on the editing floor. But she had made a new friend...sort of..




1998

Surprisingly, it wasn't a very hot day. She sat on the bench trying to get the shading of the nose just right, but somehow she couldn't. She was getting tired of erasing and redrawing. Not a lot got under her skin, but not getting proportion right, did.

A movement caught her eye. A flash of dirty green, a jaunty, uneven, hunched walk and then a pause.

Oh. Him. I knew he'd be back at this time, why did I come down. Because you wanted to see him, stupid.
No! Pretend you don't know he's here!!
Don't be DAFT. He knows you know.
....Ok, fine.

She took a small gulp, looked up and looked left.
"Hey.. What are you upto?"
God, his accent.
"Hi..Just..um..drawing.."
Her own voice sounded thin and stupidly high-pitched.

This is stupid.

"Lemme see."
Obediently (much to her own annoyance) she got up and thrust the paper, as roughly as possible, into his hands.
He looked at the paper.
She looked at him.

How could anyones eyes be that green?
A Forest. Trees radiating from the pupil. Amazing..
Well proportioned nose..teeth are crooked- charming..so charming..

"This is good.."
She looked at him suspiciously. Since when was he civilised?
She shrugged. "I can't seem to get the nose right.."
He looked intently at the drawing, held his hand out for the pencil and started shading.

"You can draw??"
He just nodded. She continued to look over his shoulder, amazed at how well the nose was turning out.
Why didn't I think of shading it that way??

He suddenly looked up with an extremely serious look on his face.
"Do you want to kiss me?"
"What?!"

Silence.

He looked down again and started shading.
"Do you want to kiss me?" Head still lowered, still shading.
"The day I kiss you, is the day pigs will fly."
She grinned at looked at his face, expecting a crooked toothed grin in return, but he just kept silent and continued shading.

"Done."
He handed her the paper. Gave her an odd, small smile and said "You have talent.."
"Thanks! You're pretty good too man!"
He just gave her another small smile, shoulders hunched even more, and walked towards his house.

O-kaaay....



2000

She hunched over her essay and started feverishly writing.
Ah such peace...such tranquility...such..

*Scrrraaaaape*
"G'day mate."
"Oh..You're here. Buzz off. I'm trying to do work."

You're turning red.

"Want some chocolate?"
"What? No cussing? Why're you being so nice."
"Have some..So...I'm headed back to Australia on the 18th.."

Her face was a blank. Both of them got up and started walking slowly. She turned to him with a bright smile.
"Ok! Hey lets you, me and S head to the beach!"
"Haha..nah ..I'm dressed like a fuckin' Nazi, look at me!"
"So what! Come on.."

He didn't budge, so she came upto him, grabbed his hands and pulled. He still didn't budge.
"Come on, please??Please?"
Her voice wasn't bright anymore, it was forced, almost pleading. She wasn't even smiling.
He pulled her towards him and said softly "I'll keep in touch, I promise.."

A Forest, That Forest...

She started tearing and she didn't even notice.
"We both know you won't...."
A tear rolled down her cheek.
"I will, I promise...."
She shook her head, gave him a watery smile and hugged.

Their first hug.
And last.


***



Sorry for the long post, guys.





Oh and in case you were wondering... the asshole never kept in touch.