Monday, February 16, 2009

Thirteen



Orange sun poured through the trees where the robins sang their evening songs.

"My dad's waiting for me," she said.

"Yeah," he said, spinning the bike pedals backwards and catching them again with his foot.

"You wanna meet here again?"

"Like tomorrow?" he said.

"Sure." The wind sprayed hair in her face. "If you want."

He nodded at the ground. His face turned, and he stopped twisting his toe in the dirt.

"Any time?" she said. "Or should I--"

"I'll watch for you."

She cocked her head. Shadows laid across his green eyes. "Well, alright then. I'll see you tomorrow then."

"Night."

She turned to the long dirt road down to the farm. Young summer corn flapped by her ankles.

When she reached her room, rose light glowed across the entire sweep of horizon. His silhouette perched dark up along the road. She sat, invisible behind the glass, and saw him lean over his bike and surge away.

Under the stars, she checked for his black shape where all of the distance lines joined. In her dreams, a boy with grass-stained jeans watched over her.

14 comments:

the walking man said...

The truth of romance found in the darkest parts of the sky. Very sweet vignette Jason.

Liane Spicer said...

This is beautiful. You capture these delicate images so well.

Catherine Vibert said...

I think I must still be thirteen at heart... lovely capture.

Sarah Hina said...

This brought the tears. There's just something profoundly touching about it. It doesn't need my explanations. It's all right there.

I wonder if the girl knows how rich she is. Even in her dreams.

SzélsőFa said...

How lovely, peaceful and promising, Jason.

K.Lawson Gilbert said...

This harks back to a time when young love was all it took to make everything right in the world. Those days shine like jewels, lighting the dark corners of time.

Seemingly effortless in its profundity. I enjoyed reading this very much.

Charles Gramlich said...

Lovely description.

The Preacherman said...

young love eh?

Is it ever really like that? Nice if it is.

Most blokes in their teens just want a leg over.

This story is a world I prefer.

Karen said...

This story leaves a sweet longing to have the kind of love and promise that is accompanies youth and lasts such a short while. Beautiful vignette.

jaz said...

This is an achingly beautiful piece. You had me at "spinning the bike pedals backwards and catching them again with his foot." I could see him perfectly from that point on, acting nonchalant, feeling nothing of the sort.

Aine said...

:) One of my favorites! Thanks for creating this, Jason! Certainly a variation of my dreams as a young girl. I hope he dreams of her as an equal companion, too.

I love the purity in these vignettes. If only there were more of this simple essence in real life. So often these moments are adorned with unnecessary complications.

Meghan said...

"The wind sprayed hair in her face"

I don't know why but that image came to me so clearly it was amazing. Excellent job, as usual.

Anonymous said...

Walking Man, I like that image. I can see you feel it.

Wordtryst, thank you! I've been thinking about how I tend to want to polish down to the essence of things, both in photography and in writing.

Catvibe, there are much worse things to be. :) I say embrace it.

Sarah, and I'm touched by your response. :) In this piece, I'm showing something I probably can't quite describe in simple words. And yet, as you say, it's right there.

Szelsofa, thank you! These are things that never leave us.

Kaye, there are moments when dark, hidden parts of us finally chip through the shell and hatch. We may keep the plummage safely hidden, tucked away, but once it is born, it forever defines us.

Charles, much appreciated!

Preacherman, I know there are those who truly walk in that world. I remember summers waiting to happen.

Karen, short moments, but long lasting in their effects on us. Summer is coming again.

Jennifer, each of the little touches of motion in this one were like blazing images for me. I didn't need anything else for the scene to burst into life in my mind. Glad you felt it too. :)

Aine, funny how writing something on the spur of the moment with no planning whatsoever can yield an even deeper message. I think that's the connection you feel. A true one. The link went from the photo to the boy who is me in a flash more instinctual than thought. All I did was follow it. Thanks for showing me the meanings. :) :)

Meghan, me too. I could even see the shape of it. How her eyes looked through until her fingers dragged it away. Thanks for the kind words!

Anonymous said...

Ah, it brings back summers long past with reminders of young love. I love the pic too!