They
began to talk to each other. Slowly at first, in fact they talked far too
slowly for either of their satisfaction. They talked infrequently, with days or
even weeks in between almost the shortest of imaginable conversations. Because
of their discomfort, they eventually talked with more frequency and with more
words in general. One day, a crucial day for both of them, a fortunate meeting
took place between them. Unplanned, unexpected, surprising, but, of course,
perfectly timed. Bubs suspected the meeting ever so slightly at first, but he
gave no credence to his imaginations. He had a hope that he would meet her
there, a glimmering excitement that faded as the day progressed. The fickle
weather had decided to assume a sunny, warm, and cheery countenance.
Bubs prepared to leave the beach,
and he thought his chances of seeing her were now completely extinct. But, of
course, his thoughts did not determine the future. He saw her feet first as she
walked past, gracefully striding across the soft sand. Beepah, however, did not
see him. He knew she must have gone back to retrieve something she had left
behind, and she would have to pass him again. Instead of leaving he stood
there, as if spikes had been driven through his legs from the ground. He
watched her go, observed her disappear shortly, and then he saw her approach. Bubs
came to the beach, he saw the girl, and he was about to conquer.
“Hey, what’s up?” he projected,
raising his hand for a high five.
“Hi, I’m just picking up trash.”
“Oh, is that some sort of volunteer
project?” he said, immediately feeling like an idiot.
“No,” she laughed, “It’s just my
family’s.”
They
headed back their way; he walked ahead of her with his friends. If only he had
known her thoughts as he glanced back at her. He stood at the side of the road
and watched her brother point at Bubs and snicker at her as they entered the
car.
A few days whizzed past him. It was
nearing the end of the summer, and Bubs had already accomplished more than he
could have dreamed. He had skateboarded and walked with Beepah a few times
since their beach encounter. He couldn’t imagine much more excitement entering
his life at the time. He was due for quite an adventure.
He had been advised to wait two
weeks, to be cautious, and to take his time. Bubs had his mind set on this
plan. He would not risk anything, although for once he felt as though things
were more stable than ever before. He was sitting on his bed, looking out at
the roof beyond his window. He remembered the countless times he had snuck out
onto that roof from his window to experience a marvel of stars. The wide
expanse of the sky opened up when he lay out on the black roof and looked up. A
tall black man named Sal had once told Bubs to keep looking up. Bubs never
forgot.
As he gazed dreamily out the window,
he thought he must have looked crazy to anyone who might have ever seen him sitting
on the roof. Suddenly, he wanted to do something crazy. He shuffled the files
of his brain for any suggestions. The one thing that occurred to him he almost
immediately discarded. No, it was too risky at this time. He should do what he
was advised to do: to wait. Then his crazed urge drove him to act. Before he
could think, Bubs had asked Beepah out. Crazy, but glorious.
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