Short Story 6 March 2024

Thus saith the Lord, You shall have hope and it shall be unto thee as a cloud full of rain showering upon thy head. It shall cover thee with blessings and great will be your abundance.

Here we go again, thought Sidney. How many years has Mr Sprane been pulling himself to his feet and waxing poetic? What does it even mean? It’s so vague it could mean literally anything, so no one can tell him he’s wrong or making it all up.

She looked around. Mmm, there’s that gorgeous boy whose family started coming here a month ago. Hair light brown, eyes grey, I think - I’ve never been close enough to be sure - long legs, and his hands…

Fantasies of lying on a beach with him started swirling in Sidney’s head.

Thank you, brother, Mr Pineker was saying.

Oh, right, church.

Mr Pineker was a nice man, grandfatherly. Sidney more or less listened to his sermon. She found herself doodling pictures of palm trees in her notebook.

Once the service was over, Sidney decided to just happen to be in whatever part of the church hall the new boy was in.

A couple of the boys Sidney had known for years went over to where the new boy was standing near the tea table. Sidney pretended to be engrossed in getting a cup of cordial. She suddenly realised how childish a drink it was - but having coffee would seem pretentious and like she was trying too hard to be grown up. Whatever.

She subtly squeezed into the circle of three and acted like she was a natural part of the group.

When she got home, she couldn’t clearly remember what she’d said, but she did know for sure that his eyes were grey. The most beautiful, perfect, grey eyes that must ever have existed. And his nose! So strong and sexy. Who ever heard of liking someone’s nose? So what, she did.

She had completely ignored her usual girl friends at church and had seen them glancing at her in the group of boys and obviously discussing her.

If she had a boyfriend like Julian - that was his name, Julian - she wouldn’t care about those childish girls any more.

Julian had mentioned that he was going to the skatepark after school on Tuesday. Sidney was determined to be there. She wasn’t sure how she was going to get out of her flute lesson, but she’d figure that out later.

She spent the rest of the day in a happy haze, with nothing but Julian in her head. Julian, Julian, Julian. Was that the most luscious and sexy boys’ name ever?

Sidney wasn’t proud of herself, but she told her mother that she had a sore throat and couldn’t play the flute on Tuesday afternoon. Her mother told her to go home and rest and keep her fluids up.

Sidney flew home from school, raced into the house, changed into her cutest skirt, dashed on some tinted lip gloss, and sprayed herself with her nicest body spray. She locked her bedroom door and climbed out the sash window, so her mother would think she was sleeping.

She sprinted down the grassy alley behind her house. Just before she rounded the corner onto the skatepark, she slowed down, smoothed her hair and clothing, and oh so casually walked towards the park. There was no one there yet. She sat on one of the low benches next to the park and opened her school bag. She pulled out one of her exercise books and a pen and started nonchalantly revising her notes.

Fifteen minutes passed and still no one appeared. What was going on? She thought she heard a squeal from the direction of the children’s playground. She threw her things back in her bag and headed for the playground at a brisk walk.

She couldn’t believe what she was seeing. Annemarie from church was on the swings, being pushed by Julian. What the hell? Annemarie was two years younger than Sidney and she’d never seen her talking to Julian before. How did they know each other? Were they close? Were they dating??

Annemarie had her eyes closed, her head thrown back, and was squealing every time Julian pushed her. That bitch.

Sidney had stopped and was frozen, not knowing whether to go forward and play it cool or turn and walk away, hoping they wouldn’t see her.

Hi!

Too late. Julian had seen her. He sounded glad to see her, though - she thought…?

Hi!

She thought her voice was calm and chill, but she wasn’t sure.

What are you guys doing? she continued.

Annemarie had opened her eyes by now and was looking at Sidney without smiling.

Julian came towards her. He actually left that brat Annemarie and came towards her. His gaze was so intense. Those eyes!

What’s up? he said.

Not much. I thought I’d do my homework in the park tonight.

That’s cool. Do you do that a lot?

Oh, every so often. (She never had before.)

Annemarie ran up. What are you doing here? - rudely, obviously meaning, you’re unwelcome, get lost.

Just hanging out.

Julian looked at her: Do you want to-

Annemarie burst in, Come on, Julian, let’s go, I want to show you my new kittens.

Julian looked at Annemarie, Yeah, sure.

He turned and started walking away. Sidney saw Annemarie’s triumphant look.

Can I come too?

Sidney was willing to swallow a lot of pride if it meant she could spend time with Julian.

She could see Annemarie was about to say no, but changed her reply when she saw that Julian wanted her to say yes.

Sure, she said shortly.

The three of them walked silently for a couple of minutes. The girls were on either side of Julian. She was walking next to him! She glanced down at his hand beside her. He had the best hands: kind of big but lean. She hoped she was going to get to hold that hand one day. She thought of “accidentally” brushing against his hand, but thought that might be too obvious or too creepy.

At Annemarie’s house, Annemarie led them straight into the conservatory where the mother cat and her kittens were nesting. There were three kittens. Annemarie said she wanted to call them Flopsy, Mopsy, and Cottontail, which Sidney thought was stupid because those were rabbit names. She didn’t say anything, though.

Sidney asked Annemarie if they could have a drink. She knew it killed Annemarie to say yes because it meant leaving Sidney and Julian alone, but of course she had to.

As soon as Annemarie left the conservatory, Sidney looked up into Julian’s face and smiled when he looked down at her. He was so tall, so gorgeous. He was holding one of the kittens, so she started stroking its soft fur. She decided to push things a bit and let her finger run a little way along his with each pass. He seemed to flinch ever so slightly. She glanced up innocently and saw that he was blushing a little. She pretended she hadn’t noticed and said something about the kittens.

Annemarie returned at that moment with a tray of drinks. Sidney was kind of relieved. She thought she might have pushed things a bit far, a bit fast.

Annemarie’s father pulled into the driveway. After he greeted them, he told Annemarie he needed her help pulling down an old shed in their garden. Julian - and then Sidney - offered to help, but Annemarie’s father declined their offer.

Julian said he’d be going then and Sidney said she would too.

They started back towards the skatepark. Julian turned to her and asked her if she was going home now.

There’s no rush. Did you have something in mind? she asked teasingly.

Um, yeah. Nah, you’ll think it’s stupid.

What?

Well - he looked bashful again; man, he was cute - my grandfather gave me his record player yesterday and I was going to try it out when Annemarie came over and said she wanted to go to the park.

He was a bit of a pushover. Or maybe it was more that Annemarie is so…determined. Some would say bossy.

So, you’re going to try it now? What records do you have?

Oh, heaps. My grandfather gave me his whole collection!

Awesome. Can I come and hear it?

Sure! Come on, let’s go!

Before she realised it, Julian had grabbed her hand and they’d started running towards his house.

Was this really happening??

Julian’s house was nicer than hers, but Sidney hardly noticed. There was no one else home. Julian headed straight for the record player, which was set up in a corner of the living room. There was a box of records beside it.

Julian spent the next hour playing one record after another. Most of the songs were old and Sidney didn’t know them. She liked them though, especially the pan flute ones.

Julian was totally engrossed by his role as disc jockey and Sidney was engrossed by him.

It was surreal to be here in this beautiful house - she had time to notice it now - alone with…him. He really was magnificent, flawless.

Sidney jumped. Her phone was ringing. Shit! She scrambled through the contents of her bag. Mum. No!

Excuse me a sec.

She ran out onto the front patio.

Hi, Mum. She tried to sound weak.

Sidney, where are you??

I’m…at the park, just getting some fresh air.

Fresh air?? You told me you were sick.

It’s just a bit of a sore throat.

I’m paying for you to have a flute lesson today! If you’re well enough to go to the park, you’re well enough to blow into a flute! … Sidney, are you there??

I’m here.

Come home right now!

Okay, I’m coming.

Goodbye.

Bye.

Stink. Just when things were going so well.

She turned around and saw Julian standing in the doorway.

Oh, hi, she said, embarrassed.

Do you have to go home now?

Yeah.

Oh, that sucks. Do you want me to walk with you?

Did she??

Yeah, sure.

Okay, I’ll just lock up.

As they walked, Julian talked about the music they’d listened to. Suddenly, he took her hand and said, I really enjoyed listening to it with you.

Now she was blushing.

She glanced at him. Yeah, I liked it too.

Do you want to come over tomorrow and listen to some more?

Sidney laughed. I will if I’m not grounded!

She let go of his hand and started running towards home. Over her shoulder, she shouted joyfully, I’ll see you tomorrow!