“What would possess you to come back to this place?”
I smiled because, once upon a time, I’d been just like them. I had been so ready to leave this town behind and venture out into the world. It would have been hard for me to believe someone would actually escape and willingly return.
“Sycamore Falls isn’t so bad,” I said, knowing they’d disagree. The class didn’t disappoint, and the debate continued until I finally told them to write their thoughts about their hometown in a two-hundred word essay due on Wednesday.
A redhead in the back promptly raised her hand. “Do we have to read these aloud?”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea! Yes, please plan to read these aloud on Wednesday.”
The groans were deafening.
After class was dismissed, I tiredly slumped into my chair. Kicking off my heels, I wiggled my toes and then breathed a sigh of relief.
I did it.
I had survived the first day of school, and I’d done it without a panic attack, a flashback, or one single tear.
I spent my afternoon sitting in my living room, listening to 80s monster ballads on my iPod ® , and grading my first period autobiographies. I was humming along with Bon Jovi when I heard a thunderous knock coming from the kitchen. Tossing my pen and papers aside, I raced toward the back door.
“Hey,” I said, smiling at my unexpected visitor. He was wearing his Sycamore Panthers pullover. Mabel had been right. The medium really did fit him perfectly.
“Hey you. I’ve been knocking forever.”
I laughed, pulling the buds from my ears. “Sorry, I was just grading papers.”
“It’s okay.” He shuffled his feet nervously. “Would you sit on the porch with me?”
I smiled. He loved my porch almost as much as I did. Happy to leave my grading behind, I followed him outside, letting the screen door slam behind me.
“Don’t get mad, but I bought you something.”
He stepped aside, and there, hanging from the beams, was a beautiful porch swing rocking gently in the breeze.
“Oh . . .” I whispered in amazement.
“They were on clearance down at the hardware store,” Lucas explained. “I know you talked about getting some new rocking chairs, but I saw this and thought maybe . . .”
I couldn’t believe it. Growing up, I’d always wanted a swing, but Grandma didn’t like them. She’d always preferred her old wicker rocking chairs.
“If it matters, you can just consider it a thank you for the pullover.”
“Lucas, that sweatshirt was twenty bucks.”
Laughing quietly, he sat down on the porch swing, pushing off gently with his legs. “Aubrey told me you’d probably fight me, which is why I installed it before I knocked on your door. I was afraid you’d hear the drill. Lucky for me, you had your iPod buds planted in your ears.”
It was far too expensive of a gift, and I knew I shouldn’t accept it. It was also the most amazing gift anyone had ever given me, and it was beautiful and looked perfect on my porch.
I was so torn.
“Just come sit with me, Sarah.”
Unable to resist, I sat down beside him on the swing. He smiled at me, and together, we pushed. The creaking sound of the chains and wood was quite possibly the most tranquil sound I’d ever heard. Closing my eyes, I relaxed against the seat of the swing as we swayed.
“You love it,” Lucas said softly.
“How can you tell?”
“You’re smiling.”
Sighing contently, my eyes fluttered open as I slid my hand along the smooth wood.
“Thank you,” I finally whispered, “but you really shouldn’t have. It’s too much.”
“Not if it makes you happy.”
His bright blue eyes gazed into mine, and we shared a smile.
I was happy, and I knew, deep in my heart, that it had absolutely nothing to do with the porch swing.
“My hometown is the boringest place in the world,” Howie announced while reading his oral presentation of the writing class. He received a few “amens” and I had to bite my tongue to keep from reminding
I smiled because, once upon a time, I’d been just like them. I had been so ready to leave this town behind and venture out into the world. It would have been hard for me to believe someone would actually escape and willingly return.
“Sycamore Falls isn’t so bad,” I said, knowing they’d disagree. The class didn’t disappoint, and the debate continued until I finally told them to write their thoughts about their hometown in a two-hundred word essay due on Wednesday.
A redhead in the back promptly raised her hand. “Do we have to read these aloud?”
“I think that’s a wonderful idea! Yes, please plan to read these aloud on Wednesday.”
The groans were deafening.
After class was dismissed, I tiredly slumped into my chair. Kicking off my heels, I wiggled my toes and then breathed a sigh of relief.
I did it.
I had survived the first day of school, and I’d done it without a panic attack, a flashback, or one single tear.
I spent my afternoon sitting in my living room, listening to 80s monster ballads on my iPod ® , and grading my first period autobiographies. I was humming along with Bon Jovi when I heard a thunderous knock coming from the kitchen. Tossing my pen and papers aside, I raced toward the back door.
“Hey,” I said, smiling at my unexpected visitor. He was wearing his Sycamore Panthers pullover. Mabel had been right. The medium really did fit him perfectly.
“Hey you. I’ve been knocking forever.”
I laughed, pulling the buds from my ears. “Sorry, I was just grading papers.”
“It’s okay.” He shuffled his feet nervously. “Would you sit on the porch with me?”
I smiled. He loved my porch almost as much as I did. Happy to leave my grading behind, I followed him outside, letting the screen door slam behind me.
“Don’t get mad, but I bought you something.”
He stepped aside, and there, hanging from the beams, was a beautiful porch swing rocking gently in the breeze.
“Oh . . .” I whispered in amazement.
“They were on clearance down at the hardware store,” Lucas explained. “I know you talked about getting some new rocking chairs, but I saw this and thought maybe . . .”
I couldn’t believe it. Growing up, I’d always wanted a swing, but Grandma didn’t like them. She’d always preferred her old wicker rocking chairs.
“If it matters, you can just consider it a thank you for the pullover.”
“Lucas, that sweatshirt was twenty bucks.”
Laughing quietly, he sat down on the porch swing, pushing off gently with his legs. “Aubrey told me you’d probably fight me, which is why I installed it before I knocked on your door. I was afraid you’d hear the drill. Lucky for me, you had your iPod buds planted in your ears.”
It was far too expensive of a gift, and I knew I shouldn’t accept it. It was also the most amazing gift anyone had ever given me, and it was beautiful and looked perfect on my porch.
I was so torn.
“Just come sit with me, Sarah.”
Unable to resist, I sat down beside him on the swing. He smiled at me, and together, we pushed. The creaking sound of the chains and wood was quite possibly the most tranquil sound I’d ever heard. Closing my eyes, I relaxed against the seat of the swing as we swayed.
“You love it,” Lucas said softly.
“How can you tell?”
“You’re smiling.”
Sighing contently, my eyes fluttered open as I slid my hand along the smooth wood.
“Thank you,” I finally whispered, “but you really shouldn’t have. It’s too much.”
“Not if it makes you happy.”
His bright blue eyes gazed into mine, and we shared a smile.
I was happy, and I knew, deep in my heart, that it had absolutely nothing to do with the porch swing.
“My hometown is the boringest place in the world,” Howie announced while reading his oral presentation of the writing class. He received a few “amens” and I had to bite my tongue to keep from reminding
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