Read Online September Wind by Kathleen Janz-Anderson - Free Book Online

her aunt’s driveway. Another half a mile and she was standing at Daniel’s turnoff. Not sure where he lived, she squinted, looking for any sign of him. Just to think he was so near made her heart flutter.
    She touched her cheek, remembering the kiss that had taken place on this very spot where she stood. The thought burned her face red, straight down to the middle of her chest, where it sat like a warm fire. She couldn’t wait to see him fling his golden locks off his face again, couldn’t wait to see his smile.
    As she moved up the road, she thought of that smile and the twinkle in his green eyes so rich in color they reminded her of shimmering leaves off the afternoon sun. Nothing was more beautiful or important than him right now, and she loved the way thoughts of him consumed her.
    When she reached the schoolhouse, she walked around the building and stopped to look up at the basketball hoop. The tetherball hung dirty, slightly blowing with the wind. She went over, picked it up and swung, winding it around the pole with one good punch. It felt good to be here again. If only she could go back to school in the fall, she would make better of it.
                  She went to the swings, and pumped herself up so high her spirits soared right through to the roots of her hair. Up there, it was easy to keep an eye out for him. When she saw someone come up the road, she held her breath until she knew it was Daniel by that slow steady saunter. Her heart thumped as he approached.
                  “Hi, Emily.”
                  “Hi, Daniel,” she said, sliding from the swing.              “Came to play basketball. You wanna?” He nodded toward the court.
                  Daniel had always been reserved, shy in a way, and yet confident. She felt safe with him, felt a beautiful excitement brewing between them as they walked.
                  He looked over and smiled. “Glad you made it.”             
                  “Me too. Can’t stay long though.”             
                  They made up games for two, losing a point for each basket missed, and gaining two for a backward shot over the head. She couldn’t stop looking at him, couldn’t stop the longing that was messing with her insides. When it was time to go, she didn’t want to leave, not ever.
                  “Well, I’d better get home.” Those words didn’t come easy. Yet, if she were late, it may be over for them.
                  They headed up the road, slower than they probably should have, slowing even more as they approached his turnoff.
                  They were close enough to kiss, almost toe to toe, with the warm sun off her back and his green eyes glistening in the rays. Her pulse raced, and that familiar flush burned her cheeks. She knew this was the moment for that kiss she had been waiting for. His eyes drifted down to her lips and then back up to her eyes. Then he looked away, the moment gone in a split second, killed by a flicker of embarrassment.
                  He flipped the ball from under his arm, twirling it around on the tips of his fingers until it flew off into the ditch. He jumped in after it. As he climbed back up, he gave her one of those smiles that would stay with her long after he was gone. “When can I see you again?”
                  “Next Friday... about three.” She said this already knowing it probably wouldn’t happen, not with the way things were going back home.
                  Still, she counted the days, each one with more hope than the day before.
                  Whether she was gardening, canning, washing clothes, or cooking, thoughts of Daniel made life easier. These days her morning routine was to feed the animals, bring eggs in from the barn, fix breakfast, then clean up and go back out to milk the