J
It was the afternoon in the middle of March. I sat on the swing with my Aunty Claire. It was one of those days where you can wear just a sweater outside and still feel a little chilly, but we didn't care. She sat there knitting away making something for the neighbors. I had a book in one hand and my iced tea in another. There was a freshly cut lemon at the bottom of the glass and the ice was nearly melted. I took sip and set it down on the hardwood floor and turned the page in my book. It was a great book, full of adventures. The huntsman was searching for his fair maiden when I heard it. The loud boom that was just next door beyond the fencing. I looked over at Auntie Claire, but she didn’t notice, the old bat always forgets her hearing aids.
I stood up. Set my book down and let the pages flutter from the breeze. I walked over to the fence and that’s when I saw him. He was tall, dark and handsome. Like nothing I’ve ever seen before. He was cutting down the dead apple tree in the neighbor’s yard. I watched him for a while. The way he swung the axe back and forth, in and out of the tree. He was just about to hit it again when he stopped.
“If your so entertained by this, why don’t ya’ come o’r here and get a closer look?” he asked as he set the axe down and turned towards me.
“I beg you’re pardon?” I barely squeaked. He was so much handsomer when he wasn’t working.
“A purtty girl like yourself shouldn’t be wastin’ time watchin’ me work from a distance, now should ya? Come o’r here and sit,” he pointed towards an old rocking chair next to the porch.
“Actually I was just bout to go check on my...” I looked at Auntie Claire’s spot on the swing, she must’ve went inside.
“Oh come on, you can’t take an hour outa your day just to get to know a stranger?” he asked. And nodded towards the chair. I walked over and sat down.
“So what’s your name stranger?” I asked him as I leaned back into the chair.
“Calvin. Calvin Daniels, and you miss? What may your name be,” he asked me looking up at my bonnet and tied up hair.
“Abigail Elizabeth Dawson. But call me Gail,” I muttered under my breath.
“Well Gail, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he nodded.
I stood up. Set my book down and let the pages flutter from the breeze. I walked over to the fence and that’s when I saw him. He was tall, dark and handsome. Like nothing I’ve ever seen before. He was cutting down the dead apple tree in the neighbor’s yard. I watched him for a while. The way he swung the axe back and forth, in and out of the tree. He was just about to hit it again when he stopped.
“If your so entertained by this, why don’t ya’ come o’r here and get a closer look?” he asked as he set the axe down and turned towards me.
“I beg you’re pardon?” I barely squeaked. He was so much handsomer when he wasn’t working.
“A purtty girl like yourself shouldn’t be wastin’ time watchin’ me work from a distance, now should ya? Come o’r here and sit,” he pointed towards an old rocking chair next to the porch.
“Actually I was just bout to go check on my...” I looked at Auntie Claire’s spot on the swing, she must’ve went inside.
“Oh come on, you can’t take an hour outa your day just to get to know a stranger?” he asked. And nodded towards the chair. I walked over and sat down.
“So what’s your name stranger?” I asked him as I leaned back into the chair.
“Calvin. Calvin Daniels, and you miss? What may your name be,” he asked me looking up at my bonnet and tied up hair.
“Abigail Elizabeth Dawson. But call me Gail,” I muttered under my breath.
“Well Gail, it’s a pleasure to meet you,” he nodded.
