Meteor Shower
Flash Fiction
Twelve-year-old Jameis Williams wanted to explore the great unknown. Hell, he’d be fine with getting lost amongst the stars – the far reaches of distant galaxies.
Take me away, he’d think most summer nights as he gazed up at the moon and stars, hoping some unidentified aircraft would scoop him up with its pale blue beams of light. It never happened. Still, it was worth throwing the idea out into the universe.
Wafts of marijuana glided toward Jameis when the wind blew in his direction. He was sitting in the back corner of his family’s lot on top of the picnic table, but he could never get far enough away from his older brother, Bryant, and all of Bryant’s friends. Jameis’s parents worked nights at the local hospital cleaning up rooms and preparing them for the next round of patients. This happened to be one of those nights where they both worked the same shift.
Bryant started bumping music from the back deck louder. He and his friends had been playing a lot of the old school stuff lately: Biggie, Tupac, Ice Cube. Jameis started nodding along to “Electric Relaxation” without thinking about it.
“Yo, J-Will!” Bryant called over to him. “You too cool to hang with your big bro?” All his friends started laughing.
Here we go, Mr. Hot Shot’s here. The star basketball player, the cool kid on the block – big bad, Bryant.
“Nah, man,” Jameis replied, as he slid off the table. He walked toward the group of high schoolers. “That stuff stinks.”
Marco, the starting center on the team, took a long drag on his joint and blew it directly into Jameis’s face. “Don’t know what you’re missing, little Will.”
Bryant whacked him on the shoulder, despite being half a foot shorter. “Leave him alone, man. I get to do that shit, not you.”
Jameis felt a strange moment of pride before he brushed by them and said, “I’m going for a walk.”
“Be back by eleven.” Bryant shot him the same look as always, one eyebrow up. It’s funny how much he acted just like their old man sometimes.
Jameis walked through the house and closed the front door before setting out onto the dimly lit sidewalk. If he wanted to, he could probably walk to the park with his eyes closed. It was a straight shot for three blocks before he turned onto East Main for half a block. Overall, there wasn’t too much activity for a Wednesday night. Some traffic, some partying, but mostly it was quiet.
When he arrived at the park, he walked to the farthest basketball court, the one with a couple of picnic tables on a nearby patch of overgrown grass. It was the best spot to look at the night sky because no trees blocked the view. Plus, it was much quieter here, which automatically made it a better place to think, or sulk, or sing – or do whatever the hell he wanted. In a strange way, this location had become his sanctuary this summer.
But somehow his secret spot had been compromised: the unmistakable blue light of a cellphone glowed.
“Is someone there?” a girl said, turning on the flashlight app and shining it in his direction.
“Oh, hey,” Jameis said, somewhat in shock. “It’s Jameis…Jameis Williams.”
“You running away from trouble, too?”
“Nah. Just trying to find a quiet place. You?”
“Yeah, same, something like that,” the girl replied. “I’m April…I’m new to the area. Moved up from the city a month ago.”
“Hey,” Jameis said. He didn’t know why, but he felt his cheeks grow warm. He looked down at his shoes. “So, do you mind turning off that light?”
April let out a laugh. “My fault – I was probably blinding you.”
Jameis smiled. “Nah, it’s all good. Is it cool if I hang with you? I mean, as long as I can find my way over…I’m seeing spots everywhere.” He held out his hands in mummy-like fashion.
April laughed again. “I didn’t mean to, okay?” She slid over on the picnic table. Apparently, she liked to sit on top of the table, too.
“My parents got into a big fight, so I slipped out of the house,” April said. “They don’t even know I’m gone – both drunk off their asses. I thought maybe things would be different here, you know? But so far everything’s the same.”
Jameis didn’t respond right away. He didn’t know what to say. Instead, he leaned back until he lay flat on his back, legs dangling off the side. “That really sucks. I’m sorry.”
“Yeah, it does.” April slid her legs off the opposite side of the table and leaned back until she was on her back, looking skyward, too. The tops of their heads barely touched, but it was enough to send a jolt of electricity through Jameis.
“Did you know there’s supposed to be a meteor shower tonight?” Jameis asked her under the clear night sky and the brilliant, twinkling stars.
Before she uttered her response, a streak of white flashed across the sky.
“Whoa!” they both said in unison.
“That was insane,” April said. “I’ve never seen anything like that before.” Moments later, a second meteor lit up the black, infinite canvas.
“I think you’re in for a treat,” Jameis said.
He was right. They stopped counting at seven because, for some reason, it took some of the magic away. Besides, even though his eyes were fixed above, Jameis was equally focused on hearing the softness in April’s voice, the sound of her gentle, steady breathing in the quieter minutes that passed.
It was almost as if this beautiful display was designed for their eyes alone. They were the only two witnesses in the world. They were alone in this space together, this sacred space, this fortress of peace and solitude. That’s what Jameis liked to think, at least.
Jameis didn’t know what time they left the park, what time he walked home. At one point her hand brushed against his. Before they parted ways, she gave him a hug, told him she’d see him soon, again, probably.
When he got home, and still heard Bryant and all his buddies out in back, he couldn’t help but roll his eyes and smile.
For the first time all summer, he thought: Maybe I’m right where I’m supposed to be.
Thank you for reading “Meteor Shower” — I hope you enjoyed it!
What were your summer nights like growing up? Do you have any memories that stand out to you?
I really appreciate you being here and reading my work. Take care and have a great weekend!
I was waiting for the abduction from space, but I like your version much better.
Beautiful imagery. I felt as though I were right there with April and Jameis. For me, summer nights were looking for fireflies and waiting for the ice cream truck with my brother.