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.
This story felt like the tightrope we walk between the innocence of youth and jarring reality of adulthood.
And April’s comment about moving: I thought things would be different here...that took me back to my father’s wanderlust and all the places we lived in my teens.
A delightful story, Justin! I felt like a teenager again, for a few moments. I had some summer moments similar to Jameis and April. Thanks for the sentimental journey.
Ooooh -- I love the beginning of a new romance. Maybe a FIRST romance. You're ending the story there, right? It is a good ending. But this got to me: “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.” Drinkers just have no idea what they do to their children. Unfortunately, a new location never changes anything. I know first hand.
I spent my summers roaming around the city often with friends, sometimes by myself. Summer has always been my favorite time of the year. I loved this story! I pictured the park at the end of my block in the house we moved to right before I started high school and I thought about a chance encounter with a girl named Jennifer at Golfland, our local arcade and mini-golf place when I was 14.
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.
Nice one, Justin. One of my faves.
This story felt like the tightrope we walk between the innocence of youth and jarring reality of adulthood.
And April’s comment about moving: I thought things would be different here...that took me back to my father’s wanderlust and all the places we lived in my teens.
A delightful story, Justin! I felt like a teenager again, for a few moments. I had some summer moments similar to Jameis and April. Thanks for the sentimental journey.
Ooooh -- I love the beginning of a new romance. Maybe a FIRST romance. You're ending the story there, right? It is a good ending. But this got to me: “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.” Drinkers just have no idea what they do to their children. Unfortunately, a new location never changes anything. I know first hand.
The tone of this one hit perfect for me today. I especially enjoy when stories end with little sparks of hope. Job well done!
I spent my summers roaming around the city often with friends, sometimes by myself. Summer has always been my favorite time of the year. I loved this story! I pictured the park at the end of my block in the house we moved to right before I started high school and I thought about a chance encounter with a girl named Jennifer at Golfland, our local arcade and mini-golf place when I was 14.
Aww, that was beautiful, Justin…I felt like I was right there with them!