Sweet Summer

All winter Torrey counted the days until June when the sun was bright, the weather was finally hot enough to wear shorts all the time and with only a few babysitting obligations, she was mostly free to do whatever she wanted. And she was sure this year, the summer between 7th and 8th grades was going to be better than ever. 

Summer adventures as a preteen kid were limited to how far your baby sitting money would stretch and wherever your bike would take you. 

Most days were spent biking to friend’s houses to swim in somebody’s pool or riding up to the 711 for candy or a slushie, when the machine worked. 

Every Saturday night, she had a babysitting job for a couple who went out every week. But Friday nights were available for sleepovers at her friends’ houses or hers. They all took turns hosting no more than 2 other girls. None of their parents wanted to have giant slumber parties every week.

They listened to music and dance around while singing to their hairbrushes, watch movies, and pig out on soda, chips and chocolate. 

But the 4th of July celebration in their town changed everything. 

Torrey met her friends, Carly and Brianna, at the temporary carnival erected for the weekend. When she arrived, she saw the girls laughing with some boys from school. 

Coming from a family of older and younger brothers, Torrey really didn’t think much of boys in general. Most of the time, she thought they were just weird. So when she saw her two best friends with boys, she was apprehensive and less than thrilled. 

“Torrey, there you are. You know Brett and Ryan from school. This is their friend Tom. He just moved here,” Carly said, almost giggling. 

“They’re going to ride some rides with us, so quick get your tickets and meet us at the tilt o whirl. We’ll hold your place in line,” Brianna said, wearing a giant smile from ear to ear. 

Grabbing tickets at the counter, Torrey wrestled with herself. 

“Stupid boys. They’re going to ruin all our fun today.” She kicked the grass in protest. 

She joined the group and tried to be a good sport, but as her friends chatted with the boys, her annoyance grew. 

Why are they laughing? No one is saying anything funny, she thought. And what’s up with the long hair flying from one shoulder to another when they talk? This is crazy. 

With a puckered face and rolling eyes, her true feelings were like a blinding beacon of disgust.  And much to her embarrassment, Tom saw everything. 

“I get it. I’m not much for flirting either.” He said and once her embarrassment ebbed, she cracked a small smile. Maybe he was different. 

They trudged through the day from roller coaster to sky swings exchanging disapproving glances and making secret faces at the rest of their friends. 

And at the carnival games, as the boys threw baseballs at moving object, her friends gushed at their prowess, she and Tom shared quiet giggles at the absurdity of it all. It was an invisible pact to be friends, that’s all. 

But the final blow came at the end of the day, when Brianna asked the boys to swim in her pool the next day. 

“What!! The pool!!” Torrey wanted to scream out loud, but kept her outrage inside. 

Despite her inner objections, Torrey had no choice. They all agreed to meet the next day and she waved goodbye and rode her bike home before dark. 

She’d heard about boy girl pool parties from kids at school and all night, she toiled over it in her mind like a horror story she dreaded. 

The next day, she peddled over to Brianna’s house dressed in her swimsuit with shorts and top over. She liked her one piece purple iridescent suit that changed color to dark blue, aqua and jade when the sun reflected it in different ways. But when she saw her friends, she felt extremely self conscious. They were wearing two piece suits for the first time. 

She was horrified that she would stand out and look like a baby. But when the boys arrived, she went from horror to four alarm nightmare. 

They weren’t there for five minutes and Brett pushed Brianna into the pool. Torrey thought Brianna was gonna yell at him but all she did when she came up out of the water was laugh and giggle. 

Tori was shocked and dismayed that her friends thought this except was OK or even enjoyable behavior. Then Carly stood there, looking at Ryan almost inviting him to throw her in the pool, which he did. Then both guys gleefully jumped in after them. 

Terrified, tori put her head down and try not to look at Tom. 

When he walked over to her, she kept her head down, embraced herself. 

“Do you wanna go down the slide?” He said She was relieved and His kindness melted her angst. 

They side into the pool and joined the others splashing each other playfully until Brett chimed in. 

“hey everybody let’s do chicken fights. Brianna get on top of my shoulders,” he said. 

Tori glanced at Tom, petrified and puzzled as to why they would be doing this. He shrugged his shoulders. 

“You wanna?” Torrey sighed and nodded her head, deciding it was easier just to go along. 

she liked the chicken fights as she would get out some of her aggression at being put in this awkward position. She was not ready for boy girl time.

After they were all tired out Tori went into the house to go to the bathroom, Tori was horrified, Brett and Brianna and Carly and Ryan were making out. She’d couldn’t believe her eyes. Her friends were betraying her and putting her in an awkward position. She really wanted to run, but felt her feet, petrified to the ground.

Then she looked over it poor tom, facing the other way with his hands, headed his hands, trying not to look.

When he saw Tori did his face lit up and he came running toward her. 

I am not kissing this boy no matter what everyone else is doing. Tori thought confident at herself for the first time.

She was gonna lay down the ground rules with Tom immediately, but he spoke first. 

“Let’s get out of here we can ride our bikes over to the ice cream shop. I’m just not into this.”

Tori exhaled a big sigh of relief and smiled and nodded at him. Tom was a good guy, and she looked forward to being friends with him. She knew that maybe someday she’d have to deal with all of these teenage changes. But glad that day was not today.