After a minute of watching the darkening sky, Shannie said: "That's the difference between you and me Just James. The heat, the humidity, they're like complacency; at its core complacency is oppressive, it saps us, makes us lazy. A thunderstorm, that's action, change in progress - liberation. I love thunderstorms, they're exciting - they're escape from the same old same old. You see the heat and humidity as what is, to your credit you tolerate it - yeah man, if it isn't broke don't fix it." She playfully punched my arm. "Clouds on the horizon, bad news, you don't like their noise and excitement. Lightning starts fires, winds blow over houses."
The first gusts of wind overtook us, the limbs of the giant tree swayed. Like when Shannie challenged the train, she closed her eyes and tilted her head; raising her face sensuously to the wind, her features contrasting the darkening sky.
I wonder how she would have reacted if I didn't fight my impulses. I waned to feel her next to me, to feel her breasts against my chest, her breath upon my neck.
A bolt of lightning crashed nearby breaking her spell. Without a word, accompanied by an enormous clap of thunder, we jumped out of the giant tree and headed towards Fernwood. The rain came fast and furious as we walked through the rows of Beyford's past, wondering about the future. I glanced at Shannie, who stared ahead, her long hair matted against the back of her drenched shirt. I turned away noticing the effect the cold rain was having on her. I wished I told her how much I loved her! How much I wished she was mine!
We crossed under the trees between Fernwood and Shannie's back yard. At the foot of the deck our eyes met. We stood looking into each other's eyes. Without a word, accompanied by another clap of thunder, Shannie climbed the steps and slipped inside. I stood in the deluge, feeling the emptiness where Shannie stood. Oh God, if I could just relive that day! What I would change!
***
Our shadows grew longer in the early autumn sunset. A balmy breeze rustled the changing leaves. The school year was a few weeks old and Shannie made habit of visiting football practice.
"I'm so tired of double standards," Shannie complained. "I swear the next one I hear, I'm going to beat the person with a stick."
"Huh?" I asked.
"Why is it that when a guy asks a girl out everything's cool, but if a girl asks a guy out, it like causes a controversy?"