Time is Now

It was good to be back.

Houston and his dog, Retro, walked by the park where they played together when a little boy. The slide, the swings and the monkey bars populated his first memories. How many hours had he spent in the shade of these grand old pines, throwing a tennis ball for Retro to fetch? The Golden Retriever grew up with him.

His family moved away after his first grade. But now he and Retro were back. About to begin his junior year at the university, Houston and Retro had returned to their happy place.

Retro didn’t strain against the leash. Contented, he took his time sniffing each thing in turn.

A tennis ball bounced on the grass and rolled to a stop at the dog’s feet. Tail wagging, Retro sniffed and took it into his mouth. He looked to see who threw it.

They saw a little girl waving in the distance. The same girl had thrown the ball their way the last several days. She had braided, blond hair and wore blue, striped overalls. She looked about ten years old.

Houston had an eerie feeling about this girl. Despite looking strangely familiar, there was no way he could know her. But she seemed to know him.

Not wanting to engage, he lobbed the ball toward her. Retro barked and tried to chase the ball. Holding the leash, Houston began to walk on.

It was weird.

The girl grabbed the ball and yelled. Panting, Retro strained toward her, greeting an old friend.

Grinning broadly, she ran up to them. “Don’t you remember me?” Offering her hand to Retro, she giggled when he licked it.

Houston pulled Retro back. “I’ve seen you the past few days. Why would I remember you?”

“We went to school together. First grade… We were friends.”

“Impossible.”

“You’re Houston, right? Nickname, Hosey?”

He felt a jolt. He hadn’t heard that since first grade. “How do you know my name?”

“And this is Retro!” She scratched behind the dog’s ears. “Remember that witch, Miss Menglekoch? Who could forget her?”

He remembered his first teacher with a shudder. She was a nightmare personified.

He said, “Yeah… She was ancient. Jerry’s mother had her when she was in first grade. She was horrible then too. What ever happened to Jerry?”

Suddenly serious, the girl looked at him. “He grew up.”

Houston looked around. This is too strange. Who is this girl? How does she know me?

He said, “Where’s Peter?”

“Peter who?”

“Peter Pan… Aren’t we in Neverland?”

The girl scoffed. “Don’t be silly. That’s not real.”

Houston stepped back. He didn’t like this. Is this a joke?

“What’s going on? Who are you?”

Her surprise looked genuine. “Well, duh! I’m Annette! Your pal from school. Where’ve you been, Hosey? Missed you.”

Houston felt his stomach churn.

“You’re not Annette.”

She scoffed. “Am too.”

“Prove it.”

The girl straightened up and spoke with authority. “Your dog knows me. He’s Retro. Remembers me from his puppy days. You got him for Christmas. First grade. You really don’t remember…?”

Houston said, “Retro wags his tail at squirrels. That mean you’re a squirrel?”

How does she know our names?

The girl touched her chin, thinking. Her face brightened.

“You gave me a Valentine.”

Houston scowled. “I’ve given lots of Valentines.”

“But you gave me this one.”

She pulled a card from her pocket. She handed it to him triumphantly. On the front, two smiling pandas floated from giant heart shaped balloons.

He unfolded it. In his childish scrawl, it read, ‘Dear Annette, my best bud, will you be my Valentin? Be mine, Houston.’

He remembered his embarrassment when Annette pointed out that he misspelled ‘Valentine.’

Houston was stunned. “Where did you get this?”

She grinned. “Silly… You gave it to me.”

She reached out. He returned it to her.

“You’re Annette? Annoying Annette? Annette the nut?”

Biting her lip, she nodded.

“How? This can’t be…”

“But it’s true… Here we are…”

Houston felt this could go wrong at any moment. Men aren’t supposed to talk to little girls.

Keep your distance. What will people think?

“I shouldn’t be talking to you. You’re a kid.”

Ignoring him, she knelt to pet Retro. He rolled over and she rubbed his belly.

Impatient, he asked, “What, are you, ten? Why didn’t you grow?”

“I like being a kid. In an instant, it went from baby dolls to Barbie dolls. Couldn’t handle it.”

“What do your folks think?”

“Kind of bugs my mom. She wants to take me shopping. Dad says I’ll always be his little girl.”

Houston couldn’t make sense of anything she said.

She continued. “It’s nothing physical. I just never put childish ways aside.”

“Yeah, I can still be pretty childish.”

The girl stood and faced him. He stepped back.

She said, “One part… a big part, is not caring what others think. Between boys and teachers and parents, there’s no shortage of individuals eager to explain how wrong you are.”

Who is this?

He tried to make sense of it. “Look… uhm, Annette…? You’re saying you’re the Annette who, if anyone asked the time… you’d say, in this weird radio voice… ‘The time is now’?”

She nodded. “I never got why people laughed. Seems obvious. That is the time.”

“So, I’m twenty. And you’re not. How did you recognize me?”

She spoke as if addressing a child. “When I saw you, I just knew…”

He shook his head in disbelief.

She said, “Hosey, everyone is who they are, regardless of their age or size. Inside, you are you. The eight-year-old you, is still there…” She whispered, “…if you know where to look.”

Houston tried to grasp her statement. He wanted to leave, but couldn’t.

She asked, “So, what’s it like being older?”

“Oh, uhm, I can do more stuff. Drive. Going to college… starting my third year. I’m more free… You know, without constant supervision. But they expect more. Can’t get away with so much. You know… supposed to be mature.”

“I’ve heard that. I’ll pass. There’s always some competition or comparison to tell you you’re not enough. That things are taller, prettier, smarter, better….”

“Right… Yeah, well… I should get going. Nice talking. C’mon Retro…”

She grabbed the leash. “Wait… What do you know about sex?”

“Oh, no… You’re a kid. You don’t need to know that. Plenty of time for that.”

She pleaded. “But I hear about it everywhere. I don’t get it.”

“Listen… If everyone talks about something, it might not be that big a deal. And they might not know what they’re talking about.”

She looked at him, unconvinced.

He thought, how do you explain sex to a kid? How about, you don’t.

He retreated a step. “Really… It’s for grown-ups. You know… married people. Can’t explain it.”

A distant voice called out. “Danielle?”

The girl turned her head. Houston followed the girl’s gaze and saw a young woman standing near the monkey bars. The girl waved at her. She walked toward them. They looked alike.

Houston felt dizzy as recognition washed over him. This can’t be…

She came up to them and offered her hand. “Hi, I’m Annette. And you’re… Houston?”

“Yes…! Are you…?”

Smiling, she pointed. “That’s Danielle, my sister. I’m Annette. The Annette… you knew me in first grade… Recognized you straight away.”

Houston’s head was spinning. “Wow! Long time… Hard to believe… Your sister had me going…”

“Oh, no…” She turned, “What did you do?”

Danielle put her finger up to her mouth and said nothing.

Houston said, “She tried to convince me she was you… stuck in time.”

Annette nodded as she grasped the situation. She adopted an announcer’s voice. “‘It’s always now…’ right?”

Houston laughed at the shared memory.

Annette said, “Danielle said she was going to the park… She mentioned her friend, Hosey. How many kids have that name?”

Amazed, Houston shook his head.

She said, “I had to investigate.”

Danielle said, “He told me about sex.”

Annette gave him a look.

Exasperated, Houston sighed and told Danielle, “Don’t lie.” He turned to Annette, “She asked about it and I changed the subject.”

Annette told Danielle, “Go play. I need to talk with Houston for a minute.”

Danielle ran to the playground. Annette reached down to pet Retro. He licked her face. She stood and looked at Houston. The sounds of screaming children filled the silence.

He said, “This is a strange reunion. I just moved back… from upstate. Never expected to… Don’t know anyone…”

“Only my precocious little sister…?”

“Ah yes… precocious… Not precious…? Is ‘precocious’ Latin for ‘little monster’?”

“Don’t say that around her. She’s made lying into an art form. No encouragement needed.”

“Please believe me. She came up claiming to be you. Knew my name, even ‘Hosey...’ and Retro… She had a Valentine… It was bizarre. I still don’t get it.”

Annette laughed. “You have no idea. I found her digging through dusty old boxes up in the attic.”

“And she discovered me? What a relief. I wondered where I went.”

Their laughter fell, again, into strained silence.

Annette said, “So, you moved back?”

“Yeah, transferred... from St. Cloud. Starting junior year at the U, next month.”

“Me too… Your major?”

“Pre-med.”

Annette clapped. “Really? Me too!”

“We’ll have classes together… Like way back when…”

“Hope so.”

“But no Mrs. Menglekoch…”

Annette cracked up. “I don’t believe it. You remember her?”

“Danielle reminded me… unforgettable.”

“Incredible… Need to catch up. So much time’s passed… Can I buy you a coffee?”

“Is your sister invited?”

“No. Not a chance.”

Houston laughed. “Then yes.” He bowed and took her hand. “Pleased to meet you, Ms. Annette. You can call me… Hosey.”

They laughed. Holding hands, she curtsied. Houston yanked Retro’s leash.

“Retro… Let’s go…”

Annette said, “I know a place a few blocks down.”

“Lead the way…”

Annette waved goodbye to Danielle. Sitting on a swing, she waved back and watched them walk away. She hopped down, did a little dance, called to a friend, and climbed the monkey bars.