Everywhere We Go

"Why, do you want that. ?", my sister questioned me as I held up a pink gem-studded bag.

"It goes with my outfit and it's my favorite color?" I attempted.

"No, the money is for important things, you need jeans, right, underclothes? Do you need socks. I mean shop wisely." We moved along in the store, and I looked among the racks.

All of a sudden, my sister said, "Watch out!" and I jumped to the side. A toy car was riding by me, a toddler driving.

"Boy, you're not safe anywhere these days. " I complained. I was hungry and she had the money. I was waiting patiently for her to suggest we buy something to eat.

"Hm so how are these? She held up some too-small but fashionably torn jeans, and I shook my head.

"Uh," finally I spoke up. "Can we check out the food court, I'm ravished."

"But you hardly got your clothes," she looked at me, "you really hungry ok."

She smiled. "I'll race ya!" We sped down to the escalator and ran up, past unsuspecting patrons of the mall. We flew around the corner and there was the dining area, and we were suddenly subject to a lot of decision-making pressure.

Ok, tacos? She suggested, I agreed. The line took forever, but we waited and looked around, wondering if the free Chinese food samples were chicken or beef.

Then it was our turn to order, and the money was an issue. I looked for a 'cheap' item, and it ended up being three hard shell tacos and sauce and toppings. She got a burrito bowl, with salad. We both got an ice tea. We sat down and took our food and ate it, and smiled.

"So, when are you going to try to get a car so I don't have to drive you around all the time. She looked at me,

But I was taken by something else. Across the hall of the mall, was a ballerina with a skateboard, skidding through and causing everyone to jump aside and scream. "Ha ha", it was laughing. It pulled up right near my sister, and flipped the skateboard into its carrying hands. "Come on." She looked at her, expectantly.

"In a minute," she casually replied, "we're still with Summer."

"Mm." The ballerina pouted, then spun away cheerfully.

"Uh, you want to get going?" my sister asked. It was getting late.

"Ok," we got up.

"What store do you want to go to?"

"Oh, we can just look around, let's go this way."

Boom, turning the corner, I bumped into a professional, with a briefcase, the contents of which then splayed onto the floor. "Oh", he looked annoyed then gathered his stuff put it back in the case and continued on. I think he was headed to a meeting, not sure.

"Anyway, what do you say?" I didn't realize my sister had been trying to have a serious conversation with me.

"Oh, what?" the stores were all vying for my attention with their big bright colorful signs.

"Oh my god." She slouched exasperated. "You didn't hear me?! I am asking if you want to babysit while me and Jacob go on a cruise!" She smiled.

"Huh?" Oh, she nodded. "When is this happening?

"I want to go next month for a week. Jacob's parents are funding the trip. They say I deserve it for all the support I've given them in the hospital visits. His father is doing much better."

"Uh, let me think about it."

"Ok." We went on to shop, got a few items, and finally called it a day and I was dropped home with my bags.

My boyfriend was fixing a chair so I went out to go on a bike ride. I traveled the perimeter of the park, went in and took pictures of the tulips, then rode home.

I was exhausted by then, so I rested in the bed. In the morning, I saw a low-flying plane zoom past the house. I woke up, startled and called my sister.

She didn't answer so I called my mom. I flipped on the news and it said a plane crash just happened. Oh no

My boyfriend came in the room, tired.

I mentioned what happened. We ran out and, sure enough.

An explosion, right in the middle of our street, a block away. People were crowded around,

The blaze leapt into the air. We stand, aghast.

Happily I left the scene, never able to explain why catastrophes put me in a good mood.

"Wait", my boyfriend caught me on my arm. "Stay with me." He held me and I was forced to watch the fire. The news reporters were appearing left and right.

What I did not want, was to be on the news.

"Come on, can't we go?" I implored. I was kicking my feet. He continued to hold me, and finally I broke free.

"Summer," he whined. "Why do you do that." I stood there, not knowing what to do. "I don't know. I want ,to go!!!

"But look what just happened, in our neighborhood!"

" Ok, I'll stay. I didn't want to, but

Then he got a phone call and I said I'm going home and he waved me away.

I walked and stumbled on a stone, I picked it up and it said, on the back, "Let go".

Wow, I thought to myself, what a great idea.

My sister was going on a cruise. A plane went down. I got clothes, and the chair was fixed. My boyfriend had a friend, I decided to look on the map and designate a new travel designation.

My boyfriend walked in on me in the study, I was looking at website options, he put my dinner before me. "Thanks." I smiled and looked up at him.

My life was complete,

It was just getting better.

I reflected upon the theory I have that the less you have, the more grateful you are for it,

And I remembered the holidays were coming up.