Purple Hearts

Amanda had seen the same episode of Three’s Company a million times already that summer. It was the one where Jack writes a mean note to someone and then wishes he didn’t and tries to get it back without getting caught. She unstuck her sweaty thighs from the sofa, turned off the TV, and listened to the buzzy quiet that always comes after. She hated that sound.

           She wandered to the kitchen and stared at the magnet on the fridge door. It was a round pig pointing at her over the words, “Eatin’ is Cheatin’!” She threw the door open and stuck her hot face into the cool freezer air. There was no ice cream left, just two gigantic bottles of vodka covered with thin layers of frost. Amanda drew a small flower with her finger on the misty glass then opened her hand wide and let the door swing shut. The fridge wasn’t much better. Mustard, old bologna, Jell-O.

           Amanda double-knotted her new unicorn tennies and wrestled herself into her shorts. Her mom always bought clothes a little small for “inspiration.”  The walk downtown was hot but she still went the long way down Sycamore Street. She wanted to pet the giant white dog who was always sprawled on the sidewalk in the shade. She gave him a little piece of bologna from her sparkly purse.

           Charlie’s Candy Store was air-conditioned and had baskets and baskets of different kinds of chocolate. Amanda picked out a small bag of light purple white chocolate hearts, paid with three quarters, and tucked the bag in her purse.

When she got to the park, it was shady and quiet. She sat on a swing breaking off tiny pieces of chocolate and melting them on her tongue. Since no one ever came here she could do her favorite thing. She flipped over, put the swing under belly then lifted her arms and legs to fly like an airplane. Swinging back and forth, she trailed one finger in the sand below, drawing huge swirls. Next she sat in the swing and twisted herself as far as she could in one direction, then let go and spun while the chains unwound. The redwood trees went by so fast she had to close her eyes to keep from barfing. When the spinning finally stopped, she opened her eyes and saw him.

He was sitting at one of the picnic tables smiling. His teeth were really white and his blonde hair hung in his eyes like the eighth-grade skater dudes but this guy was much taller. Amanda waved an awkward floppy wave and he lifted a big hand and waved back at her. He started to walk over and Amanda quickly wiped her chocolatey hands on her shorts.

“Do you want me to push you?” he asked with a soft, deep, voice.

“Um, yeah.” 

He stepped up behind her and gently pushed the chains just above her hands. She reached out her legs so she’d go higher and the next time he pushed her gently from her shoulders. His hands made her dizzy like the spinning game but way more. She tipped her head back and peeked at him upside down. His bright blue shirt glowed against the dark woods behind him. He smiled again. Suddenly nervous, Amanda jumped off the swing and started walking. 

“Um, thanks.  I have to go”

“Okay,” he said, watching her shuffle toward the street, adjusting her shorts as she went.

That night she stared in the mirror and brushed the knots out of her hair for the first time in like a week. When she finally finished, her hair was long and shiny. She practiced flipping it over one freckled shoulder then the other.

In the morning, after her mom went to work, Amanda didn’t even bother with the TV. Instead, she went straight into town. She only stopped to pet the white fluffy dog for a minute then headed for the park. It was completely empty. She plopped down by the concrete flower bed and watched an ant climbing around the face of a dandelion. The dried-out remains of some purple flowers the old ladies planted were being squished from all sides by sour grass. Amanda pinched a stem with her thumbnail and sniffed its lemony juice.

“Have you tasted those before?” His voice was in her ear but she had to look in case she was imagining it. He was there. Same light jeans, same white tennis shoes, different blue shirt.

“Yeah. They’re super sour”

“Yeah.” He said, sitting next to her and picking another flower. It looked like a white cup made of origami. “Your hair looks really nice today,” he said, slowly reaching over and tucking the flower behind her ear. Her cheek tingled.

“What’s your name?” He asked, looking right into her eyes.

“Amanda.”

“That’s so perfect. It means beautiful flower.”

She looked away, trying not to breathe too hard.

“Do you want to walk down to the creek with me?”

She knew that you don’t go walking with strange men but she wasn’t ready to go back to her hot, boring house yet.

“Sure,” she said looking up at him and making her eyes big.

She followed him past the swings and down the hill where the creek was inching its way over the rocks.

“I love it here,” He said, taking a seat on a flat rock, leaving half of it empty for her. She sat beside him and felt the heat of his shoulder right behind hers. She smiled and wiggled her toes inside her shoes. Incredibly lightly, his fingertips touched her spine. He leaned toward her ear and said things about her skin, her hair, her eyes. She wanted it to go forever just like this, but knew it wouldn’t. 

“I have to be home by one.”

“It’s only noon.”

“I should head back now.”

“Let’s stay here for a couple more minutes.”

“No, I have to go” Amanda said, throwing her purse over her shoulder and clambering up the rocks toward the swings. When she got there she saw two policemen staring at her.

“Hey, kid, are you okay?” one asked while the other jogged past her toward the creek bed.

“Yeah. Yeah, I’m fine.”

“Some neighbors called us and said they saw a man…”

Amanda interrupted him, “I’m fine. I’ve got to go.” and started walking home.

“Would you like us to take you home?”

“No. I’m fine. Thanks” she yelled over her shoulder and ran away.

The walk home was longer than it had ever been. Each car door looked like it was about to open, and someone was going drag her in. She sped past bushes in case they had someone hiding behind them. She turned down Sycamore hoping to see the giant dog but even he had known enough to go inside.