He and She

Based on a true(ish) story.

*Note: I have written something similar before, maybe check that out first. Here’s the link:

https://blog.reedsy.com/short-story/r9eae7/

She casually walked into the store by her grandma’s side.

He chose to walk the short distance to the store to get his ma some milk and bread. 

She scrutinized the carts, carefully selecting a somewhat clean one. 

He strode past the little creek by the highway’s edge. 

She and Mema walked over to the produce section of the small market. 

He saw his buddies hanging out across the street at the park. 

She studied an apple and put it in the small cart as Mema selected some broccoli. 

He sighed and continued on his way, nearing the store front. 

Finished with the produce, she pushed the cart around to the cold section. 

The automatic doors made way for him instantly, and he found himself inside Blacktail Market.

She glanced over the list, quickly gathering dairy products, anxious to get back home. 

He trudged up to the teeny bakery, inspecting the loaves as his mind wandered to fishing on lazy summer days. 

“Mema, c’mon! Choose one milk already! It’s not that hard!” she said, exasperated.

He blankly selected a prize sourdough loaf and shuffled over to the dairy. 

Finally, Mema selected the best of the best milk and set it in her cart. 

He turned the corner, surprised to see other beings in the store. 

She saw a boy turn down their aisle and heat rose to her cheeks.

He nodded at the elderly woman and the girl beside her.

She suddenly couldn’t think straight, as if this boy’s presence upset the balance. 

He peeled his eyes off the girl and retrieved the red milk carton. 

She hurriedly pushed the cart down the aisle and around the corner, hoping to evade his wishful glances.

He glanced back over, but she had already gone. 

She quickly ushered Mema over to the checkout. 

Slowly, he closed the door, crestfallen that she never glanced back.

I hope this will all be over soon, she said under her breath.

He walked over to the checkout, his only thoughts on the girl with the fair hair. 

To her horror, he was checking out just a lane behind her!

His gaze rose to the girl, hoping that she would turn around. 

Nervously, she snuck a glance at the boy in the red shirt. 

He presented the gift of a smile. 

She reluctantly accepted and returned the favor.

His heart seemed ablaze in his chest; his mind was far away, pretending the future. 

She quickly averted her eyes and focused back on putting the things in the cart. 

He sighed dreamily, as the checker waved her hands in front of his face. 

She shyly turned the cart around, as she waited for Mema to find her wallet. 

He snapped out of it and paid the grumpy grocer. 

She sighed; he looked so cute putting his bread and milk in a bag.

He caught her eye and smiled again as he headed toward the door. 

Snap out of it! You’ll probably never see him ever again, her conscience hissed. 

His mind wandered yet again as he headed home. 

She waved Mema onward toward their car; perhaps she could catch one last glance at him, if she hurried. 

He took his time shuffling across the parking lot. 

She caught his eye and shyly smiled at the boy in the red shirt. 

He smiled and winked back, joy filling his heart, as he skipped the rest of the lot. 

She hastily shoved the groceries in the car and jumped in the back seat. 

He practically flew the rest of the way home, not even pausing to think about his friends hanging out. 

“Hurry, Pop, hurry!” she chided her grandfather who was in control of the vehicle. 

“Man, that was the best grocery trip of my life!” he said as he came to the door.

“What in the world is your hurry, child?” said Pop, but she barely heard him.

“Ma, I got your milk and bread…” his voice drifted away, never to return.

Presently, as they rode home, she glanced left and right, trying to see where the boy in red went.

He disappeared inside the house, still thinking of the fair-haired girl at Blacktail. 

A group of five boys hanging out came into view;

her eyes scanned the boys, but none were the boy with the red shirt.

He sighed, locking the fantasy deep in his mind.

She lost him, as if he had disappeared completely from existence.

He settled into the couch, pondering what could have been. 

Crestfallen, she laid back against the car. This was it. The boy in red was gone forever.