Joyce's Birthday

Summertime is always easy, especially on the lake. There's something about the cool breeze fluttering over the pulsing waves that makes me want to grab a pen,a journal and a good book and find a smooth beach boulder to perch on.

Any opportunity to visit the lake is a welcome escape from the heat and sweat of the country. When Mike invited me over to his grandparent's cottage for Joyce's birthday, I couldn't resist. My little sister Jenny was invited to the party, and she was looking forward to it. She didn't want to spend the night alone there, and I had been asked by the LaLonde's to help chaperone. Of course, I accepted, excited to spend time with Mike and at my personal happy place.

Jenny was jittery in the car ride there. We spent the 30 minute drive listening to music with the warm wind whipping our hair into knots while she talked about the drama of being a thirteen-year-old. I recalled the summer nights I spent at my friend Kylie's grandparents house playing capture the flag for hours. The most exciting part of these visits were the boys. Any physical touch, be it falling over on top of a boy accidentally (I'm rather accident-prone), or running just fast enough to feel his heavy breathing behind you as you slid across the imaginary safe line elicited heart-beating crushes. Joyce's party would have boys.

When we pulled in the driveway, balloons fluttered in the wind and little girls ran around screeching in their bathing suits. Jenny quickly jumped out to join them, and I slowly looked around for Mike. Despite the beautiful weather, I found Mike asleep, spread-eagle on a bed indoors. I jumped on Mike and peppered his face with kisses. Get up! Get up! Get up! I squeled. Mike groaned and rolled over trying to pull me down beside him.

More later.