“You met Archie?” I asked.
“Just briefly, at the hardware store,” he explained. “Before you moved in everyone in town was talking about the rich people from Philly moving in.”
I raised my eyebrows and glanced at Robin, who shifted uncomfortably in her seat.
“Well, thank you for the wine, John. That was very kind, but I think we need some time to decide what to order for dinner,” Robin said.
“Sure, you’re welcome, and, Robin, let me know when you’re free, maybe we can go out to dinner again sometime,” John replied, flashing a wide smile at her. “Nice to meet you, Aimee.” We watched him walk back to the bar.
“That was interesting; what’s going on with you two?” I asked. “Go out for dinner again?”
Robin blushed. “It’s embarrassing. He is not my type at all. I don’t know why I even went out with him. It was such a boring date.”
“He doesn’t seem that bad,” I commented. Not that good, either. Just kind of blah. Not my type, and clearly not Robin’s either.
Robin looked at me. “You know what I mean. He’s not unattractive, but he’s not good looking. If he had a great personality that would be something, but he doesn’t. Do you know what he talked about on our date? Tractors! On a first date. I can have a conversation about tractors with my father. John is a dead end. There’s no way that is happening.”
I laughed. “Tractors? Yeah, no thanks. You dodged a bullet on that one.”
“Cheese fries, ladies.” The waitress placed a large basket of cheesy goodness in front of us.
“Yes!” we both chirped in unison, then laughed, digging into the fries.
THIRTEEN2016
The Commune
Dream
We lay beneath a star-filled sky on a dark summer night, together as a family. We joined as a group to chant and meditate, basking in Mother Nature’s beauty and bounty. Brother Jim was certain we would be able to see Aquarius tonight in the southern sky, which would be a treat because it wasn’t always possible by its dimmer stars. Each of us sat upon our light gray cotton sleep sacks and marveled at the scene above us; even though Aquarius hadn’t been spotted yet, we welcomed her appearance, chanting in harmony with our fellow family members.
Sunny and I pushed our sleep sacks together to create a comfortable space for us to take pleasure in the night together. The hot, humid mid-July night surrounded us, drips of sweat coming from our bodies no matter how little activity we did, or how few clothes we wore. This time of year, everything felt alive around us, vibrating with energy and fervor. Sunny and I were no exception.
It was hard to remember a time when I felt more alive than this, in the heat of the night, chanting with my brothers and sisters, beside my woman, her heartbeat the same as my own, her sweaty body writhing against mine as we chanted. No, this moment in time proved the magical intensity and action of Listening Lark. I wasn’t only living life, I was feeling life, experiencing life. The way a person is intended to do so.
I was life.
Sunny had been angry at me earlier in the day. We’d argued over Moonbeam, one of my former lovers. Sunny hadn’t known we had been together, months ago, before I even met Sunny, and now Sunny didn’t want the turquoise necklace made by Moonbeam.
I loved to see that necklace on Sunshine Lotus though; it reminded me of the first time we met at the farmers’ market. As if the heavens had opened and my fantasy girl appeared among the masses of folks shopping for cantaloupes and ripe tomatoes. When she put that turquoise necklace on, it hung perfectly between her lovely breasts encased in a form-fitting black tank top. I knew she would be mine. Beyond just physical attraction, which vibrated through my body, it was as if lightning had struck, and nothing mattered except her, and me being with her.
We had a long discussion. Moonbeam and I had a strictly platonic relationship now and that is how it would stay. I did not, and would not, want anything else. In fact, Moonbeam was now one of Brother Jim’s women. Reminding her of this took away Sunny’s worries about her and changed her mind about the necklace.
I may be a dreamer, but I can be very persuasive when I want to be, and today I was rewarded with Sunny’s love and trust.
An honor I would always cherish.
FOURTEEN2023
Aimee
I placed two more egg cartons into the refrigerated case at the store and closed the door. I was careful to monitor every inch of the store for any oddities, like strange bags of dates. Luckily, they hadn’t appeared again. Hopefully, things would stay that way.
After finding the turquoise necklace inside my house, I had trouble calming my racing mind. It was one thing finding the dates at the store, but knowing this person had been in my house, in my bedroom going through my things, made me sick.
And scared.
Brother Jim wasn’t someone you messed around with. He was a scary guy. I wished I knew why he was here now. And I couldn’t figure out why he wouldn’t simply confront me because that was his style. I didn’t understand any of it. I found myself constantly scanning faces of people in town, searching for Jim, but unsure what I’d do if I saw him.
Thoughts lingered in my mind, the same constant thoughts that plagued me for a long time. I didn’t want to make any plans, not yet. I didn’t fully know what I was dealing with at this point. I thought I’d left all of this behind me years ago. Why would my past seek me out now?
I went back to the box I’d brought from home and took out the quarts of blueberries, more strawberry jam and blueberry muffins I’d baked the night before. I even had a few onions and potatoes to add to the abundance of tomatoes, carrots, sweetcorn, and cucumbers. My little garden was flourishing, and it gave me a wonderful feeling of satisfaction.
When I was a girl, my mother planted a garden every year and I always helped her plant the seeds and the small plants. I loved putting my hands in the dirt, pressing into the life-giving soil and gathering the fruits of our labor after a few months of growth. It was like a kind of miracle to get food to sustain your body from planting a simple seed. I enjoyed all stages of its growth from seed to harvest.
When my parents died, I forgot about gardening. I forgot about everything. I went to live with Aunt Lou, and she tried to help me, but she didn’t understand. And neither did I.
I rediscovered the love of Mother Earth and all its bounty a couple years later. The growth, the freedom, the love, the ability to just live in the moment, only the here and now. Such a tranquil existence. Until it wasn’t.
I shook off my uncomfortable thoughts. The truth was, for so long I could never imagine living a life like the one Archie and I were creating in Poplin. Living a simple life, but a real one, with boundaries, trust, and room to grow and expand. A grown-up life. This was a life I never realized I wanted until I could see it in my grasp. I wouldn’t allow anything, or anyone, to take it from me.
The front door opened, and John Larabe walked in.
“Hello, John,” I greeted in a friendly tone.
“Hi, Aimee. I told you I’d stop in sometime,” he replied, with a smile.
“You sure did,” I said, adding the blueberry muffins, individually wrapped, to the display.
