The Past
Hunter age seven
Isabel age six
The hot sun beats down on me as I watch the girl with the pretty eyes and long dark hair swing under the willow tree from where I’m hidden. She swings on a black tire swing, her untied shoelaces on her red sneakers can’t touch the ground yet. She swings by herself. She looks lonely and sad. I could swing with her or push her so she can go faster. Maybe that would put a smile on her face.
I want to see her smile.
She doesn’t look like she smiles a lot.
But Mama will be looking for me if I stay longer.
I can’t do it.
I don’t want Mama to know I’m here with Isabel, but I don’t want to leave Isabel either. She needs me to protect her from my mama and I need her to keep me safe from the scary stuff in my life. I’m not scared when I think of Isabel, the girl in the pictures my mama keeps locked in her office.
The pretty girl named Isabel.
Isabel.
That’s what her mom calls her.
Isabel.
So pretty.
She’s the prettiest girl I’ve ever saw.
She makes me feel weird.
It’s good weird.
I like this weird.
It feels better than the scary feeling Mama gives me. It feels way better than that. I think I’ll keep her. Isabel is going to be mine. I don’t want her with anyone else. She’s good for me. I don’t have a lot of good in my life, besides my brother and sister and Grandpa Charlie, Isabel is all the good I will ever need.
Picking up a smooth stone from the stream, I toss it in my hand and turn back to the main road.
I’m gonna talk to her soon.
But not today.
I can’t wait to tell Isabel she’s mine and no one else’s.