"Endless" (StoryADay Challenge/Day 21)

The Prompt (Dr. Lanae St. John, DHS, CSC, ACS, is a board-certified sexologist, relationship coach and parent to two daughters. She is the author of the book Read Me: A Parental Primer for ‘The Talk’.)

Write About Your First Time – this could be your character’s ‘first time’, a kiss or something more.

(If you don’t want to write about a romantic relationship you can still talk about the excitement, build-up, and connection aspects of going through any experience together for the first time.)

*

“Endless”

There's something about summer nights that feel limitless. 

I heard her laugh before I saw her. My back was turned, grabbing a large stuffed animal off the shelf for the winning contestant, a chubby-faced kid with braces.

"I don't want that one!" the kid said, instead pointing at a large stuffed Daffy Duck. "I want that one." 

"Sorry kid, you get that one if you can land three consecutive ring tosses."

His face soured. "Well give me two more rings." 

"That'll be two dollars,' I said. 

He slammed the crumpled dollar bills on the counter. 

I slid two rings towards him. 

He tossed the first ring wide left. 

“Sorry kid, better luck next time," I said.

"Shut up!" he said, grabbing his initial prize and walking off. 

She was standing behind him in line, drinking a slushy. She was wearing denim shorts with Birkenstock sandals and a yellow hoodie that said Endless.

"Sweet kid," she said, biting her slushy straw.

Her teeth were red from the slushy. Her eyes were two big brown warm pools. Her hair was out and a bit damp. I could see two scrunchies around her left wrist. 

"Super sweet," I said, holding out a couple rings. "Do you feel like a winner?"

"Sometimes."

"I'm feeling generous, the first one's on me."

"A mighty gentleman aren't you?" she said, putting down the slushy.  

Her first attempt was closely missed. “Give me one more chance,” she pleaded.

I tossed her another ring. She took several deep breaths and closed her eyes. She took three steps back and gently she let the ring sail out of her hand, it landed on the neck of the Perrier bottle.

“Yes!” she said, fist pumping herself.  

I crossed my arms and laughed. She looked like magic in the carnival lights. 

“Don’t look at me like that?” she said. 

“How am I looking at you?” 

“Like you think I’m a total dork.” 

That’s incorrect. Care to try again?” I said, pretending to hold a microphone like a news reporter.

She laughed and punched me in the shoulder softly. “What time does your stand close?”

I looked around and basically saw a tumbleweed roll by. “Right now,” I said. 

“Is it fun working here?” she asked.

“Sometimes. I get to go on the rides for free, so that’s the upside. Thirsty?”

“Yes. This slushy is too sweet.”

I walked to the back of the stand and reached below the table into a cooler and grabbed two water bottles. I tossed one to her. “That should help you out.”

“Thanks.”

“I never got your name. I’m Zacari,” I said.

“I’m Amaya, it’s my first time here.”

“You’ve never been to WONDER PARK before?”

“I haven’t.” 

“I have to show you something. The park is almost closing, we have to hurry.”

Quickly, I shut off the stand lights, grabbed my hat and windbreaker. “We have to run.”

I took off, and she tried keeping up.

“I have sandals on!” she panted. “Hold on.” 

“Get on my back,” I said.

“What?”

“Get on my back. I’ll give you a piggy-back ride.”

She laughed, then tucked her hair behind her ears and jumped on. 

I ran through the carnival games and through the park. The lights blurred and lit up the night. She clutched on to my neck tightly. I ran past the Wonder Wheel and kept on going.

“Where are you going?” she said, screaming in my ears over the park music.

“We’re almost there!” I yelled back. 

We ran past the churro stand and through an employee-only chain link fence. I stopped and lowered her back onto the ground.  

“It’s up here,” I said. 

We climbed the spiral staircase up six stories onto a viewing deck. I put my hands over her eyes.

“What are you doing?” she asked.

“Just trust me.” 

I led her to the edge.I removed my hands. 

“What do you think?” I asked. 

At night from this deck the park looked majestic. All the rides and rollercoasters illuminate the night sky. You can hear the music of the park faintly. It’s an awe-inspiring view.

“I try to come up here as often as I can.”

She stammered. “It’s...incredible,” she said, turning to me after a moment. “Thank you so much.” 

She hugged me and gave me a kiss on the cheek. “I will never forget this,” she said. 

Summertime magic exists. 

The End.

**This is a work of fiction. Names. characters, places, and incidents are the products of the author’s imagination or are used fictitiously. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, is entirely coincidental.