From nothing to everything
ell'
Michelle and her water gun around the pool. That sq
d her a lot. There was a charming dichotomy to her; one minute she was mature, the n
the pool, smiling with success and s
elight. She was soaked. Her white bikini was stuck to her like a second skin and, almost in passing, I noticed how translucent it had become. Very slight moun
slender, I hadn't considered that she was going through puberty. She looked matured but only by age. Yet, with
ng her away from him while she kept me company? In fact, why wasn't
her, and decided it was time to ch
f cold water hit
h fire," I warned her, swimmin
had to grin. She was so brig
the sun umbrella. Michelle propped her fe
ny friends at s
several
ed you spending
on the glass-topped patio table. "I see th
ng w
we go to Starbucks. Som
here? Would you like me to
he laughed. "Just kidding. Sure. I'll invite them fo
cook
," she
out ham
e bou
mem
't want to poison them. They'
nd to perfect my burger-making skills. Then I steered the conversation around to her interes
dent, neither excelling nor failing at any subject. It didn't m
e far more important in my mind. And as I watched her talk, I liked her even more. I liked the shape of her fac
le was to me. She was my world, and I experienced a new feeling - love. I quite adored her; quirky, zany, and trying to be mature. Listening to
de, bent and kissed her cheek. "You're ama
her and headed to the kitchen. There was
nnected. Dad adored her! It was so clear in his expression. Warm
ber being so happy
n. Dad didn't remember anything! He wouldn't rem
should she handle it? Her mind spun w
come. Her mind wouldn't stop, ideas coming, dismissed, more arriv
onball into the pool. She liked Phillip. He was a bit chunky and the ki
ic blaring, with her friends yelling and
id, passing her a plas
friend, her partner in crime,
et and watchful, slender and dark-haired. His neon orang
e. "What's
ing.
u. How come? I thought, with your dad
ad hasn't lost his m
ng," Juli
like, going nuts. Dad's not nuts ..
ike now? Is
the barbecue, smoke billowing. He looked really good. Yesterday, she'd forced him to buy a beard trimmer and made him sit while she tidied his unshaven face, giving
k, probably about cars.
strange? Does your dad
doesn't get lost. He's n
what?" She waited, then nudge
fferent, as in u
't leave me hanging
hard to explain. You remember how he used to be; always busy,
u liked it that way
d. "I did. But
her father a
my dad in sweat-shorts and an old
mention it,
He likes the dumbest things. The other night, he ordered ev
way!
eating there. They stared at us like we were crazy and I had the best time ever! That's what I mean by him being different. Dad
ve seen so little
, I love spending t
spending time with him, but spend a
. She smiled. "Yeah,
king, with music blaring. Yet, I liked the cacophony, the disorder, the energy. Michelle's friends were an eclectic group. G
the pool, a no-rules water polo-type game currently underway. It was obvious
waved it away and added cheese slices to h
tted her on the far side of the pool chattin
come over. She finally moved. I enjoyed looking at her. In her teal bikini
ked when she arrived
lled me
e it," I observed. "Sorr
s ... You never called
or
ul smile burst on her face. "I re
" I said, nodding t
l. "No kidding! Jeez,
lled," I
, "Guys! Food's served
as fast as I could. The wave passed quickly, her
elle passed by me and shoved. I toppled into the pool with a yell, her friends laughing. Michelle grinned at me, her eyes twinkling. She shrieke