021

Sammy Walcott

[flashback to six years ago]

"I can't believe he's going. I hate Mona!" I cried stomping upstairs, mum right behind me.

"Sammy! Don't you want Elijah to meet his father? To be with him?"

"But we're fine. They aren't lacking anything. Who needs a father?"

"Sammy that's not right. Every boy needs a father."

"Nonsense. You don't see us complaining. Now Mona's taking Elijah away. How is that fair? Who's gonna be my friend now? Even Elijah doesn't want to go. Who drags a kid off in the night?"

"You'll make new friends and Elijah would learn to love his new home."

I fell face flat on the bed feeling the tears build up. "I don't mean to be rude but go away mum, you're not helping me."

I heard her sigh and get up. "Won't you help them pack stuff?"

"I'll rather bite my tongue out."

"Well do you need anything?"

"Please get out."

Its when I heard the door shut close that I let myself cry. My only friend was going away. My best friend and neighbor. What would I do now? How can I convince Mona to go without him? Mum and I would take good care of him. He doesn't need a father and neither do I.

I stayed indoors and cried more when I knew there's no way I was gonna stop them. They were going to leave this night and no one is gonna stop it. I heard something hit my window and I was looking out in a moment. It's was a rocket, my rocket. I had left in Elijah's house, it had a note on it. I squinted my eyes to read it.

Aren't you going to say goodbye?

I looked down and sure enough Elijah was down there, holding a remote control to the rocket. He waved at me and I laughed, rushing down in a moment.

"Why didn't you come in?"

"Rooms feel so sad. I don't wanna cry again." He said.

"So you're really going?" I asked stopping in front of him.

He smiled, "I've been answering that for a week now."

I start walking and Elijah follows suit. "How soon is it now?"

"Less down an hour. We have to be at the airport before time."

"We can't run away?"

He shook his head. "No, we can't."

I tsked. "This is so sad Elijah."

He kicked a rock. "Tell me about it."

"I'll surely forget you before we meet again, or since you're the one with the saggy brain, you'll surely forget me." I say.

Elijah chuckled. "I won't Sammy, I promise and I won't let you either. I write and I'll call but I've always wanted to write letters so, I'll write instead. Would improve my essay too. I write to you as soon as we reach our home."

I smiled at the thought of Elijah Gracia writing a letter. "Promise?"

"Promise. I'll tell you all about my new home and my father. I'll never forget. And they say letters delay, so be sure to await mine."

I nodded. "I will. Who am I to pass out a chance to make fun of you?" He nudged  me and we laughed together.

We played together for some time with my rocket and balls. Until Mona called him, it was time to leave. Elijah's eyes welled up in tears.

"I thought I was strong for this but I'm not really."

I offered a half smile, "You're the strongest boy I know Elijah. You can do it." His tears rolled down and I reached up, wiping them.

"I won't forget you Sammy. And you're my best friend no matter what."

"You'll write?" He nodded and I patted his back. "Hurry along now, you don't need Mona to start panicking."

Then he hugged me and I hugged him back. He broke the hug, too quickly in my opinion and he brushed my hair away from my face. I smiled at him and then he did the most unexpected. He kissed me.

On the lips. It wasn't my first kiss, some bossy girl stole that but it was my first kiss with a boy. I didn't know how to feel about it. It was a boy and it was my best friend. But he was going away and my heart was thumping so fast. I let myself go, filing 'thinking' under 'later'. My eyes shut close and I let Elijah kiss me.

It was over too soon again and before my eyes could pry open, Elijah was already sprinting away.

I caught up too late. The car was already leaving and with it was Elijah. I let myself cry then but I was consoled by the fact that he was going to write. He was going to explain why he kissed me.

[]

But he never wrote. Never called. Never nothing. I never got an explanation and I succeeded in filing that under 'mistake' and forgetting it. But now he's making me remember. And I can't be annoyed at him. In fact, I like it.

My hands go up to my wet cheek. I was soaking wet and the rain kept falling on me as I stared at Elijah's window.

I liked it so much.

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