THE THINGS WE DID LAST SUMMER

I'LL REMEMBER ALL WINTER LONG

I. YOU’RE EXACTLY LIKE SOMETHING THAT I DREAMT WHEN I WAS YOUNG

it was Hot, real hot. i had To get down to the Auditorium ASAP because it was the Evening of the Chorus concert and i Had a Big solo. when I sang my Solo a Pretty girl in the Front row made a Face that seemed to say I feel Bad for that Guy. there Were all sorts of Pretty girls with pointy Faces in the audience but the Stage lights were So bright that I could Only catch a Nose emerging from the Shadows every Now and Then. when my Solo was over I felt like Joey Chestnut (14 time Winner of the Nathan’s Famous 4th of July Hot Dog Eating Contest).

after the Concert some of us went back to one of the Houses. on the Way to the House the popular Girl stuck her head Out of the skylight of the Car. i was So Scared. she Laughed and my heart fluttered So much That i had to Look away. her hair was brown but it turned Blonde in the Summertime. we hung Out by the Pool. it was So Hot but nobody went Swimming. at some Point the sun went down. hey, We should build a fire. that’s a Good idea, i’ve Got some wood around back. anyone got a lighter? the One kid that smoked cigarettes said I have one. it’s Right next to my cigarettes in the car. cool, i’ll Grab it. the girls Watched as the boys tried to Light a fire. i stood with the Girls even though i actually was good at lighting Fires because my house was Mostly heated with a wood burning Stove, and since i Woke up the earliest in the Morning (around 7am), I would always Be the one to Light it. i didn’t say Anything though, the other Boys had things Under control. the one kid that smoked Cigarettes lit up a cigarette. you want one? nah i’m Good. pretty Soon the fire was Roaring. you could Hear that thing sucking up the Air. i watched One of the girls with a Pointy face play with a big Dog. she would make a Great mother one day. a different pointy Faced girl said guys Promise me you’ll put the Fire out later. don’t just let it Burn. yeah, yeah, we Will. no I’m serious, i have dreams about Fire. yeah we promise we Promise. i took Off down the road. i was walking As fast as i Could because i Didn’t want any cars to Pass by and see me. i had Nowhere to go but i Kept moving forward. i was like new leaves Sprouting from a branch That had already been Cut down.

II. INSIDE BASEBALL

we were Heading to the Minor league baseball game on Coney island. me, mom, and my Bro, and my Sis were all in the minivan, when my Dad was meeting us there because He worked in the City, so it was easier For him to meet Us there than to come all the way Home first.

when we Got to the stadium the Parking Lot was a Disaster Zone. it was Bobblehead Day so there was a Pretty big Turn out. my mom Tried to park the Minivan but some Guys (probably around 23 years Old) almost Hit us with their Car. they Screamed out of their window. fucking Cunt! the Guy that Did the screaming had curly hair, and a Long neon green nylon Scarf around his neck which almost Reached his toes. i saw It (the Scarf) almost Dragging on the Concrete when they were Walking into the stadium, Laughing to Each other.

when Dad got there during the Second inning i Told him what Happened in the parking lot. he said Something about kicking those guys asses. mom said No really it’s fine, plus we Have no idea who they are, they could be Anywhere, it’s a pretty Big turn out today, probably because of the Bobbleheads.

during the Seventh inning stretch they Started to play some Seriously rocking music. a Guy on the Loudspeaker invited anyone who wanted to Come on the Field to come up and Do some dancing. i saw a Guy with Curly hair wearing a Green zentai Body suit (similar to the Kind you Use to Blend into a Green screen) pull the Suit over his face and Hop onto the Field. he was Breaking down some serious moves. that’s when I realized what was Going On. the guy that Did the screaming in the Parking lot wasn’t wearing a Scarf at all, but was just Wearing his body suit on his Shoulders. he was probably Waiting until the end of the 6th inning to Slip it on (it’s pretty Warm in those things, I would Imagine). Dad! Dad! that’s the guy that screamed at Mom. the one in the Green? yeah, that’s him. are you Sure? i’m sure, dad. i’m Positive. the song Ended and the guy in the Green body suit with the curly Hair who did the Screaming put up his Hands triumphantly. his friends Cheered for him. he exited the Field, and his Friends got up from their seats to go Meet him when he Came out, they probably were Going to give him a Pretty big High Five for the type of Moves he was dishing Out down there. dad Said ok lets go. i was Scared. i followed my dad. the stadium Wasn’t that big, it was the Minor leagues after all (not the Majors). we saw the Guy that screamed at mom in Line for some refreshments. he was Talking to his two friends, and his Head with curly hair was Sticking out of his Green suit. he looked Like one of the Bobbleheads they were Giving out that day. dad Looked at me. hold my Beer. dad Shoved the Guy who screamed and he went Flying. you call my Wife a fucking Cunt? why don’t you Call me a Fucking Cunt? come here, Call me a fucking Cunt. the guy Looked pretty Freaked out. he scrambled Around on the floor. the guy who Screamed’s fat Friend tried to Hold back my dad. yo man Calm down! calm down man. don’t fucking Tell me to calm down fatty. you want Some of this you fat fuck? my dad shoved the fatty. a Security guard came Running over. he was Holding a hot dog. hey! Hey! break it up. what are you guys, nuts? break it Up or i’ll throw you all Out of here.

we Returned to our Seats. the guy With the curly hair who did the Screaming and the Fatty and his other friend didn’t return to their seats (they probably Decided to Call it a night, fuck that man, The team fucking sucks this year Anyway man, no point in Staying the last two innings, lets Hit the bar, i need a Beer that doesn’t Cost 15 dollars). i told Mom what happened. I thought it was Real cool. i Felt proud of my Dad.

Mom was mad because she’s a Pacifist.

III. THAT OLD TIME FEELING

it smelled Like pine. Like, the Smell was Really strong. there was a House that was painted a Dark green, the same color as those Trees on the boxes of Incense they sell around Christmas time, the ones with the Little Cones that you Put in an even Smaller house (tabletop Size) and the Smoke comes out of the little Chimney. do you Know what i’m Going on about?

it was bright. Like, the sun was Really strong. but even on Such a Sunny day there was a foot or two under the Pines, where the Branches stopped, that was Total darkness. you can Always find darkness in the Light, you just have to Be willing to get on all fours in the Dirt.

IV. LIKE A DOG SCARED OF THUNDER WHEN THE SKY CLEARS UP

we were Zipping around the mountains, on that One road that kind of goes Around and Around and around. the sun was Setting and every time we would Turn the corner, we would Watch it disappear behind Another mountain. babe I Swear we’ve watched the Sun set like seven times Tonight. we’re like Storm Chasers, except with the sunset instead of With Storms. that’s True baby, that’s true. God gives, every time it seems Like He takes away. without Fault, every time. it’s True baby. like when The moon is full it’s too Bright to see the stars, but when it’s just a Sliver the whole galaxy seems like it’s Right within Reach. exactly baby. or when a bunch of Tone deaf guys sing Together in Church God makes them sound like Angels. yeah. that’s right baby. Amen. even the Grouchiest street urchin would agree that it Feels better to get Warm after being cold, than to Simply be warm.

the Last Sun had set and any Remaining light was residual. the dust from the Back tires surrounded the Truck like a halo.