A Sixth Grade Summer- Millennial Edition

The tug on the end of the filament, moments after fresh bait had been secured to your hook. An exhilarating fight between boys versus nature and the appreciation of the need for both to co-exist.

The late nights munching on, popcorn, cheeseburgers, and fresh cut fries, while perched on the hood of your parent’s ford escort; Your faces illuminated by the drive-inn screen showing the movie that you now call “Classics” of your childhood.

The nights of the confusing glow from the sun burning through your eyelids until you finally fall asleep, because daylight savings was in effect, and 9pm was time to go to bed on a school night.

The first lick of a soft serve crèemee under a scorching sun, mid-day; Chocolate, with chocolate sprinkles, the only way to have it, and no one could tell you otherwise.

The careless adventures of riding bikes all over town or walking the trails in the Vermont backwoods with your best friend; Building forts, burning wood, and a late curfew that kept us away from home a few more hours, and outside to get in more trouble.

Collecting loose change, you found on the ground until you had enough to buy a tootsie pop at the local candy store, and hoping it was the one with a star on it so you could redeem a free one.

The endless weekends filled with video games and soda stains. Crushing on girls in magazines and recording over songs on blank cassette tapes.

The good times. Perhaps they were among some of the only good times, before I watched my best friend, James, ride away in the backseat with his hand pressed on the window like you would see in the movies. My presence in the middle of the street was left empty and friendless. I stood there until the car left my view, and a little longer to confirm if it was a joke.

...It was not.