sonder

wonderfall

"Want to do something fun today? It looks like it's going to be a great day." I ask, a little unsure of myself as I look into Jeremiah's blue eyes that remind me of my mom. His questioning look turns into one of joy in an instant.

"Okay, what are you thinking?"

~ ~ ~

Jeremiah was definitely confused as I led the way to Kali's house, especially after I told him to wear his swim suit and asked him where our old water guns were packed. He didn't ask me where we were going however, only followed along in silence.

We were rounding the corner to Kali's house when I noticed Mr. Harvey coming out of a house across the street from Kali's. A bright smile was on his face as he turned in the door way to kiss the motherly-looking woman who was standing in the door way. I could see the love in their eyes immediately and it made me wonder what it would be like to grow old with someone, to build a life with another person.

"I've never been here before." Jeremiah states, taking in his surroundings just as Mr. Harvey makes his way down the steps of his house and onto the street.

"Morning Damian! I wasn't expecting to see you this morning." Mr. Harvey calls out to me, the smile that his wife put on his face still present.

I laugh, a little nervously for having been caught sneaking my way over to Kali's. I knew that Mr. Harvey could sense something was between Kali but being seen going to her house seemed weirdly intimate, personal information that didn't come up in the bookstore. "Morning Mr. Harvey!" I say back. "I thought I'd stop by cause I knew you'd miss me." I amend, making a joke of the situation.

"I'm sure that's the truth. You have a good day now." Mr. Harvey holler backs, a chuckle echoing through the street as he continues on his way. Jeremiah is now looking at me, incredulously, eyes bugging out of his head and everything.

"How do you even know that guy?" He asks me in astonishment.

I nervously laugh, my brother's shock at my life leaves me feeling anxious for having put up so many walls between me and my family. I tug at the long sleeves of my dri fit shirt in order to stop myself from being consumed by the thoughts that linger at the back of my mind.

"There's a bookstore on Main. I go there everyday to read, Mr. Harvey is the owner and Kali-" I stumble trying to find the best word to describe. "Kali works there and is now a friend of mine." I finish, looking at Jeremiah as the pieces slowly piece together in his head.

"Why go to a bookstore everyday?" He then asks, his voice holding the slightest bit of judgement and distaste at the word, 'bookstore.'

I shrug and laugh just as we stop at the Kali's front door, my hand lifted in the air to knock. "I like to read." I answer simply, Jeremiah scoffs at that just as I hear feet pounding their way closer from behind the door.

Kali's gaze meets mine as the door opens in a hurry, her hair has been pulled into a bun out of her face and loose curls fall from the security of their elastic. She smiles up at me before turning to face Jeremiah who appears to have turned into the shy boy that I've always known him to be.

"You must be Jeremiah, right?" She asks him. My heart skips a beat because she remembered that even though I hadn't often talked about my family over the last month of us knowing each other.

He nods, his stance relaxing as her warm smile greets him. "Yeah." He clarifies.

"I'm Kali, nice to meet you." Kali introduces herself, opening the door wider so that we can enter. "Come on in, my brother and sister are out in the back filling up balloons."