Summer Blues

From: Ralene Campbell (sunralene@funmail.com)
To: Daisy Hansen (craisydaisy@funmail.com)

Dee,

Of course, Sandy is a brat. That is just her nature. One day at the beach, I asked her to go with me to play Frisbee with a group of kids from school and some other people. You get one guess what she said. I will bet a million bucks that you get it right. But that's okay; Garrett isn't as lame as her. In fact, he likes playing Frisbee because it helps him get numbers. Go figure.

There's this guy I met the beach, Conner. He says he's from DC, but that's all I know. He came into the ice cream shop the other day and ordered a double scoop. He said to surprise him with the flavors and I gave him orange sherbet with chocolate. He didn't say anything about the odd concoction, and joked about trying to pay with a sand dollar. I totally tricked him out it - it was a really pretty sand dollar. AND! He gave me, like, a three dollar tip. Crazy, Right?

It's not a big deal though. I haven't seen him since, but I haven't really thought about it.

Okay, that's a lie. He's really cute! And I keep finding myself hoping that he'll run into me again. But that's seems really sad of me - so don't tell!

Love,
Your befuddled BFFFE,
Ralene

Daisy decided that after a week of camp that she wasn't all that miserable after all. Ralene seemed fine and frankly, Elaine was a good stand-in as the role of friend. The classes she was in really distracted her, as did wandering through the apple orchard.

One bright, clear skied day Daisy decided to take some paints and her most recent canvas out to the apple orchard. She found the tree that she usually sat under and made herself comfortable. The wind whistled through the air, causing the trees to look like they were shimmering and Daisy couldn't help but stare. Beauty surrounded her and it made her smile, made her mind brim with inspiration. She picked up her brush and dipped it in a bright red, then ran it across the canvas. A smile covered her face and she didn't care that she was getting mud on her pants or that paint was getting into her hair as she leaned over her painting. The wind continued to whistle in her ears, drowning out the clicks coming from the distance.

Daisy didn't really know what to expect from the second ballroom dancing session. Her mind still pondered as to why the class was necessary or who her partner would even be. The first session had consisted of the instructor talking about the benefits of knowing how to ballroom dance and handing out slips of paper with numbers on them. This session was apparently going to be just the basics and finding out who was paired with whom.

"If you'll look at the paper you got last time, you'll see a number.” The instructor stood at the front of the gym where the class was being held. Daisy didn't bother with the slip, her number was twenty. "Now, when I call your number, come to the front and meet your partner!"

All Daisy could do was wait. She wasn’t particularly nervous or excited about who she’d get, just hope the guy knew how to at least keep time. A glance down at her sandaled feet made Daisy seriously wish that the guy knew how to keep time.

“20,” the teacher called and Daisy walked up the front. When she turned to see who she was paired up with, she saw the boy that she had bumped into the night before. He smiled with recognition.

“Hello,” he said with an outstretched hand that Daisy took. “I’m Spencer.”

Daisy smiled up at the green eyed boy, “Daisy,” she said as they walked over to an open place on the makeshift dance floor. She couldn’t help shifting her feet as they waited for the instructor to finish pairing up people. Ballroom dancing seemed to weird to her.

It didn’t help the fact that Daisy felt like she was already being classified as a klutz by her dance partner considering the first day she was here and nearly wiped out. Maybe he didn’t remember, she considered hopefully, it was a week ago that it happened.

Finally, the teacher gave them instructions on how each partner should place his/her hands. The guy was to place his left hand at the small of the girl’s back and hold her left hand with his right, the girl’s hand always on top. The girl would then place her right hand on her partner’s left shoulder, arm slightly bent and just a little less than parallel to the ground depending on the height difference. Daisy felt ridiculous.

“One, two, three, four. One, two, three, four. One, two,…” The instructor said as the students attempted to follow her example she’d given just a moment ago. Daisy found herself not looking at Spencer, but instead at her feet and trying desperately to keep count.

“Ahem,” Spencer coughed lightly, causing Daisy to snap her head up with a question in her eyes. “I think you’re actually supposed to look at your partner’s face, not his feet.”

Daisy couldn’t help but blush, even as she quipped, “Yeah, well. I have sandals on. Exposed toes must be cared for.”

Spencer chuckled softly. “Touché. Be glad you have me as a partner, unlike that poor soul.”

Daisy looked to where he’d nodded and saw Elaine with a short, mop head that kept stepping on her feet. “Maybe she should invest in some steel toed boots.”

Spencer laughed again and Daisy found her self liking the fact that she could make him laugh. “I think you’re right, Daisy.”

Daisy smiled and looked away from Elaine to look up at Spencer, she still couldn’t get over the height difference that she noticed a week ago.

“So, Spencer,” she started, “What are you here for?”

“Photography mostly, but I’m also taking drawing courses.” Spencer smiled, “How about you?

“Painting with a little bit of poetry.” Daisy replied.

“That’s cool. I’d like to see some of your stuff sometime,” Spencer said genuinely as the teacher called the session to a close.

Daisy smiled, “Likewise.”