Silverbirch Summer by Fred Sokol

Author:Fred Sokol [Fred Sokol]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Fred Sokol
Published: 2022-07-15T00:00:00+00:00

Chapter nine

Masked Ball

The recent tradition at Silverbirch was to celebrate the midpoint of summer as July beckoned August with a celebratory dance. Who, other than Hudson, a man introducing Romeo and Juliet to high schoolers, would think to incorporate a theme recalling a Shakespearean highlight?

April had seen Richie just once during the past month. He called from home the second Saturday morning of July, told her he could not wait to see her and asked if she wanted anything. She requested, from her mother, more gym shorts and a few tops. April’s feelings were mixed: Hearing Richie’s voice on the phone catapulted her backward toward childhood, when they were always speaking, house to house, or preparing to walk to the park. Then she flashed forward to the memorable prom excursion. Now, pining for her, he had to be there. She was ambivalent but, she admitted, a portion of her could not wait for him, for the new, blossoming Richie.

He was her best companion, always. Jonathan was in her life now even if she could not define or categorize him and the implications. Each time she tried to think it through, April gave in. He was a good man and she cared for him, but how deeply? She could not answer, but she could not ignore her question.

Richie wanted to be sure he and April saw each other often in the fall. She would be in the city and he in upstate New York. They had talked about the moderate geographic distance when they applied to colleges. They would have separate lives, and each wondered what that would mean.

When Richie came to see her that second time at Silverbirch, he said, “April, I’m still used to looking out my bedroom window and imagining you in your kitchen.” She remembered how she quite recently began to pick out V-necks to wear when she knew he would be looking down at her—longing to touch and embrace him.

Currently, April was preoccupied with two older men. She found Jonathan’s grace and gentility impossibly beguiling. Lee, too, had a magnetic field about him. April could feel it. His flying feet dazzled her. The way he dressed caught her attention: various pin-striped vests and half a dozen solid color T-shirts, paired with tightly pegged jeans. His marriage to Viv was also interesting.

Viv saw right away that the boys were taken with April, her new, youthful friend. She was at ease with the fresh and fetching teenager. She cared about the girl and noted that Jonathan always seemed to be with her, even when he wasn’t. Jonathan and April liked each other. He was nearly twice her age but she somehow found him sexy. Viv was curious—and also concerned for April.

When Richie arrived, he and April drove to Bagel City. April watched Viv, whose eyes popped out of her head when Richie shed his T for a collared shirt, one of many in his collection of faded Lacostes. He turned toward April with a quick smile and wink before smoothing the yellow shirt down over his chest and stomach.

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