* * *

You knew spring was here, when the tress started getting leaves and when everyone was falling in love.

I call him… Lollipop lollipop…Oh lolli lolli lolli…Lollipop lollipop.....

I turned down the volume of my radio and looked outside as the mailman came. When he left I ran outside to get the mail. I had gotten closer to Teddy, Vern, Chris and Gordie. They all where sitting on Vern's front step staring at me as I got the mail. I noticed one letter was for me. I opened it up and read the note.

"O my god," I screamed not knowing I was yelling. The four boys came running over.

"What," Vern asked.

"Mike Johnson is coming to visit," I yelled.

"Who is Mike Johnson," Teddy asked.

"Her best friend from Texas," Chris explained.

"When is he coming," Chris asked.

"Two weeks, and he says his mom and him are staying at my house," I explained

"For how long," Teddy asked.

"One week,"

"Sounds exciting, remind me not to come by when he is here," Gordie said.

"No you guys have to come by, I want you to meet him," I said.

"Fine…say you guys want to go to the lake"

We had ran into Mel while we where going to the lake and invited her to come along. When we got to the lake Teddy climbed up a tree then jumped out of it to the lake.

"He isn't going to live that long," Chris said as he sat next to me. Teddy, Vern and Gordie where already in the lake. I laughed along with Chris.

"Come on you guys get in the water," Vern yelled.

"No," Chris said.

"Stop acting like a pussy Chambers," Teddy yelled. Chris got up took his shirt off then did a cannon ball in the water. Mel and I just laughed then we saw the four boys get in a huddle and started whispering.

"Now," Gordie yelled and the four boys came running out of the water. Mel and I got up and started running but they caught up to us. Teddy and Chris grabbed me. Vern and Gordie had also grabbed Mel. Mel went in first into the water then I was next.

"Shit that is cold," Mel yelled as she started to get out and I followed. I looked at Mel who had on a while shirt.

"Umm Mel," I laughed. She looked at me then the four boys who stared at her chest.

"Shit," she said and started to walk away. I caught up to her and we both laughed and started to walk home.

ADDED AUGUST23RD 2002

Two weeks came and I sat outside with Teddy, Chris, Vern and Gordie, waiting for Mike to come. Then a bus pulled up to the house, the doors opened up and Mike and his mom came out carrying luggage.

"Mike," I yelled running up to him, I flew into his arms hugging him. He spun me around and we both laughed.

"You changed a lot Kat," Mike said.

"So have you,' I said looking him over. He had dark brown hair spiked up, blue eyes and he was taller than me, and has muscles.

"O Mike, these are my friends," I said pointing to them. "Teddy, Chris, Vern and Gordie."

"Hi," Mike said. The four boys just nodded at him. Teddy and Chris giving him glares

Then Sky came out and helped Mrs. Johnson with her bags.

"Lets go inside," I said. Mike went in first then Chris, Vern and Gordie.

"He seems nice," Teddy said then walked in.

"Yeah your just saying that," I laughed as I walked in last.

"So…Kat you seem different," Mike said as we sat down. I sat in the middle, Teddy and Chris on both sides. Vern sat on the other couch and Gordie on the other side. Mike sat in a chair.

"What do you mean," I asked.

"Well you seem happier than when you lived in Texas," Mike said.

"Well I am," I smiled.

"Yea well I know it was hard back home. You did everything after Charles left. Cleaned the house, cooked, hardly had time to live," Mike explained.

"Who is Charles," Vern asked.

"My oldest brother, he was really good at football, he got selected into the best schools. A months before he was suppose to leave for college my mother died. He stayed around for a while, missed his chance in going to college. He couldn't play football as good as he did, after mom died. He moved away, started a family. Haven't heard of him since," I explained.

"But he doesn't know you move right," Teddy asked.

"No, my dad didn't contact him," I said. "So what have you been up to,"

"I moved out of that little trailer, your is still there, barely. Me and Jackie are seeing each other," he said.

"That's cool,"

"So how did you become friends with everyone," Mike asked.

"I was being attacked, Chris and Gordie came, saved me and we all been friends ever since," I said.

"How is Sky been treating you," Mike asked.

"He's been ok, something is changing him…."