A/n: No copyright infringement intended.
The large ball of fire in the sky was particularly wicked that day. The sky was cloudless and gave no relief to the people down below. The sun had no remorse and slowly cooked anything beneath it. It was bizarre weather they were having. Extremely hot days followed by unfamiliar chilled nights. Despite the heat, obligations still had to be met. Children still had school. Adults still had work. Crimes still were being committed and owners still had to walk their dogs.
The ball went pretty high in the air when he threw it. He couldn't understand why both Chop and Lamar went running after it. It was a good laugh though. He also didn't understand why he was sweating so profusely. Sure it was hot, but that hot that he was sweating like an old man? With hair on his back? No. That was no explanation for that. And no, there was no hair on his back. It was just such an incredibly hot day. Even the animals looked sluggish. Chop was drooling twice as much. Lamar looked like he was dipped in the ocean.
He threw the ball again and both Lamar and Chop went running after it. The woods were filled with trees and there was some shade along the path of the park, however he was still melting into almost nothingness.
Chop and Lamar ran until he lost sight of them. He sat on the dirt and leant his back against the bark of a nearby tree. He waited for a breeze to blow through the trees but none came. The heat reminded him of his youth. The hot summer days he spent on the corner with his friends. Tanisha was there. Lamar was there. JB and Tonya sometimes.
How old was he then? Fifteen? Sixteen?
He smiled when remembering one particular summer day at the public swimming pool with Tanisha and Lamar. They goofed and laughed. Played Marco Polo and listened to classic West Coast rap. How good it used to be.
He was particularly fond of the memory of Tanisha in a bikini. She was a little more reserved than girls like Tonya, so when seeing her body like that for the first time he couldn't help but keep it a vivid memory.
As the evening came around Lamar headed home and Tanisha and Franklin bid him farewell.
"Want me to walk you home?" Franklin asked. He looked at the ground, coyly. Tanisha smiled to him. Her face glowed with joy.
"Of course." She said. Franklin's eyes opened wide and he looked at her.
"Really?"
"Yeah." She answered.
He could have scolded himself for being so eager. Without second thought he grabbed her hand and the two walked with fingers intertwined to her house.
At her front door they stared at each other. They were already at the age where he was so much taller than her. She played with her hair, running her fingers through the kinks. She was due to go to the salon. But she wasn't willing since over hearing Franklin telling Lamar he liked the natural look on black girls.
"Ah, today was fun." She said. Her eyes looked away showing her bashfulness. She crossed her arms over her chest, as if to hide. Franklin rubbed the back of his neck. He couldn't look at her. Her smaller body. Her curved frame. The beautiful afro mess that was her hair. He couldn't look. He didn't know what his body would do involuntarily if their eyes met. He was scared. Scared and excited. His heart beat faster than it ever had in his entire life.
"Tanisha." He barely made out. Their eyes still hadn't met and he found he was scared to even talk.
"Yes, Franklin?" She answered him with a hope in her voice. She looked up to him and leaned closer. She was hoping. Hoping.
"Uhm. I. Damn it, Tanisha – you're like, my best friend. You know that, right?"
"Yeah."
"I mean it's been you, me, Lamar and everything. Always. Right?" He clenched his fist and bit his bottom lip.
"Yes, Franklin." Tanisha held her hands to her chest, as if clutching her heart. As if clutching his.
"And…" He trailed off.
"Yes?" She implored.
"I –"
"Yes?!"
He finally looked at her eye to eye. He could feel his knees weakening and his throat ran dry. Beads of sweat covered his forehead. He had nervous sweat, everywhere, like an old man. Without another moment of hesitation he grabbed her by the arms and kissed her. The frames of their bodies melted into each other. Fitting like a puzzle. She completed him.
When they parted they could hardly breathe. "I love you." He said. "I love you. I loved you since the moment I first saw your mom comb your hair on the stoop of this house."
A smiled formed on her lips. Tears welled in her eyes and she nodded. "I love you too Franklin Clinton. I loved you back at that very same moment."
"Really?"
"Yeah. Yeah. I want to be your everything. Forever."
"You got it girl." He hugged her and held her body against his chest. He held her tightly as if he'd lose her if he let go.
"Franklin!" Lamar called. "Franklin!"
Franklin opened his eyes and saw Chop and Lamar running towards him. He shook his head and took himself up off the ground. He dusted his rear and stretched.
"You're really annoying, you know?"
"Yeah, yeah. How long you been here sleeping dog?"
"I don't know. How long were y'all gone for?"
"Not long. I lost the ball." Lamar shrugged.
"How did you lose the ball if I threw it to Chop?" Franklin's brow furrowed in frustration of Lamar's ignorance. How they managed to stay friends for so long, he could not figure out. As Lamar headed down the path walking with Chop, Franklin stood there watching them.
He hadn't sent Tanisha a congratulations card since she got married. He'd have to go tell her in person then. For some reason he found himself hoping she'd remember him in his swim trunks that day during that particular summer.