1. A Reading in the Park

Virginia Brown sat diligently beneath the sweltering sun as she gazed out from under the brim of her hat. Her dark brown locks matted to her brow brought forth an uncomfortable itch. She swayed her legs through the summer grass beneath her chair while an echo bouncing through the breeze crooned in her ear. She listened to it with a thrill in her heart for the echo came in the form of a man's voice spewing poetic nostalgia to the crowd before him. He was a scrawny lad, with a sturdy built, at just under 6'2''. His youth bloomed about his rosy cheeks and glistening eyes gazing through the summer haze. His eyes followed the wave of his poem and from a distance, Virginia watched his lips move, fascinated at the way they delicately curved around the words. She began to fiddle with her collar as beads of sweat traced the soft wrinkles down her cheek. An uneasy restlessness rose through her body as she began to kick her feet harder then before. To distract this discomfort she decided to concentrate on her surroundings, the active sky, the oak and maple trees, the various faces of the town beside in front and behind her. But her eyes always seemed to fall back in place upon the young man. So giving in, she instead studied him, starting with his eyes:

Yes, such pristine clear eyes. Bluer then the fresh-water pond that sat at the back of her cottage. You could swim forever in those eyes, so much depth to the man, bled within the crystal blue specks of his iris. O, if only I were the one thing he would gaze upon until we cease to be. But what about his nose! Such a perfect nose, perfectly straight, with just a hint of curvature, all equally alined. It sat directly in proportioned to his sturdy chin and the hair line nestled beneath his thick curls of copper brown locks. But his lips, his lips were not of this earth, they were the reason for the siren's songs, they were the reason I ceased to be until that one day when he and I would at last, at last, share that magnetic pull one does so enticed in the depths of love.

Virginia began to tear at the remnants of a sun flower between her gloved fingers. Her eyes ravishing loose his cotton plaid-shirt, neatly tucked within his trousers. O, if only he knew how much he tickled my loins, she thought to herself. Virginia had often found herself in this predicament, usually once every week, unless she "accidentally" tipped over the watering can instantly drowning her flower bed. And now there he was standing amongst the town's wealthy residing such words of emotion. He rested his fingers upon the pages, feeling a tickle in his throat, he cleared it and continued:

"And now beyond all hope and despair,

we as a species must declare,

 -That we must 

He closed the page as the garden filled with applause, Virginia stood to her feet as a wave of congratulatory remarks flooded the Sunday afternoon. Now was her chance, she could push through the crowd up to him, rip through his shirt, she could place her hands upon his face and pull her's up to where their lips touch. Looking beside her, her eyes came up empty as she expected to find the face of her dear friend, Melinda Harley. However quickly coming to this conclusion, she searched the crowd until she found Melinda walking towards the tall statuesque man, reaching her hand towards his': 

“Oh Jo . . . I just want to tell you how much I like your poems. It really does an old woman's heart well, to see that art hasn't completely crumbled at the hand's of society.” 

She wrapped her slender wrinkled fingers around his hand placing her other on top. He politely smiled in return and pressed his lips atop her hand.

“Thank you, Mrs. Harley.”

Virginia watched from afar as the two exchanged their greetings, she could see the man, Jo, revealing his boyish-charm. Melinda smiled revealing a set of yellow-stained teeth as she gazed up into his eyes. Virginia could feel all of the shyness of youth coming back as she stared powerless to Melinda's charm. She remembered an early moment in her life when first meeting Melinda. An 18 year-old woman, Virginia came to the town she now calls home, with an eager heart for adventure. It is during this time, she came to know Melinda through friends she made amongst outings through the town. The quiet girl looked up to her friend with admiration the two inseparable. Virginia watched her new best-friend go with every man she came in contact with, courted by a different caller almost every night. She learned how to handle herself around a crowded room. Holding her head up with a confident expression, shoulders back, and smirk not smile when necessary. However it was not this which led her to Victor. Two years after settling in the town and gallivanting with Melinda, Virginia came to know the company of Victor Brown. He was physician to most of the elderly and upon first glance it took only one evening to enchant him. Not too long after, the two were engaged as time permitted the young doctor to break away for marriage. Melinda stood as witness as they recited their vows before the court. Following this they settled down in a quaint cottage within the town's neighboring homes. The two were madly in love, Victor walking to work every morning while Virginia kept the home clean eventually taking up gardening. Together they had two children, while Melinda finally settled down with an older man called John Harley. It seemed fate that these four were meant to age together in the tight-nit group they made and as time progressed so it came true. But nothing can last forever, Virginia came to find out when Victor could no longer leave his home due to illness. She was suddenly doctoring her love back to health until he could no longer respond. Within three years of sickness, Victor succumbed to his bad health one evening in his sleep; Virginia was now a widow at 54. 

John followed not too long after, leaving Melinda to grieve. Now, the two widows having lost their husbands were once again only in the company of one another. So it was that they agreed on getting together everyday to hold still their friendship and the ritual spending all four once did. 

Now, a 72 year-old Virginia stood in a daze while the town interacted around her on a sunny Sunday in summer. Everyone still in their church-clothes, happily chatting paying no mind to Virginia. Upon Melinda's exit, Virginia saw a chance to go up to the young Jo. However this action never took place on account of the shrill holler to her right:

“Well, Virginia Brown, if my eyes don't deceive me.”

Virginia turned to rest her eyes upon a great big bear of a woman, dressed in a flowered turquoise green dress. Virginia stared at her with a blank expression. 

“Why, ya' don't remember me do ya? It's Norma, Norma Mordrid.” 

“I'm sorry?” Virginia replied in a weak tone.

“Why Virginia, we only went to town events almost everytime.” 

Virginia's tight expression morphed into a warm facade, as the memories of a slender, brunette with freckles all over, appeared to take the back seat of her youthful days.

“Oh Norma . . . Little Norma?!” 

Norma let out a great big laugh, which seemed to trickle down to her belly as it jiggled under her dress.

“Not so little anymore,” she replied slapping her stomach.

Virginia politely laughed in return: 

“Well, how are you my dear? I could have sworn that I read somewhere that you had married and moved to Scotsdale.”

“Well, I did, and we did. Lost my Harry just last Christmas. We have two full grown sons, and five grandchildren. Couldn't stand to live in a house once so full of beautiful memories. So I moved back here.”

"Oh I'm so sorry to hear that Norma," replied Virginia, she awkwardly grinned at her friend's somber words. 

"Yes, well, we had a beautiful life together and that is something I can hold close." 

Within what seemed minutes of silence, Norma began to scan her eyes about the scene before resting them upon a familiar face. She grinned revealing her teeth and waved frantically, before shouting:

“Oh FRANK! Frank!” 

She turned toward Virginia and leaned in close:

“Would you excuse me my dear, I must catch him before he leaves.” 

She rushed off before Virginia could reply and soon disappeared out of sight. Now alone, Virginia found herself awkwardly standing at a curved stance, she began to fiddle with the skirt of her dress, so as not to look too vulnerable.

"Well, if it ain't my favorite gal!" Boomed a voice from behind her.

Startled by this intrusion, Virginia hesitantly turned to find the rugged exterior that was the dashing Jo. He flashed her a warm smile and held tight to her hand. Virginia felt the excitement dive deep within her stomach. He gleamed his porcelain blues as she clenched her fingers around his hand. 

"JO! My dear that was beautiful." 

She tightened her grip and scanned his face. Jo leaned down and gently kissed her gloved-hand. 

"Only from your inspiration was I able to draw forth such words." He teasingly gestured. 

And from that Virginia with a lump in her throat, replied: 

"Well, I do what I can."