apple orchard dreams

Her feet sunk into the feathery grass. Sun rays breached the barrier of blush coloured blossoms encircling her. Spindly branches beckoning, casting frisking shadows on the ground.

“Me?” She inquired, feigning flattery. “You’re asking me to dance?” A breeze whistled through the apple trees, as if in avowal.

“Alright, if you insist.”

Eyes fluttering closed, she could almost hear the faint piano notes accompanying her, and she

began

to

dance.

Homespun skirt swishing around her ankles. Wind tousling caramel-coloured hair, loosening the dandelion yellow silk ribbon. She was oblivious as it drifted away, lost in her daydream, as she orchestrated whimsical castles in her clouds.

She spun round, arms reaching out...

And

a

hand

clasping

hers.

Eyes flutered open in bewilderment and met the stranger’s. Smiling cerulean eyes twinkled back at her.

“Well this is a nice welcoming festivity, but I must say, quite unconventional.”

She stared back, baffled. “E-excuse me? Who are you?”

“Ah, my mistake, I thought you would’ve known. I’m your new neighbor.”

“Oh? I hadn’t known we were to be having new acquaintances.” She nervously attempted to smooth her knotted hair with her fingers, flustered by this rather charming stranger. “Wait a moment, my ribbon.”

“I’m sorry, now it’s my turn to be confused.”

“My silk ribbon, I just recently received it for my birthday, and it’s gone, it must have blown away in the wind--”

“Blown away while you were foxtrotting with the shadows?” His eyes laughed at her, and oh goodness, his eyes. If only she could describe them without sounding clichéd.

“Yes, although I’d rather you didn’t make it sound so silly,” she muttered.

Before he could reply, a rumble of thunder pierced the previously crisp blue sky.

They simultaneously tilted their heads back to look up.

“That came out of nowhere,” the boy said.

“Just like you, how fitting. Now please help me find my ribbon before it gets drenched?”

As if on cue, raindrops promptly began to spatter on the March soil.

“Wonderful,” she groaned, as the sky grew darker.

“Hey, what’s wrong with a little rain?”

“I don’t have a problem with a little rain, in fact I quite enjoy it. Thunderstorms, however, frankly terrify me, so if you would be a gentleman and please help me home I would be incessantly grateful.”

“But your beloved ribbon?” Why, he was still laughing at her, the enthralling scoundrel.

“I’d rather not get electrocuted.”

He took her hand in his again and she stifled a shudder at his touch as they hurried through the apple orchard.

By the time they reached her home, rain had soaked them both to the bone.

“Well, thank you,” she stammered.

He bowed ostentantiously. “Of course. Will I see you again soon?”

“We’re neighbors, are we not?” She smiled.

“I’ll take that as a yes, I cannot wait to see you again, my hero.”

She scoffed. “My my, we are full of ourselves.”

“I’ll take my leave. I hope you find your ribbon soon.” He winked, and was gone. She opened her door and went inside.

He leisurely strode down the rain soaked road, humming to himself. Reaching into his pocket, he pulled out the yellow ribbon, and smiled.