The Write Place

Under The Fruiting Tree: Chapter 29 – The Write Place
Under the Fruiting Tree: Novella Table of Contents – The Write Place

The sound of grunge music rose up into the flowering tree from the boombox that rested on the far side of the bench.  Jason and Amanda sat side by side with the summer sun casting its light upon them as they felt the warmth in their own bodies and souls. To them, the warmth of the sun paled in comparison to what they shared in that moment.  Jason left a little space between himself and Amanda, but not too much.  He was busy, burying his face in his work.  Holding the drawing pad in his left-hand Jason worked with great care on his illustration with his right.  His jean jacket flapped furiously with his arms as he worked hard to capture the image of the young woman in front of him.  Amanda sat still in her black t-shirt and cross-legged jeans, watching amused as Jason furiously went to work.  She held her shapely feminine body perfectly still with her hands rested folded in her lap.  She remained firmly in place, trying to control her eagerness to see the image he was putting to the page.

“Weren’t we going to do math?”  Amanda asked.  Her face was well lit as the sun hung high in the east of the sky; her almost black hair absorbed the sun’s light amidst the warmth of the day.

“We’re still going to do math. We just aren’t doing that now.  You gotta seize the moment,” Jason said, drawing with a fluid motion.  “I am seizing the moment, and I stand by my decision.  Also, stay still! And radiant,” said Jason wearing a pleased smile that was returned by the young woman across from him.  His dark brown hair shone in the sunlight as he looked up to Amanda, examining the subject once again.  Then looking back to the pad, he drew with fast strokes once more.  The strokes became more and more rapid as he neared the end. 

“Always,” Amanda said, wearing a wide smile. “Who’s this band?” she asked, furrowing her eyebrows in curiosity.

“Nirvana.  My dad doesn’t like them.  Couldn’t get past the name.  Said the idea of losing individuation and returning to nothingness by becoming one with the universe is a lousy doctrine of salvation.  I think he was wordier with it, but that’s the general gist of what he said,” Jason said. “There we are,” he said with a final stroke of the sketching pencil.  He inched closer to Amanda who unfolded her hands, placing an arm around the back of the bench where Jason settled in.  He held up the artist’s pad with its white pages toward her.  Looking down upon it, Amanda’s eyes began to water. “It’s beautiful,” Amanda struggled to say as she placed her hands on her face, trying to hold back the tears.

“I had a lot of good material to work with.  Really, it was inevitable,” Jason said, putting an arm around Amanda.  “Gives you a small idea of how I look at you.”

“It’s a fine idea,” Amanda said.  Amanda couldn’t hide her blushing face. Jason was not disappointed at her failure.

“Just like you.  Just as you are,” Jason said with a delight upon his face.  His bronze eyes met hers.  The glimmering light of young love colored their gaze all the while.

“Oh stop, you’re going to make me cry,” Amanda said, placing her hands over her face.

“Ah, but happy tears,” Jason said with a flirtatious counter.

“The happiest,” Amanda said, putting her arms around Jason.

The birds sitting in the tree chirped loudly and softly, serenading the couple who sat in the warmth of the sun.

“How much longer are you in town?” Jason asked, still holding Amanda tight. Amanda rested back, placing her hands in Jason’s, breaking the embrace. “Another week.  Summers are split down the middle.  I’ll be back in late August in time for school,” Amanda said, wiping a tear.  Her tone changed, resigned to what would soon come.  “I know you can still call.  Maybe my dad will let me have the car once in a while.”

“That would be really good,” Jason answered, looking her deep in the eyes.

“I just wish they could get along.  That anyone could,” Amanda wished aloud.

“We do, we’re pretty chummy right?” Jason asked in a voice heavy with his typical flirtatious humor. The words both revealed and concealed his worry at her past become their future.

“Yeah. . .  They were fighting, divorce didn’t stop it.  It’s just…  Is it possible for that to not happen?  I don’t. . .” Amanda said, looking down, then back up. “I don’t want that to happen to us.”

“It doesn’t have to.  It hurts, that’s real.  My parents managed,” Jason added with a thoughtful pause. “Nothing’s perfect but they work and make it work,” Jason said, wearing compassion on his face.  A compassion he wanted her to see.  “I guess that’s perfection in this world. Can’t let that fear ruin life.  Life is a lessons, whether they are a trial or a blessing.  Those things hurt, but I try not to miss these good things too,” Jason said, laying a gentle hand on her face.

“That’s pretty powerful,” Amanda said with a deep closing of her eyes for a brief moment.

“Yeah my dad is right sometimes,” Jason answered, peeking up at the birds in the tree.  “Looks like we’ve got an orchestra.  Jason pulled Amanda close, and she lay on his chest facing nature’s chorus in the tree above them.

“Shouldn’t we do math?” Amanda asked with an anticipating smile.

“Yes, we should,” gently touching his head to hers.  “But we won’t right now,” Jason smiled back. 

“You’re very persuasive,” Amanda said in agreement, joining him as the birds serenaded them in the light of the day under the flowering tree.