November 2007

"One, two, three," I count as I sit, legs cris crossed under the big willow tree in front of my aunts house. I count quickly to thirty five, as my cousins hide all around the street.
Here is a little background on my step fathers families side of the family, I have about 35 immediate cousins. All us cousins range from 32-8 years old. So the teenagers, which is probably about 15 of us play hide and go seek outside on thanksgiving. We get released from the table once we get tired of listening to all the aunts and uncles tell us about how they didn't have this much to eat when they were kids.

I unfold my legs, and slowly get up from the ground. I am looking for my older brother. He is 20 but still can't give up his ego for the game. I tiptoe slowly around the bush that separates my aunts front yard to her neighbor to her lefts. Two houses down I see my brothers white Adidas shoes, under a big red truck. I smirk as I make my way past the first house to the second one that separates me from destiny. I crouch down as if I am invisible and begin to proceed to my prey.


"DESTINY IS MINE!" i ferociously yell, as i pull off my brothers shoe and hold it up into the air. I see my cousin pull out from under the truck. Shocked, I look over at the large almost naked, tree. Low and behold, there stands my brother with one hand leaning on the tree, and the other holds his other shoe. He yells "You'll never get me Rachel." then laughs. My eyes increase in size. I look under the truck and it is my cousin Jack. "That was a set up, that isn't fair. That is cheating!" I yell at him. He just laughs again, "I'm bending the rules, without breaking them." he yells, "JACK'S IT". All the cousins come out from their hiding places and proceed to the middle of the street in a line.
Jack now sits in front of the willow tree, hands over both eyes. He starts to count "One, two, seven." We all look at each other and laugh then run. I run way down the street as fast as i can. I decide to hide out of the boundaries like the rebel I am known to be. I get a text message from a friend but I close it so my phone will not make any noises. I open my phone, and go through my contacts. "Trump?" I whisper out loud. I am puzzled. I know I do not have Donald Trumps phone number. I decide to call to see who it is. After the second ring I remember who it is. "Hello?" i hear a mans voice on the other line. I am choked up. I do not say anything. "Rachel?" he says. "Uh hey..." I say. I am scared out of my mind. It has been more then about four months since I have talked to him. He has ignored my phone calls around two months ago, so i stopped calling ever since. But now, somehow he answers. I take advantage of it. "I was just thinking about you, Taylor. How are you." I whisper. "I could be better. Why are we whispering?" he whispers, then laughs. I feel like a complete idiot.

This is the Taylor that I use to know, and love. "How are you doing, Rachel?" I'm shocked that he is having a conversation with me. I completely forget that he even asked me a question. I am so scatter brained. "Why could you be better?" Are the words that come out of my mouth, that to me make no sense. "I got sent to Colorado. I arrived here yesterday." My heart is beating. I do not say anything. "Ya there?" he says. "Oh yeah, yeah, I am." he must realize that I am in complete shock that he is on the phone with me, and tries to keep the conversation going. Nothing between us has ever been awkward, but I feel so uncomfortable. I have questions I want to be answered, but I can not say them. Questions that should be answered, but I do not want to hear the response.
"Why did you get sent out to Colorado?"
"Oh, I just got sent here to live with my dad for a while."
Yet again, I do not know what to say.
"I've missed talking to you, lets keep in touch now. Is that okay?"
Shocked and immediately I say "Oh of course, we need to catchup. I miss you"
I sit down on the concrete feeling like an idiot for telling him that i miss him.
"I miss you too Rachel. I'm sorry it has been so long, A lot of things have been going on" He laughs. "I was just so busy, ya know?"
I nod my head, but of course he can not hear that, "Oh yeah I hear ya." I whisper. I feel like a complete idiot. "Hey, I have to go, I have to go spend some time with my pops. Call me sometime soon, yeah?" he says.
"Yeah, very soon. It was great talking to you." I say as I finally calm myself down.
We get off the phone seconds later. I collapse to the ground. I feel so much better. It feels like there has been weight lifted off my shoulders that I never knew was there. He is okay, and talking to me, all at once. Miracle? I think so.


How long is soon? I ask myself.
Laying in some neighbors driveway, hidden by a couple bushes. I lay there with my eyes closed, and breathing heavily. I open my eyes. I have a foot on my stomach. "RACHEL'S IT. He looks down at me "AGAIN!"

I roll my eyes and run to the stupid willow tree.