Probably Set Sometime Before The Beginning Of The Book - Tumblr Posts
April Prompts Day 5 - sunlit
Featuring Zach and a mention of Ethan, his cousin and childhood friend
Rolling over, Zach sighed and gazed forlornly into the emerald leaves. He fiddled with the twine knot that secured the ladder to the treehouse. The treehouse he and his cousin made. His cousin, Ethan. His best friend of many summers. He remembered breakfast. Homemade waffles, with thick, sweet, maple syrup that cascaded down the ridges like the streams they played in when they were younger. Fresh fruit on the side that stained their lips red. Was- was that a seed? Stuck in his teeth? That was the worst. The only thing worse was that Ethan had left him. He huffed again, sadness tinging the breath. Sadness and syrup from earlier that day. Syrup and sugary waffles. He lifted his wrist to his face, his hand drooping as he checked the time. It would be hours until Ethan returned from his dentist appointment. His arm flopped pathetically to his side. Bathing in the dappled sunlight in the treehouse, a thought flitted across his mind. He barely tilted his head, using as little energy as possible, and checked the time again. Seven, no, eight minutes since he’d left. Ethan had been gone. For Eight. Minutes. What was he going to do for hours?
He surveyed the sunlit yard; a rusted goal sat on the corner of the lawn, a beam was pushed against the house, and a rumpled net concealed a container full of various balls. Heaving himself up, he leaned against the side of the treehouse, the wood worn smooth with time. A tire swing swayed gently in the breeze. Almost shiny branches stretched enticingly upwards. He let out a whoosh of air. It just wasn’t the same alone. He popped up and slid between the lateral fence posts. Grabbing the rope that secured the tire swing, he slid down, calluses disguising the rope burn. Bouncing briefly on the balls of his feet, he began a chasse forward, picking up the pace, his steps getting higher and higher until he let the momentum guide him into a side flip, landing him in front of the beam. He paused, catching his balance again, arms in front from a premature preparation to fall. Satisfied with his steadiness, he took a step forward and immediately stumble, his toe getting caught in a grass clump After brushing himself off, he grabbed the beam. Grunting and grumbling about how much easier it would be if Ethan was here, he dragged the beam towards the middle of the lawn, inch by inch, centimetre by centimetre.
He stood with his heels together, his shins pressed against the edge of the beam, and his arms up in a y-shape; the traditional starting position. Inhaling sharply, he tilted forward quickly, wrapping his hands around the bar and flipping upside down. His legs wavered in midair, and his bare feet were pointed. Still following the momentum, he kept tilting and landed upright, now on the beam. He should have gotten his foot wraps. He readied himself, bending his knees and holding out his arms. Exhaling sharply, he sprung. His heart lept with him. The sky careened over him, grey wispy clouds blurring by. Maybe the rest of the morning wouldn’t be that long. He landed with a quiet thud, in the finishing position once more.