In the summer months of my youth, I mowed lawns around the neighborhood for about $15 per lawn, and an extra $5 if they wanted it edged, more or less depending on the size of the yard. I started as soon as my Dad thought I was old enough to push the lawn mower around without getting hurt, about when I was 11. It became lawns in the summer, leaves in the fall, sidewalks and driveways in the winter. I felt very grown up when I started my first savings account for college, but I still enjoyed being a kid with money for movies and pizza and video games and stuff.

My uncle lived around the block and across the street from her. Her house wasn’t really any bigger than mine, or my uncle’s, or anyone else’s in the neighborhood. One weekend I was mowing his front yard when she stepped outside to get her backpack from the trunk of their car. She waved hello and smiled like she knew me. I didn’t think that she knew me. I guess I should say that she knew who I was, but she didn’t know me. Maybe if she did, she would’ve known that I’ve liked her since the 3rd grade when we sat across from each other in the same homeroom. I smiled and waved back and thought God, she was just so pretty, even when she got that really curly perm two summers ago that her friends all told her didn’t look as bad as she thought it did. She went back inside, and a few minutes later her dad came out, crossed the street, and asked me how much I was getting for this size lawn. I told him $15 for the front and the back, and an extra $5 if he wanted it edged. Two long weeks later, I pushed my mower across the street after finishing at my uncle’s.

I finished the edging and was on my knees on the front sidewalk, sweaty all over and covered in dirt, picking up handfuls of soil and cut grass, when she came outside wearing red denim shorts and a white t-shirt with red polka dots. I remember someone telling me that polka dots were a sign of good luck. God, she was just so pretty. She walked towards me and smiled, and just as she noticed me notice her, I realized
I was on my knees on the front sidewalk
sweaty all over and covered in dirt
picking up handfuls of soil and cut grass.

She asked me if I wanted some lemonade.

She brought out a whole pitcher with two matching glasses full of ice on the matching tray and set it on her front porch steps. While she poured a glass for me, I stood up, walked to her, and wanted to tell her

God, she was just so pretty.

Instead I just said thank you when she handed the glass to me.

As she stood there smiling and waiting for me to finish my lemonade and my job
there were no other houses or lawns or leaves or snow
no first savings account for college
no movies or pizza or video games
no risks or chances or seizing the opportunity.

There was only me next to her on the front sidewalk
sweaty all over and covered in dirt
breathing and drinking and praying to God

that my hands
wouldn’t dirty
the glass.

Copyright © 2006 Dempsey Lagrimas Jr.