In the thick heat of summer two siblings, a boy and a girl, watch a grasshopper hop by

That’s awesome she says

What’s awesome he asks

That she points

Nooooo, what does awesome mean

Huh

A contemplative pause

Ah! Inspiration

Remember when we made boxed brownies, she begins her lesson

Burnt boxed brownies he corrects

But we ate them anyways. Now THAT was awesome

A dorky laugh and appreciative nod

What else is awesome what else is awesome, noticing the dawn of geniusness in his sister’s expression

All the free cookies at daddy’s graduation, jumping up

Yeah! Rising to meet her excitement

When mommy told us our belly buttons used to be connected

A hungry wonderment rose within, eating every sprouting thought

They take off

Bare feet brushing against green grass

Running, he shouts

Birds, in response

I can fly!

So can I!

Smiles so wide a fly flies in

Falling on their knees in laughter

Rolling on their backs in exhaustion

Staring at the clouds in inspiration

I know, grandma’s rocking chair

Her blueberry bush is way awesomer

When they made our fingers blue?

Exactly! Proud her brother is a quick learner

And our swing! How could they forget

Their energy had pooled around their small bodies

The sun brought it to a quick boil

And now they were breathing its vapors all over again

Racing now but being sure to keep pace with the other

When you jumped off the tallest tree EVER

And then you got a blue cast!

Memories and returned giggles trail behind and surround the cherished vessel

He hops on she holds it steady, places his grasp beneath hers

She moves in a circle stepping into the worn out pattern of dirt and footprints

Twists

Twists

And twists till he sits too high for her to support

Tightened rope

Its warning creek

She looks at him

He looks at her

Ready

She lets go and hops back like a grasshopper

He spins tornado fast, so fast he blurs

Rope and boy alike unfold into the background

Into the trees, the swing, the wind, and sky

She sees it through twinkling eyes

 

It all shouts back at her

AWESOOOOOOOME!