Sunset Watchin’

Jamie skipped on the sidewalk, trying to step only 3 times in each concrete square. She left behind her mom, carrying her baby brother. Her skip looked more like a march, but she always insisted that she did it right. She was skipping to try and catch old man Charlie on their way home and wanted to show him her new soccer jersey. As a 7-year-old, she felt accomplished
to be wearing a uniform. She had never talked to old man Charlie before, but felt like trying today. She felt confident now that she had a uniform on. As she passed each house on the street, the excitement built inside her. She passed the Smiths’ house and stopped in front of old man Charlie’s lawn, characterized by his two beautiful rose bushes framing the steps up to his patio. She stood ready, waiting like a cheetah ready to capture her prey.

Charlie went out to the patio to sit on his rocking chair like every other night. He liked to watch the sunset. As he hit the wooden seat, he saw a cute little girl in pigtails and a bright blue soccer jersey staring at him. He smiled and waved, she ran, her hair bouncing. Her mother, carrying a sleeping toddler, said, “I’m so sorry, she’s a bit shy. Have a good evening.” He had seen this little girl before, as she walked by his house every evening, and he loved seeing her. Choosing to live in the suburbs was a good decision. He got to people-watch, just like Carol used to.

Jamie skipped down the sidewalk, trying to step only 2 times in each concrete square. Her mom was behind her, carrying her chatty baby brother. She felt determined today, the mistakes of the past were in the past. She was wearing her soccer jersey, now full of grass stains and mud scuffs. She had learned that she loved to slide for the soccer ball just like on the TV. She never really made a goal, just pushed the soccer ball around a bit. She passed by the houses, getting excited. She passed the Smiths’ lawn and landed in front of old man Charlie’s house again. After her last mission, she finally got a visual on old man Charlie. He was thinner and wore a flannel. He had a nice head of hair like her grandpa, all snowy, and he had a mug in his hand. She stopped and started to walk up to the porch. She was taking her first steps, moving like she was walking on the moon. Old man Charlie came out, she looked up and felt fear pulse through her body. She ran just like she was taught at soccer practice.

Charlie came out and mindlessly sat into his rocking chair. The little girl was standing on the sidewalk leading up to his porch. She made eye contact with him, then quickly ran away. Her hair was now in a ponytail, and it swayed as she ran, hiking her knees up. He saw Julie. “Hey Charlie, I guess she is warming up. Have a good evening.” she said, trying to control the squirmy toddler in her arms.

“Hey Julie, I see that Jack is realizing his strength,” Charlie said, trying to make conversation. Julie chuckled and quickly pursued Jamie, trying to reach her. Charlie loved their visits. He liked seeing Jamie, Julie, and Jack. All Js, just like his kids. He left the naming task to Carol.

Jamie skipped down the sidewalk, trying to step only once in each concrete square. Her mom was not too far behind her, carrying her baby brother on her shoulders. She felt determined today. She was wearing her favorite pink shirt and butterfly jean shorts. Today was different, she could feel it. She passed by each house excitedly and passed the Smiths, reaching old Man Charlie’s lawn. She started her way up the sidewalk to his porch.

Charlie came out and rested in his rocking chair. He waited to see the cute family that had become his routine. He soon saw the hyper little girl bounce up to his porch. She was halfway there when she stopped. Just as she turned to run, Julie stopped her and turned her back around. She pushed her up to the porch.
“Hey Charlie, mind if we sit with you?” Julie said, trying to balance two children.
“Of course, come sit. There are some cookies on that table by the door,” Charlie said, trying to entice Jamie.
Raising her eyebrow, she grabbed a cookie and sat on the edge of his porch stairs, staring at him.
“Wh-why do you sit out here by yourself?” she said before taking a big bite into the gooey chocolate chip cookie.
“I sit out here to look at the sunset; it’s something my wife and I used to do,” he said.
“Whe-where is she? Why doesn’t she come out to watch it with you?” she said,
“She went away.”
“What, why, where did she go?”
“She went to a better place.”
“A better place? But what about watching the sunsets with you?”
“She can still see the sunset, Jamie. That’s why I still come to watch it.”

Jamie skipped down the sidewalk without a care for how many steps she took in each concrete square. She wanted to go and watch the sunset with Charlie. She passed the Smiths’ house and landed in front of his lawn. She was surprised to see that the porch was empty, and the sun was already going down.

“Sweetie, Charlie is gone, remember?” her mom said. He had left earlier that week to go watch the sunsets with his wife. Jamie went up to the porch and sat her little brother, Jack, next to her. As she watched the world turn from orange to blue, she couldn’t help but tear up and think of Charlie, her friend.