🔵 By Thomas Riffenburg. Photo by lauragrafie.
Sometimes I find myself wandering back through time in my mind, days like today, remembering old smiles… I can remember walking home from middle school one day, a new school, one I had yet to fit in to, and that was the first time I met June. As I was walking past this old rickety white fence, paint yellowed and peeling off the wood, I could hear a soft creaking. I looked towards the house and there sat June, rocking slowly in an old rocking chair, with what I recognized as deep sadness, something I was familiar with, resting in her eyes. I don’t know what it was that made me say hi to her, for as a boy of just 12, I was an awkward kid, but I did say hi. June said hello back to me, and before I knew it, I began telling her all about my lousy rough day. All the while June just listened patiently to me, just a strange boy, pouring his heart felt grief out. When I finished, somewhat embarrassed by my outburst, June kindly gave me some words of advice and encouragement, then I thanked her and went on my way.
Well, it turns out that wasn’t the last time I saw her. For some reason I looked forward eagerly o visiting her again the next day, and sure enough, there she was on her rocking chair as I walked by. After my “day speech”, as we later called them, June asked if I would like to come by the next day for some milk and cookies while I told her about my day. I could see within her eyes a hopeful anticipation, another look I knew from my own reflection; maybe it was kindness toward this old lonely woman, or perhaps I twas because I was lonely, but I agreed. From then on everyday after school I would stop by June’s house to give her my “day speech”, eat some milk and cookies while I did so, and June would sit quietly and listen, then offer me some advice and encouragement once I was done. Those were great moments for me. Cookies with June lasted all through my school years, then shortly after my high school graduation June passed away. I was the only one at her funeral, for she, like me, hadn’t a single friend in the world…
I’m grown now, with a family of my own, yet June still lives on in my memories. I smile at the thought of June up in heaven somewhere, smiling, laughing with all her new friends, and I smile to myself and look forward to the day when once again I can have cookies with June.