Tire Swing

“Five, ten, fifteen, twenty, twenty-five, thirty, thirty-five, one hundred. Ready or not here I come.” The boy’s voice echoed in through the back screen door. Elizabeth listened as it mixed with the sounds of the deep summer evening; a dog barked across the road and cicadas sang in the trees.

Betsy finished scrubbing the plate she had in her hand gave it a quick dip in the rinse water and sat it in the dish rack. She walked to the back door feeling frustration and excitement all mixed together. Her chore of washing the dinner dishes was almost done and then she would be able to run out the back door, across the yard to the big oak tree and join in the game of kick the can.
“Michael Spencer you can’t wait five minutes for me to finish my chores?” she yelled into the night.

“Mom, who are you talking to?”
The question jarred Elizabeth back to the present. She looked down at the dish towel she clutched. Deep blue veins laced her age-spotted hands. Her knuckles were swollen and bent with arthritis.
“The warm evening breeze coming through that back door must have made me think of Michael Spencer.”
“Who’s Michael Spencer?”
“A neighbor boy.Every night after supper chores were done we’d all meet by the tire swing hanging from the oak tree in the Spencer’s yard and play games till our parents called us in. I thought I heard them playing out there.”
“Are you all right, mom?”
“Yes, Janey dear. Those old memories just swirl around me so thick sometimes that I get lost in them.”
“I’m going home now. Are you sure you will be alright?”
“I’ll just have a cup of tea and then go to bed don’t worry about me.”
Elizabeth waved her daughter off before she turned back to the kitchen to start the water for her tea. The black of night beckoned her through her back screen door.

Betsy heard the screen door slam behind her as she hurled herself down the back porch steps. Her breath came in ragged gasps and her chest felt a pain that was both sharp and burning. She stumbled through the night. She slipped her lithe body through the hole of the tire swing. She wrapped her arms around the rope and dug her toe into the grass. She slowly spun the tire until her toe could barely reach the grass as the rope twisted. She gave a push off and then felt herself start to spin, slowly at first and then faster and faster. She tipped her head back to feel the full effect. Her tears scattered to the wind.
The swing came to a jerking halt.
“Betsy what are you doing out here?”
“Go away, Michael Spencer, can’t you see I’m invisible.” She pushed against his chest and slid out of the swing.
“What are you talking about? I can see you clear as day.” He grabbed her arm and pulled her over to sit against the roots of the old oak tree.
“I know I’m invisible, so leave me alone.”
“What makes you think you’re invisible?” He draped his arm across her shoulders.
“I stood in front of my mom for over five minutes and she never heard or saw me. She hasn’t been seeing me at all lately. I must be invisible.”
“Are you daft? Your sister’s getting married in a few weeks and your brother just got out of the hospital looking like a prize fighter. My mom said he almost died because of his head injuries from that bike wreck.You’re the only thing your mom doesn’t have to worry about right now. I’d keep it that way if I were you.”
She pulled her knees up to her chest and rested her head against her knees.
“You make me sound little and selfish.” Her voice was muffled as she talked down into her lap.
“If the shoe fits. Come on I’ll walk you home.” He got to his feet and stretched out his hand to help her up. He walked with his arm across her shoulders bumping his hip into hers and trying to trip her till she laughed. “That’s better.”

Elizabeth stood against the back fence feeling confused. When did they fence off these yards? This used to be one big playground for the neighborhood kids. Now chain link separated all the houses. She realized she was thirsty. Hadn’t she been making a cup of tea? She turned back toward the house and the hedge brushed against her legs.

“Ready or not here I come.”
Betsy crouched down behind the hedge holding her breath. She could just see the tire swing which was home base through the gaps between the leaves. A dark shape passed in front of her on the other side of the bushes. Someone plopped down beside her.
“This is my spot Michael Spencer.”
“Sh! I know I saw you come hide here,” he whispered.
“Then get out,” she said through gritted teeth.”
“Not yet.”
The surprised washed through her as Michael moved his hand to the back of her head and his soft lips came down on hers. He pulled back and looked deep into her eyes. She had never felt anything like that in all her fourteen years. She lost her balance and her hand landed firmly in dog pooh. She felt the cool mass ooze through her fingers.
“Oh gross!”
“What?” The hurt look in Michael’s eyes was quickly replaced by laughter as she shoved her hand toward his face. He jumped up and ran toward base. Betsy got up slowly and walked back to her house wondering what that kiss could possibly mean and if she would ever get this smell off her hand.

Elizabeth fumbled with the spigot on the back side of the house. The water gushed out and wet her slippers. She needed a cup from the kitchen if she was to get a drink. No, she wanted tea. She turned off the spigot and looked up to see the hole in the screen on her bedroom window.

Half asleep Betsy heard the scratching on her bedroom screen.
“Betsy,” a whispered voice spoke outside her window.
“Michael Spencer what are you doing here in the middle of the night? You’ll wake my family.”
“Come out side.”
“No.”
“I’m leaving tomorrow.”
Betsy pulled on her slacks and exchanged her nightgown for a sweater. She tiptoed through the house to the back door and held her breath as she eased the screen door open just enough to let her through.
Michael grabbed her hand and the two of them ran to the old oak tree. He let go of her hand and took a running leap to grab the tire swing rope. Hand over hand he climbed until he swung himself up on the branch.
“I’m not following you up there,” Betsy whispered.
He swung off the branch and landed beside her. She was grudgingly impressed until he tackled her to the ground. The playful wrestling turned into embracing and kissing.
They lay under the tire swing. Betsy rested her head on his shoulder with her arm stretched across his chest. His arm was under her neck; his one hand played with her hair while the other kept the swing in gentle motion.
“Why must you go?” she asked.
“It’s my duty.”
“You’re only eighteen.”
“You’re seventeen, what does age have to do with anything."
“It’s so far away. What does it have to do with you and me?”
“The fighting is over there so you can be safe here.”
“But what about you?”
“I’ll keep myself safe so I can come back to you.” He rolled over and smoothered her doubts with kisses.

The phone was ringing. Elizabeth stood on the back porch looking into the kitchen through the screen. She fumbled with the door handle, shuffled into the kitchen, and caught up the phone on the last ring. She listened to the dial tone for a minute and then replaced it on it’s charger. She put the kettle on the stove and picked out the flavor of tea she wanted for tonight.
The phone rang again.
“Mom?”
“Yes, Janey.”
“Are you all right?”
“Yes, dear I’m just getting myself a cup of tea before bed.”
“Mrs. Larson called. She said she saw you wandering around in the backyard in the dark.”
“I thought I heard a noise.”
“Do you want me to come over, mom?”
“Janey, I’ll be in bed by the time you’d get over here.”
“I love you, mom. You know that don’t you.”
“I love you too, Janey dear.”
“Night, mom.”
“Good night, sweetheart.”
The kettle whistled. Elizabeth poured the hot water into her cup and pushed the tea bag down to the bottom of the mug with her spoon. She closed her eyes while she waited for the tea to steep.

The ache was too much. Betsy pressed the pillow against her middle to try to ease the pain that ate a hole through her. She rose from her sweat drenched sheets and with her pillow clutched to her she stole into the night. She placed the pillow through the hole in the tire, eased herself across it and lay with her face looking at the grass beneath the swing. She pushed with her feet and felt the gentle sway while her weight pressed against the pain. “Missing in action, presumed dead.” Six weeks of basic training and at his first battle he had not survived the first day. Not positively dead, missing.

Elizabeth felt the tears cool on her cheeks.
“Olly, Olly, ox in free.”
The children were playing in the backyard again. Elizabeth walked to the back screen door.
She blinked her eyes in disbelief. He stood on the back porch washed in moon light. She watched that mischievous smile spread across his face.
“Michael Spencer where have you been hiding?” she asked.
“I’ve been waiting for you, Elizabeth.”

Janey found her mother the following morning. She was sitting at the kitchen table her head resting on her arm. Her tea was cool and untouched. A smile graced her cold lips.



(1680 words)