#unbreakablebond

1982... A shock of brilliant color glinted in the brightness of an Indiana summer afternoon. I glanced up into the freckled face of an older boy I had never seen before. My gaze met his gold-tinged eyes, and I gasped as if I felt the spark of static electricity that happens when you touch something metal in the wintertime. He was wearing a blue, white, and orange striped tank top with cropped jean shorts, so worn that bits of fringe hung to his knees. My mouth dropped open, and I stared with large brown eyes as my little girl world stood still for just a moment. He wore white canvas tennis shoes stained green by the grass and his slender body was blanketed almost solid with freckles. As his gaze met mine, I could not look away. I did not know hair could be the color of a sunset... ...Eventually, I snapped out of it and squeaked out, "I have freckles, too... see?" I pointed to the smattering of freckles on my sun-kissed arm, and he laughed. His eyes twinkled, and his dimple deepened as he grinned at me. I was captivated and speechless once again. I don't recall many details of playing in the yard that day, but I never forgot how I felt when I first witnessed that ginger-headed boy's smile.