Chapter One, Episode 126 - A Dream in Passing - Situationally Theirs

Review, Revision, Edit and Update
There was more revision than I expected for this short episode. Almost an aside, these two youngest characters in Situationally Theirs were paired, if only for a brief moment in this story. Revision involved adjusting sentence structure and adding detail the scenes.

 A Dream in Passing

Before the schools closed, they could see each other almost every day. They would brush by each other in the hall at recess or glance secretly at each other in the cafeteria. She was the most beautiful girl he had ever seen, auburn hair and green eyes. From behind his locker door outside his classroom, Joey would look for her in the noisy maze of students filling the hall.

One year later, they were to pass by each other again in the bright sunshine. Joey Tucker, coming home from his cleaning job at the Beaufort mansion, recognized her from a distance. She rode her red bicycle with the basket on front, yellow daisies decorating the rim. Slowing, he stopped as she passed. turning to watch her ride. Straight back, beautiful auburn hair shining and drifting in the sun, she sang as she rode. Curiously, Joey saw her take the fork in the road that went to the Richardson’s home. He resumed his ride home into Hartley, quaverings in his midsection at seeing this girl whose name he didn’t know.

~~~~~

Her interest in the boys in her class had waned. She had dated one or two of them, but only once or twice and had been very disappointed. All good looks and not a thought in their heads, except…….well, she would only tell her journal - the one she kept hidden from her mother. 

This year of the Covid19 virus was a relief for Tanya Meadows. She didn’t have to deal with such immaturity. She could stay home with her books or visit over video chat with her girlfriends. Excited to be out and away for the day, Tanya was her way to the Richardsons to babysit. On that day, on her way out to look after Ben and Abby, she saw him riding towards her. In a blushing warmth of recognition, she recognized him from school. A boy in a different grade at their high school. She had watched him, but because he was younger than her by at least two years, had refused any opportunity to talk to him. Shoulder's squared and head held high, she began to sing as they passed by each other. A butterfly flutter went through her. She didn’t even know his name.

“Among my stillness was a pounding heart.”

~ Shannon A. Thompson, Seconds Before Sunrise