A Nightgown and Ice Cream

Its as if the sound of the spring frogs were calling her name. Inviting her to come out and play in the night. Ice cream would be just the thing to cool her warm body on the first hot evening of the season. Getting dressed seemed a bit too much and she just wanted to stay in her pretty Victorian nightgown with purple lace and blue delicate pattern. Yet the frogs called her name and the air was so still.

She goes to her closet and looks for just the right sweater searching longer than she should but thinking if she had to stop for any reason this would be the sweater to be caught in. The sweater that would hide her pretty blue and purple nightgown. Once found, she wraps the sweater around her, grabs her bag and sneaks out the door. The night is so still that even the motion lights stay off as she swiftly climbs into the front seat of that little SUV. Windows must be down completely. Sunroof fully open. She backs out slowly then turns up the drive--- and stops. Pulls the sweater off and smiles. With hair piled on top of her head and her glasses on her nose she looks as though she may start teaching a class until you notice her casual, sensual attire.

The music is perfect for a night so sweet and as she picks up speed the night air flows in and wraps itself around her. "...and I wonder if I ever cross your mind..." and as she sings she thinks of that one and wonders.... for her it happens all the time. Singing softly and from the depth of her heart she drives along taking the road that takes more time and as that air continues to blow against her bare shoulders and arms and down her bare legs she breathes in and sings out. The smell of fresh earth is so strong here in the county. The woods that line the road hide her exposed skin and she's glad. For as much as she knows at this moment the heavens think she's beautiful, the truth is she hates her arms and would never wear spaghetti straps in public. But for now-- there is nothing more perfect than this night, her bare arms and the breeze that kisses her body. As the main road draws near she swears she detects the sweet scent of camp fire on this night too warm for flames. Its a smell that is one of her favorites and she knows that those who smile down on her from above have done this just to suit her. She sings. She smiles and she becomes intoxicated on the perfectness of the world at this moment. This is why we are a part of the earth- this is what pure and utter joy feels like and she knows in her soul that if those who cast evil throughout the world could just be in this moment-- all the hatred and sadness would dissipate and only bliss would remain. "...and I wonder if I ever cross your mind..." She thinks of him and a few others as well and wonders if she will ever find a love as sensuous as this night.

The drive-thru doesn't know she hates her arms so she plays the part of a beauty queen caught with raw emotion and smiles sweetly at the people who hand her that ice cream cone. With every taste of cold sugar she smiles a little more. Everything she sees, feels, consumes just has an air of forbidden playfulness about it. She suddenly realizes she has forgotten her phone- the one that never leaves her hand and is her most steady and trusted companion and with the realization that she has left without it she finds herself more alive as if she has just leaned off the front of a massive ship with arms wide open. Its as if no one in the world knows where she is or can find her if they try. No one can find her. They always find her. But tonight... no one can find her. And she smiles. And she sings. And the air blows kisses on her skin so soft as the ice cream cools her tongue with each naughty lick.

The drive back is as beautiful as the drive to her discovery and all she can think is how she will want to capture this time-- this quick passing time... in her pretty lace nightgown and hair atop her head - she will capture this feeling by writing it out on a laptop still booted and waiting for her return.

And so.... I did.