Joan and Janice

Strange, outlandish thoughts criss-crossed through her mind as she lay on her back
on the bed, gazing contently into space. She squinted into the orange glow in which
the room shone as golden sunlight streamed in through the vibrant-coloured
curtains. A black trail of hair was fanned across the white, fluffy pillow into which
her little head dug in. A faint smile shaded her full lips. The yellow in the light
reflected off her flushed face. She was glowing with contentment as her smiling
eyes stared thoughtfully into a dream far, far away. She bit on her lower lips as if
she thought that she was bearing thoughts she shouldn’t. Thoughts that weren’t
hers. And yet she couldn’t help thinking about it. A hot gust of wind blew as she
turned on her side, cuddling up to a huge pillow as if it were him. She rubbed the
side of her face with it, her eyes closed, lips stretched into the loveliest smile.
Slowly her eyes opened, a little star sparkling in each of the two. A sparrow chirped.
A startled look came over her face and it was as if she were woken from a blissful
dream. Even the sparrows twittering sounded melodious- just as the cold blanket
felt warm over her skin. Listening to the sparrows tweeting in her veranda, she felt
a strong urge to join them. This part of the day is the most magnificent and
peaceful, she told herself. It was early spring and the cold had not yet left
completely. The cold tickled her bare feet. She shivered and immediately pulled the
blanket tight to her as if it were the only thing needed for survival. Oh! How
adorable she looked under that orange skin, with warm frightened eyes staring right
out at the spectator, lips shivering and unkempt hair framing her visage. Her face
radiated love and looking at her, anyone would feel the urge to smile and live life
happily like all the Cinderellas and princes do in your Grandma’s fairy tales. And she
was totally unaware of it! Unaware of what the look on her angelic face could do to
people. Her gaze moved to the clock which read 6:10. A frowned ceased those
eyebrows on her smooth skin, her eyelashes ducked to close her eyes and she
muttered a prayer slowly under her breath, kissing the ring that she wore on her
finger.

Looks can be very deceiving.

Apparently, that may be taken as a matter of fact.

The content look on her face was from all the unfulfilled dreams she wove in her
breezy mind, never intending to make them come true. It was beyond imagination
that they could be actually possible. She was pleased enough with her dream-world.
She was one of those girls who needed the special love and affection but yet
refused so. However, she did know she wanted his arms around her when she felt
the need for reassurance. She knew she wanted to hide her face into his chest when
she felt like running away or anything equally strange. She knew she wanted him to
kiss her on the forehead when she was messed up. She also knew she wanted to
run slim fingers through his tousled hair while his head rested on her lap. She
wanted to lay her head on his shoulder while they sat on the bench of a park in the
afternoon sun, the light gradually concealing itself out of humiliation into the
darkness of the night following. She longed to see that possessive look in his eyes
when he looked at her. She wanted him to smile at her through those glinting eyes,
always. She wanted to make him happy… to wash away all his sorrows. There
couldn’t have been any grievances in his life if I was a part of it, if only- she
reminded herself and a yearning look reflected through the warmth of those child-
like eyes. She needed to feel the warmth of his hand against hers when she was
feeling lost. She longed to take his hand with a secret smile when he would ask her
for a dance. She wanted to lock her arms around him and dance away the night,
while he whispered private words into her ear. She longed for him so much that she
welcomed the emptiness that she would feel when he won’t be around. Her face
pulled into a tight, shy grin as such hungry wishes roamed across her mind. Jeez, I
can be so demanding and… and adamant, she told herself. Heaving a sigh under
her breath, she got out of the bed, her fragile body shivering from the prickly cold.
She brushed her teeth, washed her face and walked languidly to the veranda for her
towel. She wasn’t prepared for the chilliness outside. Or the surprise that lay ahead.
Rubbing her face softly with the towel, she stared into the white, cottony clouds,
thinking, I’m so obsessed with him. Just then, somebody knocked on her back from
behind. Fear swept over her as she turned around to face who it was.

Panic and bewilderment caused her eyes to bulge out of the sockets and stare at
the culprit in complete horror. Joan!

Immediately, he covered her mouth with one hand and wrapped the other around
her waist so she wouldn’t collapse out of shock. His blue eyes smiled down into her
brown ones as he whispered, ‘Come with me, don’t ask questions. Not now,’
grinning shyly. Wrapping a shawl around her, she looked at him, indignant, and
thought to herself, that was rude- and quite bold of him.

’Look, whatever happens, don’t scream, all right?’ Joan said. She nodded in
approval, too stunned to speak.

‘Okay, I’m not taking any risks here. Close your eyes,’ he told her. She did.

A few seconds passed and she heard a heavy thump on the ground. Curious, she
opened her eyes and saw him there, in the garden, brushing soil off his pants. ‘All
right. Your turn. Don’t be afraid,’ he said.

Hesitantly, closing her eyes, she jumped too and the first thing she felt once down
was his arms tightly wound around her.

‘Come with me,’ he ordered in a tight voice.

She wondered what in the world was going on about. He walked over to a corner of
the garden, behind a tree to ward off the blinding sun. Nobody would think looking
at the sun, that the weather was chilly. She watched the water sparkling on the
young morning leaves as she rushed to match with his pace. He pulled her behind a
tree- it was much colder there.

’Look, Janice, I didn’t want to be so brisk about it…. not so unromantic, somehow,
but I felt as if time was slipping through my fingers. I’ve been waiting for you all
night in the veranda, hoping you’d come out once- I was scared to death. What if
your father came out and caught me in there? So anyways, I was awake all night
and I know I don’t look like I should… I really love you, Janice,’ he sighed, out of
breath, and went on, ‘I’ve been dying to tell you this a long time now, but I was
afraid it could have ruined our friendship because that’s all we had. I don’t know
what your answer is… no, don’t look at me like that, it makes me feel nervous.. but..
well, what do you say? You don’t have to answer right away. Run away- it means
you’re going to think about it. Slap me on the face- it means we are splitting our
ways forever and… ‘

Before he could say anything more, she had her arms around her neck and was
holding him tight, warm tears rolling down her pink cheek. She was overwhelmed.
She really was. Joan then held her in his arms too and kissed her through her
aromatic curls. His eyes, too, pooled up with tears and a huge grin brightened his
washed out face. Her actions speak louder- words for me, he told himself and
looked forward to the day when he would slip a ring into her finger. She will be mine
forever and I, hers…