Summer Dream

She could hear the whir of the oscillating fan in the back of her mind, but her dream continued. Maybe it was her burgeoning adolescent hormones, maybe it was the sweltering, sticky beach weather, or possibly it was the slight sunburn on her shoulders and chest... Whatever. Connie felt like she was on fire. Her dream seemed real. She felt awake, almost. Everything had a hazy quality to it and moved slowly as if suspended in time. She dreamed of walking to the surf shop on the corner by the beach, just casually hanging out with the pretense of shopping and scamming on some hot surf guy. She'd try on bathing suits and tiny cut-off tops until one of them took notice. Connie could picture it in her subconscious. The tanned, sandy blonde with pooka shells would cease waxing his surfboard as soon as he caught sight of her in a strapless pink and black Ocean Pacific bikini. She'd act like she wasn't interested until he insisted she go out with him that night.

He'd arrive at her grandparent's door wearing white jeans and a blue tank top, his hair combed flat and still damp at the ends from his shower. He'd have to come in and meet her parents. That was one of the many dating rules. He'd be polite and well mannered. Yes, he was a local and lived here on Brigantine Island. His family lived 3 blocks away. Yes, he was in high school, 11^th grade. They would escape as soon as they could.