Seeking Cygnus

October, 1977: The sun was setting earlier than it had over the last few weeks-yet another blaring message that the freedoms I had enjoyed over summer vacation had completely vanished. Summer vacation...the last one I would enjoy as a child without responsibility, for soon would come work, perhaps summer classwork to get a head start on college, like my older brother. Having to stay home would be confining, regardless of age or situation. At the very least, my brother had told me when I turned eighteen, the parents wouldn't charge me rent...yet.

The cooler weather, beginning senior year, I didn't mind these things. The first kiss of autumn wind was always preferable to the prickle of Florida 's sun in August. Gently tapping at the reddened, peeling skin on my forearms, I looked forward to the day when I no longer had to coat myself in Noxema before going to bed.

School? I greeted the new curriculum with an enthusiasm that baffled my younger siblings, all of whom had loudly aired grievances on the Monday after Labor Day as we marched, single file, onto the grounds of St. Leo's in our crisp, red plaid jumpers and pleated navy slacks. My mother had laughed at my cadence; no doubt she was convinced the novelty would wear off by month's end.

Tonight, nearly two months later, my question and answer sheet for my physics class was tucked safely inside my homework folder, my two pages of calculus equations were solved in pencil in its workbook, and my two chapters of Light in August were read for English. My diligence was rewarded by my parents' permission to leave the table immediately after eating, time I chose to squander in our backyard, reclining on the cold, metal slide of our jungle gym, watching for aliens.