FICTION SERIES
Hailey Hoff man/The Astorian
Bright pink blossoms in Uniontown last spring.
A walk with a friend
This week marks the eighth entry in Coast
Weekend’s fi ction writing series. Here is “On
Her Way Home” by Kathleen Laughman, of
Astoria.
‘On Her Way Home’
Anne-Francoise turned a corner and there
he was.
“I’m going in the same direction,” he
said. “Let’s walk together.”
Annie, as she like to be called, was
thrilled and terrifi ed at the same time. He
was on the basketball team and she had had a
secret crush on him forever.
“Sure,” she managed to utter, then
thought, what am I going to say next?
“That was a good game you played last
Friday,” she said.
“Thanks,” he replied.
They fell into easy conversation as they
walked up the hill together. It all seemed so
natural.
“I guess this is where we go our sepa-
rate ways,” she said as they approached her
street.
“Oh no, I can walk you home,” he replied.
Spring evenings in Astoria can be gen-
tle with the sweet aroma of cherry blossoms
permeating the air and intoxicating those it
envelopes. It was one of those evenings.
Soon they approached her home and the
conversation slowed.
The softness of the air was turning into
dew and she could see the damp on his
blonde hair even though they were standing
under a cherry tree that was in full bloom.
He reached out and removed a pink petal that
had fallen on her shoulder. It was j ust a pass-
ing moment between them.
“Guess I better be going home. See you
at school tomorrow,” he said. He turned and
disappeared into the mist.
Annie stood watching him go. The mem-
ory would remain.
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