Dark and Light
Our childhood was usually spent sneaking behind our parents
back being little devils or angels in front of our moms. Jerry would always
pick on me when I was over at their house. Usually Kevin or Tim would tell him
to stop.
Summers were the best, running around in fields of clover on the mountain side
or swimming in the cool creeks. The best swimming hole had this long rope tied
to a really old tree near the cabin that Daddy Jerry ran and my dad would help
out as the grounds keep. My mom and a lot of times Momma Ann was in the kitchen
preparing food for the campers. Kevin or Kevvy as I called him when annoyed
would swing from that rope sometimes from bank to bank or would let go when he
reached about the middle above the deepest point in the hole.
When Brian would visit I was yesterday's trash, sometimes I was so jealous of
their relationship that I would ignore Kevin for a week after Brian left but
other times I was jealous for a different reason. I never had that tight of a
bond with any of my cousins. Most of them were too city to understand the lazy
days of being in the country. They wanted me to entertain them 24/7 when they
visited. I was always the happiest when they left and Kevin was mine to get
spoiled by.
By the time we reached high school there was nothing that could separate us. No
Brian and no siblings. We were truly like siblings. Kevin was a better brother
figure than my own brother but that was ok I loved my brother still but I loved
Kevin more. I loved it when he started to call me a special nickname when we
reached junior high. I had started on the school basketball team and was kinda
good as a guard so Kevin dubbed me Kix because I was always eating Kix cereal
when I was younger.
By high school we had slowly drifted with him hanging out more with the
football players and ditzy cheerleaders and I would hang out with my friends
from the two basketball teams both the woman’s and the men’s. We had fun and I
didn't notice my friendship with Kevin was slowly slithering out the door like
a snake shedding its skin. When we
graduated I went on with a full basketball scholarship to
the U of Kentucky, which for me being a huge Cats fan I was happy that I was
accepted. Kevin got engaged and broke that engagement within the first month of
our freedom and then he moved to
Now that the Backstreet Boys are a household name I am beginning to wonder if
he is the same little devil I fell in love with while we two goofball children
running in fields of clover on our mountain side.
It has been a month since I graduate from college. I have
since started to do a local campaign to help save the mountains I love so much.
I guess it helps that my degree was in several things; yeah I know over achiever,
I got it in Geogology, Public Relations, and minor in Governmental Sciences. So
now I wanted to put it to use. I work for a local Senator during the day but at
night I help run campaigns by local environmental groups to help save our
lands.
It wasn't more than a couple of months that I see Mr. Kevin Richardson
Backstreet Boy on TV talking to Congress about trying to stop strip mining. I
thought what the heck I'll call up Momma Ann and see if I can get his number to
see if maybe we can work together to stop the mining of my beloved mountains.
I ended up agreeing to have dinner with her, Jerry and Tim along with their
families. She didn't mention if Kevin and that supposed wife Kristin, who I
thought he had dumped before leaving Disney but I guess not.
Now I stand in front of a house I spent part of my high school days at studying
with Kevin and praying he didn't see all the scribbles of our names in hearts.
"Ok, Lisa just ring the damn bell." I muttered to myself. I rang the
bell and waited with a box of cupcakes for dessert. Domestic I am not. The door
opens not to reveal Ann, Tim or Jerry but Kevin himself.
"Hi, your mom didn't say you were gonna be here. I can
leave and come back at a later date." I started to turn around when I feel
someone grabbing me. I turn around and am nose to nose with him. All that is
running through my mind is don't kiss me you are married. What'd he do, yep he
kissed me right on the lips.
After we broke from the kiss, which wasn't anything greatly
amazing, we had dinner and caught up on all our lives. Tim had become a
minister and was very happy with his congregation. Jerry told about his new job
wife and kids. I could tell by the beam on Kevin's face that he absolutely
loved his nieces and nephews. I talked about college, playing for the Wildcats,
and the Senator I work for now. After dinner was over we all congregated into
the family type room for dessert and to just talk some more. I really couldn't
look at Kevin's face because of that kiss and I did notice he never once mentioned
or was it brought up, Kristin. That surprised me; because I all have ever heard
from Brian was how nice Kristin was and how perfect they are together. I
frankly don't see them as perfect but Brian and Leighanne I see as perfect.
After Tim, Jerry and their families left it were just Kevin, Momma Ann, and me
sitting in the room. I guess Ann sensed we needed to talk or something because
she left us alone while she went to clean up the kitchen and dining room.
"Umm...this is kinda weird." I said as I played with a tuft of hair
at the nape of my neck.
"Yeah, I remember when we would share everything."