“Are you going with Elias?” my mum asked when I was packing my swimsuit. “I think he likes you,” she said and smiled. I went out through the door. I didn’t understand her. Of course he liked me, I was his friend. I looked back. My mum was still standing in the door, smiling. I was really tired when we reached the lake. I had to lie down in the sand and catch my breath. The sand was soft and warm. I could feel the sun burn on my legs. This summer had been a warm one. Because my sister had gone to her friend’s summer house, I had spent the whole summer with Elias. To my mind, it was much more fun. Elias and I never argued. He could push me into the water as many times as he wanted, without making me angry. If my sister pushed me, I didn’t talk to her for the whole day. Elias came and lay down beside me. “Can you breathe now?” he said and laughed. I pushed him in friendly way and laughed with him. “Do you want to go for a swim?” he asked with eagerness in his eyes. I looked at him and nodded.
“Josie,” he said, “I like you.” I had so many thoughts running around in my head. Those words sounded so different from when my mum had said them. “Like the ladybirds?” I asked, almost whispering. He laughed. “Just like the ladybirds.” Then he pulled me up. “Are you ready?” he asked and smiled. I nodded and smiled back. Then we jumped. He was still holding my hand. Boel Axelsson Year Thirteen Student
Untitled It is a dark foggy night on fourth Avenue, Manhattan. There are barely any cars on the road, and about three or four pedestrians. A flashing light reading ‘Bar’ adorns a scummy old building. Flashing not in a Viva Las Vegas way, but in a more ‘I can’t afford an electrician’ way.
Art and Literature
47 TE REO KURA 2009
I really like being by myself at the lake. Of course Elias was there, but it was different from when mum and dad were there. Before we went I had to promise to be careful and not swim too far out. I was proud that they trusted me.
We went out on the bridge and sat down on the edge. If I reached a bit I could touch the water with my toes. It was a bit cold but my feet got used to it. We sat there for a while, without either of us speaking. The only thing you could hear were the waves breaking on the beach. I looked at him. His blond little curls were flying in the wind. Somehow he looked different. I didn’t know what it was, but I got a funny feeling in my stomach. He turned his head and looked in my eyes. He was smiling. I had to look away, felt I was turning into a tomato. Two seconds later I felt his hand grabbing mine. The funny feeling in my stomach started to spread through my whole body.
Photograhic prints by Julie McBride
he knew. He carefully put the lovers down in the grass. Just when he let them go, they lifted and flew up towards the sky. We looked at them disappear behind the trees. Then we start to run again. I could already catch a glimpse of the water.