bring her a new treat every day. Something she couldn’t get within the confines of the prison fences. Something from the outside world.
That entire summer Ava Grace replayed in my thoughts over and over like an old movie reel that wouldn’t stop spinning. I’d never met anyone like her before. She didn’t act like the girls back home. The ones in their high dollar jeans, manicures, and name brand shoes. No, she was different. Exciting. I would never forget the time she dragged me through the pasture on the way home. We played frisbee with the cow pies. I hadn’t had that much fun in all the time I’d been on the island. She didn’t mind getting a little dirt under her nails or a little manure between her toes. My time with her became an addiction. I couldn’t wait to finish my morning assignments each day so I could rush back for more.
I wasn’t the only one who showed up with gifts. One afternoon, as I pulled a leftover cinnamon roll from my bag and handed it to her, I was surprised to find she had brought me a present too. “Take it,” she said as she held out a hand-sewn handkerchief. “I made it for you … you got a little sweaty yesterday … kind of gross.” She laughed as she shoved it into my hand. I was flattered by the time and thought she’d put into the intricate gift. It must’ve taken her days. I thanked her as I rolled it into a buff and tied it around my head. The blush in her cheeks as the corners of her lips turned into a small grin didn’t escape my notice. “Looks good on you,” she winked as she lowered her eyes and went back to work.
My heart fluttered as I quickly knelt to the ground to grab my tools. I couldn’t let her see the reaction she’d caused. That would’ve been embarrassing. We sat in silence a few moments before returning to our now easy banter. She held the small tree trunks as I delimbed them with my ax. She tied. I tied. And sometimes, we even found our hands a little more tangled than necessary as we worked together to tie those knots. We had become a strong team. As we made our final tie, the sun began to set. Testing the raft would have to wait another day. It was time for me to get back to my father. He wouldn’t think to question my whereabouts unless I broke curfew, which I promised myself I would never do. Not as long as I could spend time with Ava Grace.
The last morning of our first summer, I raced to our spot. I knew I was early, but it was my last full day on the island before I had to return home for the school year. I didn’t want to waste a second. If our raft was seaworthy, it could be our biggest day of adventure yet. I filled my backpack with some leftover fried chicken, a couple sodas, some chips, and a blanket.
After hopping the fence, I ran down the dirt path. Grabbing a small bunch of wildflowers from the meadow, I made my way to our raft. From the thicket of tall grass, I pulled the box of treasures we’d been collecting over the summer. I popped it open and checked the contents: A conch shell horn, a pair of puka shell necklaces we’d strung one afternoon while we were taking a break, the spearhead she’d held to my back the first time we’d met, along with many more treasures that had special meaning to us. Though our gifts were simple, they were ours. Each one had meaning. Today, we were off to find them a hiding place. And, if we were lucky, to find an escape for my sweet Ava Grace.
Time was of the essence. I wanted to surprise her by decorating the raft with the wildflowers and setting up a picnic before she arrived. For all I knew, I wouldn’t see her again until the next summer … if I got to see her again at all. I’d had a growing crush on Ms. Ava Grace. It was time I let her know, and I wanted to make the day special for her. For both of us.
With my grin spreading from ear to ear, she made her way toward me. I knew I had done something pretty special when she covered her