Dragonfly Illusions

by EpicNinjaWriter in Oregon

               The sunset was just slipping down over the horizon, and long, purplish shadows slowly made their way up the sides of the boats in the harbor. The water was still except for tiny ripples shimmering across the murky blue. It wasn't quite dark, and the air was still hazy and peaceful. My bare feet slipped and slid on the dock as I ran. At the end of the pier, I sat down and let the cool water wash over my toes. This was where I wanted to be, not in an apartment downtown. The dusk was mine, folding my golden-brown hair back around the sleeves of my blue jacket.

                Footsteps announced the arrival of someone behind me. I didn't look up. "Kira?" came the voice. I drew in a hard breath. "Kira, it's okay. It's just me." my older brother, Logan, said as he sat down next to me. A car whooshed past in the distance. I stared across the water, breathing in its soft smell. "I don't want to go." I finally whispered. Logan nodded slowly. He knew how I felt. Mom and Dad had announced at dinner that night that Dad had gotten a new job in town. The news was good, because Dad had been out of work for a long time, but the words stung. We were moving.

                I had lived all my life in the city of Lake Oswego. It was home. Now we were going to have to move downtown, to the busy streets and sounds of Portland, to an apartment and no dock and no pier and no soft dusk air or rustling water. Mom says we have to find the best thing about moving and embrace it, but I couldn't think of anything good at all. Well, maybe Dad's new job was the good thing, but if it meant moving to a new school and a new home and a new life, it wasn't the best thing. My head spun. Logan's eyes met mine, respecting the silence of just sitting there.

                After a while, I stood up. "Logan," I said. "I don't want to move. I really, really don't. I want to stay here, in our house. I want to be able to come down to the dock and think. I want this." I spread my arms and gestured at the lake, the disappearing sunset, and the winding roads just beyond. Logan stood too. We put on our wet sneakers and began the walk up the road towards home. "Maybe, Kira," Logan said thoughtfully. "We could convince Mom and Dad to keep checking for more jobs. I mean, I bet they don't want to move either." My heart jumped. Maybe, just maybe, there was something about Dad's new job that wasn't quite perfect. And what if Logan was right, what if Mom and Dad wanted to stay in Lake Oswego just as much as we did?

                That night, I lay awake in bed, listening to the summer rain plink against my window. I thought of how each drop was like a day left in Lake Oswego. Soon the rain would be over. Saturday, three days away, we would be moving. I lay my head on the pillow and fell asleep before I could hear the last drop slip down the glass.

**********

                 It was still raining when I woke up the next morning. Maybe that was a good sign. I dressed slowly and wandered out into the kitchen. "Mmm-mm. Pancakes!" I said as I slid into my place. Mom placed a steaming plate in front of me and I began to eat. Soon Dad and Logan joined us. After a few moments, Logan put down his fork. "Mom and Dad?" He asked. "Can't Dad find a job somewhere in Lake Oswego?" I steeled my self for her reaction. "Oh, honey." Mom said. Uh-oh, I thought. Here it comes, the old 'oh honey we're so sorry' speech. I didn't want to hear it again. I was about to jump from the table when Mom went on. "Didn't you hear? Your father's boss called last night. He said they can't find a replacement, so he has his job back!"

                 I couldn't help but smile as Logan began to eat again, with as much gusto as ever. We were staying in Lake Oswego.