Benches

[Catherine Woodruff]

Catherine relished what might have been their last kiss. She didn't know how she was being so strong and holding herself together. Reeves was the first true friend she'd ever had and so much more. When he stepped away from her the small space between them seemed like thousands of miles. She looked deep into his eyes and felt all he was feeling. She smiled back at him, her smile fading as she backed away slowly before turning completely and walking away.

[sarahjacobs]

[New Day]

Every once in a while, Sarah caught time out of her somewhat busy day and took advantage of the opportunity. The early afternoon was warm, but her the wide brimmed hat she wore provided ample shade from the sun's rays. She lived the timid, controlled life of someone many years her senior and the leisurely activity she was partaking in today was no different. She sat working on her latest needlepoint project, an activity that to some would see as boring, but to her it was relaxing.

[trex]

Rex walked down the paths of Central park slowly, moseying along, his hands shoved in his pockets, just taking in the breeze, a small grin on his face, his blue eyes lit up and taking in his surroundings every so often. His shift at the stables was done already, he had walked off a little early because he had been energetic all day and did all his chores quickly and efficiently. He spent some time patting some of the horses and brushing them, before heading off to spend the afternoon in Manhattan. He loved Queens, its just there was no place like Central Park.

From ahead, he saw a girl sitting on a bench, hidden behind a sun hat. The park was so quiet at this time of day. Rex sighed, shaking his head, it needed to be a little louder, just a little bit. Maybe the girl was enjoying her needlework, but it couldn't be that exciting could it? Rex decided to brighten up his day, as well as hers. He jumped onto the bench from behind and did a front flip off it, landing on his feet, but stumbling a little, doing a small somersault before he jumped up and grinned energetically at her, and cried out, "Tada!" before brushing the dust off his pants, still grinning at the brown haired, brown eyed girl.

[sarahjacobs]

Sarah jumped and gasped as the very odd boy jumped and landed in front of her. What on earth was wrong with him, she thought to herself. She moved a little further down on the bench and kept her head down, working a little faster on her needlepoint. She did grin, not wanting to offend who she perceived as a lunatic. Her heat still pounded from the shock she was given and there were no more chirping birds in the trees above. Obviously he had scared them off too.

[trex]

Rex watched her jump in surprise, and scoot away from him, his grin fading a little. She worked furiously on her needlework, and Rex had the idea she did not like his trick one bit at all. In fact she looked a little scared of him. Rex would never hurt a fly, and he wasn't crazy...not really, only energetic.

He tugged on his lucky clover guiltily, looking down at the ground, moving some of the dirt on the path around with his shoe before he spoke, "I'm sorry, miss, I shouldn'ta done that, didn't mean ta scare you like that..."

[sarahjacobs]

Sarah glanced at him from the corner of her eye, slowing down on her embroidery. It was true he didn't look dangerous, but they never did. "You can sit if you'd like," she offered, continuing to work and not really looking at him. She still wasn't sure about this boy.

[trex]

"You can sit if you'd like,"

Rex nodded and smiled, being careful to sit on the bench instead of plop or bounce like he might usually. He looked over at her needlework, and scooted over a tiny bit so he could look at it. He liked any art.

He watched her make the tiny details, his blue eyes filled with awe. He just watched her work for a little while before asking, "Who taught you how to do that? Its nice...fancy."

[sarahjacobs]

Sarah smiled slightly when he called her work fancy. She didn't see it that way, but could see how other people might. "Thank you. My mama showed me." Actually, it was her grandmother who had started her on needlepoint, but after she passed Sarah had given it up. A few years afterward, her mother convinced her it was a good trade for a woman to have and taught her more intricate designs and patterns

She visibly relaxed a little, thinking maybe he wasn't as crazy as she initially thought.

[trex]

"Thank you. My mama showed me."

Rex sighed, every time he saw somebody doing art, it made him want to do art, and he had nothing but a couple smashed up pieces of pastel, he grinned, pastel! He could draw a picture on the bench! If anybody sat there and looked close enough, they would be intrigued by a little picture! Rex grinned energetically, he thought it would be a good idea.

He took out a white pastel, some pink, and yellow, and red. He turned around and sat backwards on the bench, looking for a good place to start. He found a nice smooth part and grinned, starting to scratch in with some red, he would add layer by layer, until he would add the yellow sun. Sunset Sky, he decided with a determined smile. Art was art, didn't matter where you did it, just make a nice picture. That was Rex's motto.

[sarahjacobs]

Sarah watched as he took out colorful utensils. Her eyes drifted to the corner before she turned her head to see him drawing on the bench. A quaint smile brightened her features as she stifled a small laugh. "What are you doing?"

[trex]

Rex grinned back with a shrug, "I'm doing the same thing you are. Making art. I don't have a piece of paper...so the bench will just hafta do!"

He kept on coloring, his brow furrowed in concentration and he bit his lip, he was always very intent in his art. He added an orange layer, than pink, than white, and then tugged out his yellow.

[sarahjacobs]

Sarah looked at Rex's drawing on the bench a moment longer before returning to her needlepoint. It was true, he was a peculiar young man, but at least he valued artwork and was pretty good at it himself. At least what she could see of it scribbled in the cracks of the bench was nice looking.

[trex]

As Rex was filling in the yellow sun, he realized he had never introduced himself. He turned and said, "Oh, I forgot to tell ya my name. It's Rex. What bout' you miss?"

He thought she was nice, even if she was a little quiet. She was pretty and graceful, even you could go as far as to say eloquent, even if she wasn't exactly high class. Rex gave her a small shy grin and then looked down at his black work boots.

[celestia]

*New Day*

Even with crossed legs and a straight back, Celestia could not shake the look of boredom with her arm draped lazily over the back of the bench while her other hand held her closed parasol. Days such as these never interested her too much. Summer never was her favorite season. It was often too hot and not much shade. Then there were the street children who played in the fountain like hippos. She sighed. A nice swim could very well relax her, however. Maybe she'd stop by the beach later on.

[roxie]

Roxie had decided to leave her boring house today, and take a walk. Her father wanted her to meet some new people, he was convinced that she would be married before she was twenty. Of course, Roxie had different plans. Her parents could get what they wanted out of Minnie, she would do anything for her parents. Good old obedient Minnie. She was nothing but an obnoxious, boring, prude. In all honesty, Roxie was surprised Minnie hasn't told anyone her secret yet. It was only a matter of time...

She twirled her parasol idly, and pulled her fan out of her purse. It was a dreadfully hot day. Roxie didn't like the heat, it would ruin her hair, and make her look hot and sweaty, and just unappealing. The upper class shouldn't ever look hot, or be sweaty. That was for the lower class, it was acceptable for them to look barbaric.

Speaking of looking barbaric...Roxie turned to see children playing in the fountain. She cringed, they were playing in the fountain like dirty animals. Roxie shuddered and then turned to see a young lady, she looked bored, and looked familiar. So, Roxie decided to sit next to her, and perhaps have a conversation.

"Dreadful, isn't it?" She said, sitting down, and fanning herself.