A pretty thing, she had almost outgrown childhood - almost. She wavered at that difficult in-between stage - no longer a child, not yet a woman. Her body gave soft curving to her jeans; her blonde hair was long, a bit stringy; the features on her young face well defined, free of blemishes.
With one bare foot firmly planted on a wooden skateboard, she vigorously pushed with other and scooted down Brunswick Street like she knew where she was going. As she rolled up a driveway and coasted along the concrete, she spread her arms, eagle-like, and balanced herself adeptly on the small board.
Possessing the grace of a figure skater, she bent her body and maneuvered around light poles, dogs and people, never faltering in her control of the wheeled magic. She waved as she passed. And a red flip flop was tucked in the each of the back pockets of her faded jeans.
Upon reaching Cherry Street, she stopped suddenly, jerked up her board, looked both ways and ran across the street. On the other side, she dropped the board to the sidewalk and resumed the fine balancing act.
Again, she stopped, this time at the drugstore. Cradling the board under her arm, she pushed open the glass door. Inside, she strolled along the aisle, stopping to touch the jewelry, smell the perfume, glimpse at a comic book.
Furtively, she glanced around the almost empty store. She motioned for the clerk and quickly exchanged money for the items. Her dialogue was soft, barely audible. The clerk strained to hear but nodded as she extended the packaged purchase.
Ripping open the bag, the youth stuffed the newly acquired tube of lip gloss in her front pocket and filled her mouth with a wad of gum.
Like a startled deer, she darted from the store, letting the torn bag fall from her hand. Outside, she again placed the board on the walk and fled down the street. The wind blew her hair and she breathed deeply, inhaling the freshness.
In front of the post office, she slowed her pace, coming full stop near a parked car. Again, she glanced around, surveying the almost deserted street. Taking advantage of the car’s side mirror, she hurriedly applied the lip gloss, caressing one lip against the other. She smiled at her reflection; then slowly blew a bubble. Skateboard Queen.
1979
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