Simon met me at the bus depot, wearing a leather vest with fringes—quite trendy. His hair was longer. He'd mentioned in one of his letters that he was growing it out because I'd said crewcuts were going out of style.
The sky was clear, the city golden in the late-afternoon light. Pine trees and greening sagebrush dotted the mountainsides. "Welcome to Sage City," Simon said with a slow smile.
I saw bashfulness and uncertainty in his eyes. Or maybe I imagined them because I felt bashful and uncertain myself. Was Simon my boyfriend or potential boyfriend? If so, how should I act with him?
"How was your trip?" he asked, his big square hands clasping the handles of my suitcases.
"Fine, thanks." I swung my backpack over my shoulders.
As we headed into the parking lot, Simon adjusting his steps to mine, I wished I could think of something interesting to say to him. I would have if I'd been writing to him instead of seeing him in person.
A pair of mourning doves ambled across the lot near Simon's Volkswagen, their heads bobbing. As we approached the birds, they flapped up into a cottonwood tree and sat there cuddling, sure of their relationship.
If you'd like to read more about Susie, Simon, and Sage City (Kamloops fictionalized), ask for my novel SONG FOR SUSIE EPP in a bookstore or library. Or order it from an online seller such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, or Chapters Indigo. https://www.indigo.ca/en-ca/search?q=Elma+Schemenauer&search-button=&lang=en_CA
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