• Once a year.


    I always forgot about it, I would be having a crazy schools out summer and then all of a sudden it would be there. Once a year, I would go to a family reunion. Once a year I would follow my grandmother around the old school house saying hello to my aunts as they comment on how, tall, beautiful, and slim I am. Once a year, we would eat all the home-cooked food my relatives had brought. Once a year, my cousin would arrive. Once a year, we would stay away from each other for a while before he and I would finally go to play basketball with the little kids. Once a year, we would sit on the auditorium stage and talk about school. Once a year, we would comment on how the little kids will be us one day. Running around the school, having summer fun. Once a year, we would go to the exercise room and fight over turning off the light switches. Once a year, we would go out to the creek and skip rocks. Once a year, we would run to the play ground and act like we where five. Once a year, we would set off on a survival trip into the wood. That only lasted about 10 minutes. Once a year, we would climb the old trees. Once a year, we would talk about changing the letters on the school sign, but we both knew we wouldn't. Once a year, we would come back from our summer adventures. Tired and red in the face. Once a year, we would linger around until we where the last ones left. Once a year, we would help load everything back into the cars.

    Then Once a Year, we would say goodbye briefly. Once a Year, I would leave without a hug or anything. Until next year, when we would do it all over again.