Leap of Faith

I was sixteen years old and this was the first time that I had been
sent to my bedroom for being naughty. I hadn't even been naughty, but
that had been Daddy's reasoning. In truth, all I had done was to skip a
ballet class in favor of going to the drive-in with Alek. Tears pulled
at my eyes as I strolled across my room, nearly tripping on the steps
down, and hit the on button for my radio, letting the angry notes of
the heavy metal flow into my room like water, drowning out anything
else that remained. I returned back to where I had been sitting, on the
wicker chair out on the balcony, and looked at my backyard. Secretly, I
was hoping to spy Alek wandering around outside so that I could have
somebody to talk to, but I knew that Daddy had most likely sent him
away and forbade him to return. The wind blew lightly, hardly even
enough to fly a kite, and the air had the distinct feel of a perfect
summer night. It had cooled enough for you to be chilly if you still
wore your day clothes, and the humidity had dropped slightly, leaving
the atmosphere only a little sticky. As it began to darken even more,
the automatic lights around the pool and throughout the gardens began
to snap on at the same time as the stars came out and the fireflies
began to be noticeable. It really was perfect. Except for the fact that
I had to stay in my bedroom.

"Hey&;#8230;Rosie! Rosie, you up there kid?" Alek stage-whispered at
me after too long a time of complete bored bliss.

"Yes. And don't call me kid" I whispered back.

"Let's hang out. Come on down. I'll catch you"

I looked down at the ground, and over to the brick walls. It was only
about 20 feet. I could make that. Couldn't I? But I'd read someplace
that 50\\\% of 20 foot falls were fatal. I couldn't do that. He did say
he would catch me though. And I would be landing on grass, not
something hard like cement or gravel. I'd be fine. It didn't look that
far. Then again, neither did the bottom of the pool, which was too deep
for anybody to stand in. Maybe I shouldn't jump. I'd hurt myself, and
then I'd be in even more trouble.

"Um&;#8230;"

"What's the matter? Chicken?"

"No. Just&;#8230;well&;#8230;how about you come up here?"

"I could do that. But then we can't go get ice cream" I studied the
drop again, and thought about ice cream.

"Not worth it. It might hurt falling"

"Kid, it's the landing that hurts, and I told you that I'd catch
you"

"Well&;#8230;"

"Come on. I promise I won't let you get hurt."

"I suppose&;#8230;you promise?"

"If you get hurt, I'll play fair at monopoly next
time. How's that?"

"Ok&;#8230;here I go" And I jumped, closing my eyes as soon as I
slid off the smooth wrought iron of the balustrade. The air as I fell
wrapped around me like a satin cocoon, and I emerged with a thud as I
landed in Alek's arms and we both ended up to the ground.

"Are you hurt?" He asked, picking a piece of grass from my hair.

"No&;#8230;I think I'm good. Are you ok?"

"I'm fine. Don't worry about me. Now, now that you're free again, what
would you like to do?"

"Well, you did mention something about ice cream&;#8230;"

"Of course. Drive-up?"

"Is there any other place?"