Memory Lane

A young Ethan lingers by a pond that could have been a lake, lazily watching the sun wane in the sky.

He was twelve, barely, and currently alone. The other kids, whom he spent most of the day swimming with, had already gone home, but Ethan decided to hang back, at least for a moment. He didn't really have a reason, he just didn't feel quite like ending the day yet, although the sun seemed to have other plans. Sighing, knowing getting back after dark would be trouble, he pulled himself to his feet, starting what he knew was going to be a long walk.

Making his way to the road, he casts a glance over at Bobby's house, which was quite close by. He’d been in a few times during the afternoon, it being the closest bathroom, and with peeing in the lake allegedly being quite frowned upon. While looking at the house, he notes a figure on the porch, a small familiar shape he’d not seen in a while.

He pays the figure no heed, turning his gaze towards the road home. He barely reaches it before he hears somebody calling his name.

“Ethan!” A small voice calls, “Ethan!”

Halting and turning, Ethan notes the tiny figure from the porch closing in, their vague shape taking form: Little Alex chasing after him.

Reaching him, the younger kid pants heavily, clearly out of breath from the mad dash. “Ethan!”

“Hi…” Ethan regards Alex closely, having not seen her all summer. She's taller, slightly, but other than that the only notable change is her hair is a fair amount longer.

Breathing a little better, but far from evenly, the black-haired kid swallows hard. “Happy Birthday, Ethan.”

“Oh, uh…” his birthday was a week ago, but he definitely knew pointing it out was rude. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Alex shifts from foot to foot, clearly working up to saying more. “I saw you playing from my window. I wanted to say it sooner but,” she shrugs her shoulders. “But I don’t like swimming.”

“Aha,” Ethan lifts his gaze to the house behind her. “So, you… waited?”

“Uh-huh.”

“You know you could have just came over and… not swam, right?”

Alex’s jaw slacks for a moment, thoughts whirling in her head. Clearly, she didn't think about it that way. But, if Ethan remembered right, she was only nine. Nine year olds were dumb.

Ethan shakes his head slightly, trying to push the thought out. He peed in her toilet today, so he was technically her guest. Grandpa had been very particular about being courteous to hosts lately after a few lapses in manners. Ethan decided then he was going to manners the pants off the rest of this interaction.

“But, I’m happy you waited.” He pivots, trying to turn the decision to wait into a good thing. “Because it means more when you do it one-on-one.”

Alex tilts her head. “Does it?”

Ethan was pretty sure it did. Or maybe he was getting birthday wishes confused with something else. Either way, this was his bed of manners, and he was going to lie in it.

“It does. And might I say…” Compliment time, Ethan scanned the child again, trying to find something to focus on. “I love what you’re doing with your hair.”

Alex reaches for her black mop, twisting a lock between two fingers. “My hair?”

“Yes. It looks very nice. You look good with long hair.”

“Ah-oh…” Alex’s cheeks turn pink, her pale complexion making it seem all the worse. “Th-thank you…”

“Eh,” Ethan wavers. He didn't expect her to blush. Why is she blushing? Is it polite to blush? “You’re welcome.”

“So,” Alex looks at the captured lock, her blue eyes fixated on it. “You like long hair?”

“On myself? Oh no, but, uh,” Ethan feels the manners well running dry, “I like it on girls.”

Alex looks up, past her hair to Ethan. “Girls?”

“Yeah. Girls.” Ethan winces, thinking he should have said ‘women’ instead. That’s much more polite, right? “Like you.”

“Ah,” Alex starts to say something, but cuts herself off, her lips quivering. Ethan, so caught up in his manners, doesn't even notice Alex’s face light up with joy. “Th-thank you…”

“You’re very welcome.” ‘Very welcome’ is much more polite than just ‘welcome’. Ethan sighs, feeling like his work is done. “Well, I need to go home. See ya around.”

“See ya…” Alex echoes, watching Ethan closely.

Turning, satisfied with manners well executed, Ethan marches home, feeling great after making manners his bitch.