He had been watching Mae for over a year now. She moved in last summer with her father, stepmother, two brothers and baby sister. Roland wasn’t normally the type watch a girl so closely. Epically one so young. But he couldn’t help himself. She was so enticing. Her brown hair waved like the ocean on a calm morning. Her eyes sparkled green, yellow and brown. They suggested a sunflower. Her body was delicate and had only just began to blossom.
Roland had been counting the days until summer. When he could take his ice cream truck out. He could imagine Mae skipping up to his truck in her red bikini. A huge smile on her face. This was not really Roland. He wasn’t a predator. He had never dated a girl more than two years younger than him. He preferred them to be at least five years older. But Mae had bewitched him that pervious summer.
Now it was finally the day he had waited for. Roland made sure his uniform was bleached and pressed to perfection. He didn’t want to look sloppy in front of Mae. Having not seen her in seven months. Roland lived in a shady apartment on the dirty side of town. But when he picked up his ice cream rout in April he got to see the nicer, perfect part of town. It was only fitting that Mae lived there.
It was two o’clock and not many kids were out of school yet. Mostly grumpy teenagers. One girl tried to flirt with Roland but he simply gave her, her popsicle and change and drove on. Seconds went by sluggishly. Finally it was three thirty and Roland could see Mae’s street. The children heard the truck’s music and rushed back inside to get money.
Roland thought he had seen Mae but he wasn’t sure. Children of all ages poured into the street. Money clenched in their fists. He knew the regulars. Fudge-sicle for the twins. Andy and Andi. A rocket pop for baby Frank. They were all so excited. Some couldn’t decide if they should try something new or stick with the old. At last Mae came up to the counter of the truck. She was always last.
“Strawberry short cake bar Mae?” Roland asked cheerfully.
“I don’t know. Mom says I’m older and I should try new things. She said if I always so the same thing I will never know what else is out there.”
“How old are you now Miss Mae?”
“I turned thirteen last week,” Mae blushed. “How old are you Roland?” Mae asked trying not to sound too curious.
“Not very old,” Roland laughed. “I’ll be twenty eight in July.”
“Oh,” Mae wondered if that was old. “We’re going out of town in July.”
They talked for a few more minutes. For Roland it was enough to keep him smiling all day and into the night. Roland was distressed that Mae would be gone for the whole month of July. He thought about what he would do to keep his spirits up that month.
Roland walked into a gift shop between his ill-favored apartment and paradise. He browsed for a few minutes. He picked up a stuffed dog but decided it was too childish. Then a candle. Too impersonal. Then he saw the perfect gift. It was a snow globe with a tiny ice cream truck inside. A little girl, that resembled Mae, was reaching up to the ice cream man. He was handing her a pink heart shaped ice cream bar. When you shook it confetti shaped like ice cream cones and hearts swirled around the globe.
Roland bought it and had it gift wrapped. It was perfect he thought to himself. Only Mae would be able to decipher the hidden message of love. Every one else who saw it would just think a nice ice cream truck driver gave a little girl a birthday gift.
The next day went by even slower than the pervious. The same teenage girl tried to flirt with him. Roland decided she was only doing it to get free ice cream. At three thirty the children on Mae’s street came racing out to greet him. He saw Mae instantly. She bounced into sight wearing a red tank top and cut off shorts. Apparently she had just been in in a water fight. Roland could see little droplets of water glistening on her caramel skin. Her face flushed when she caught Roland watching her.
“I got you something,” Roland placed the box on the counter. No one else was around. All scattered to enjoy their treats. “A belated birthday present.”
Mae brightened. She loved gifts. Her eyes became even more illuminated when she saw what was inside. The man in the truck looked just like Roland and the girl getting the heart was her spitting image. “It’s beautiful Roland! Thank you so much. Did you make it?”
“I- well- yeah, I made it just for you.” What was the harm in lying? She’d never know. And that was its even more special.
~
“I leave tomorrow,” Mae said eyes tingling from the ache in her heart. “I won’t be back for four weeks.”
Roland eyes threatened to release his ache as well. Over the months they had grown closer. Mae had even snuck out one night to meet him at a café. That night had been magical. He had wanted to invite Mae back to his apartment but decided it was best not to. Wait for her to make the first move. “Four weeks isn’t that long,” Roland finally said. Mae must really care about him if she was this upset.
~
When Mae came back Roland was the happiest he had ever been. During her absence he had not cared much for anything. Eating, sleeping, socializing, all seemed worthless and unfamiliar. Mae ran to greet Roland holding a gift bag in her hands. When she reached the truck she gingerly placed it in front of Roland.
“Open it already!” Mae squealed.
Inside was a snow globe carefully wrapped in red tissue paper. Inside the globe two people were laying on a beach blanket. Looking closer the boy and girl resembled Roland and Mae. Roland was amazed she had remembered his birthday and she had found the perfect present.
“There was a man in Fiji that will make anything you want and put it in a snow globe,” Mae gushed. “It took him only three days to make this. I was so excited. I could hardly believe my luck.”
“I love it. Mae I love you,” Roland was shocked at his forwardness.
“I-I love you too. I was afraid you didn’t feel the same way. So I never said anything,” Mae was so happy she could hardly contain herself.
Roland’s heart felt like it was going to stop. Had she really said that? She really felt the same?
“Do you want to come over tonight after my parents are asleep?” Mae’s cheeks turned an embarrassed pink.
“If you think that is a good idea,” his head was unsure but his body knew what it wanted. Mae gave him her cell phone number and programmed his into her cell phone.
“I’ll call you when they’re for sure asleep,” Mae was giddy with joy. She had never kissed a boy. Let alone had one in her room.
~
“Shhh,” Mae giggled as Roland climbed through her window. “We don’t want to wake the two headed beast in the room down the hall.” Mae was in a large t-shirt and boxers. She had wanted to wear something sexy but didn’t have anything and didn’t have time to go shopping.
Mae pulled Roland on to her twin size bed. He pulled her close. Breathing her in. Sweat, dirt, honey, and youth. Roland felt himself harden a little but forced himself to stay calm. It was way too early for that. Mae hadn’t noticed anything. She rested her head near his neck. Her breathing was enough to drive him wild. But Roland controlled himself. They cuddled for hours. It was time for Roland to go far too soon.
“I love you,” Mae whispered into Roland’s ear.
“You too my love,” Roland said as he slipped out the window.
This carried on for weeks. Well into the new school year. Every once in a while Roland would go a little bit farther. He kissed her with a closed mouth. Then he kissed her many times all over her bare skin. Then her kissed her with his tongue. Mae liked that a lot. Kissing her on her neck drover her up the wall. He began to grope her over the large t-shirt. Then removed it and cupped her small breasts. It took weeks and weeks to get to this point.
On night at the end of October Roland arrived and Mae was completely naked. She spread her legs for him and Roland gladly tasted her for the first time. Mae put a pillow over her head to muffle her sighs. Roland had never planned for so much to happen but as he ate her he was glad it had. She was perfect. Pure. Roland was the first man to explore her body.
The next night Roland couldn’t wait for two a.m. so he arrived at midnight. He craved her soft body. Mae stood in front of her mirror in her regular t-shirt. Roland could see her panties just below the hem of the shirt. He came up behind Mae and lightly felt her breasts. They had grown slightly since the beginning of summer. Roland let one hand drop and find her already wet through her panties but Roland stayed on top of her clothes. Mae leaned her head back to look at Roland then looked back to the mirror.
“Mae darling,” her mother walked in. “Oh my gosh. What the hell are you doing to my daughter?” Her mother screamed but before anyone else had a chance to come in Roland jumped out the window. He could hear screams behind him but didn’t turn back to see the fight.
Mae called hem the next day while she was at school.
“They didn’t recognize you. My mom called the cops and gave them the worst description. You came out looking like the guy who took all those kids downtown. I convinced them you weren’t that old. I said you were eighteen. I told them we’re in love and they don’t need to look for you,” she told him everything that had gone on since last night’s intrusion.
“I should lay low for a while,” Roland said somberly. He was so confused. “You shouldn’t call me either. They might track your phone calls. When its safe I’ll come for you.”
“I love you Roland,” Mae sobbed.
“I love you Mae,” Roland hung up the phone.
~
April arrived not soon enough. Roland hadn’t seen or spoken with Mae in six months. His heart thumped in his chest like a frightened bird. But when he finally arrived at Mae’s street he didn’t see her. Ther were even more children than last year so he just told himself she was mixed in there.
The last girl in line asked for a strawberry shortcake bar.
“Are we still hiding Roland?”
The girl looked up at him. She was older and taller than Mae. Her skin was pale and dark circles loomed beneath her eyes. This couldn’t be Mae he thought. Her hair was colored black and her make up matched. She wore a short, black, rippled skirt and a red tank top. Roland looked into her eyes. They suggested sunflowers.
“It’s you,” Roland whispered in disbelief. “What happened to you?”
“I’ve been in mourning since October,” Mae said trying to hide the hurt.
“You got so old,” Roland tried to hid the disgust. She wasn’t perfect any more. She wasn’t pure and youthful. Age had hit her hard and now she was just a grumpy teenager.
~
He had been watching Julia for over a year now. She moved in last summer. Roland wasn’t normally the type watch a girl so closely. Epically one so young. But he couldn’t help himself.
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