Petrichor--Alexis

Cindy Gordon
Cindy Gordon’s husband didn’t love her anymore. However, Cindy decided two first class tickets to Hawaii would change that. If she could get him back to where they swam with turtles and tried octopus for the first time, she knew they’d fall in love again. So, early Monday morning, Cindy woke up to give him a surprise birthday present. She knelt down by his ear and whispered “Happy Birthday!” Slowly, he sat up rubbing his eyes. “I told you I didn’t want to celebrate.” Cindy replied, “I-I know, but I couldn’t wait to give you your gift!” She pulled out the tickets and laid them in front of him. Blankly he stared at the tickets without saying anything. Cindy smiled and said, “We leave in an hour, and don’t worry I already worked everything out and packed our bags.” After a moment he let out a deep sigh and said, “I have a 7:00 A.M. shift at the hospital. Did you call and tell them about our little trip?” Cindy’s smile faded and she shook her head. Scoffing he said, “Looks like you didn’t work it all out then.” Cindy quietly mumbled sorry and began to walk away. Letting out another sigh, he said, “Cind, wait. Maybe Diane can cover for me.” Wiping a tear away, she turned around, “Yeah, maybe.” Cindy knew Diane would do anything for her husband. Cindy Gordon knew her husband didn’t love her anymore. 

Diane Walch
Diane Walch was supposed to have Monday off. Unfortunately, a 6:00 A.M. ringtone woke her up. “Hawaii? With her? You said you were going to leave her and now you’re going to Hawaii together?” she said half awake. “Mondays are my days off, I have to take Sam to school, you know that.” Listening to his excuses, she closed her eyes. “This is the last time, and I’m not talking about filling in, I mean believing you...love you too.” Reluctantly, Diane got ready and ran downstairs. “SAM, BREAKFAST!” In an instant, a little boy in a stained t-shirt and mismatched socks came running down. Diane shuffled through her purse looking for her keys and said, “I just got called into work, I’m so sorry. I know I said I’d take you to school but do you think you can ride your bike? I can ask Ms. Walters next door if she can take you.” Sam shook his head, “Her car smells like cat litter, I’ll ride my bike.” Diane giggled, “Be nice! And please take Kindle, Elm has no sidewalks.” She said she loved him and closed the door, but all Diane Walch could think was that she was supposed to have Monday off. 

Eric Carter
Eric Carter had a crush on Stacy Steinbeck since sophomore year. For as long as he like liked her though, he had never talked to her, until last week. “Hey, it’s Eric right?” she said as she leaned against a locker. Confused Eric asked, “Yeah?” Stacy smiled and popped her gum. “Well, Eric, you know Jason Mendes? He’s having a party Sunday night and I’m going, you should go to.” Standing up straighter Eric smiled and said, “O-Ok.” “Great, just make sure to bring a few cases of beer and chips, Doritos are my favorite.” “Yeah of course, I’ll be there,” Eric said and nonchalantly folded his arms. Eric kept his word. He snuck out, stole his dad’s Mustang, bought the beer and chips and arrived at Jason’s, where he found Stacy Steinbeck making out with some somebody and a beer already in her hand. Eric wasn’t shocked, but it still hurt. After deciding to not let his beers go to waste, Eric had a few and then drove home, or tried at least, the pouring rain didn’t help much. While turning onto Kindle, Eric hit a few cars before crashing his

dad’s into a tree. The rest of the night became a blur. All Eric Carter would remember is the sirens, his dad’s crushed Mustang and that he no longer had a crush on Stacy Steinbeck. 

Zoey Cooper
Zoey Cooper was a “big girl.” She could tie her own shoes and pour her own juice, even screw the lid on. On Monday morning, Zooey was sitting in the back of her dad’s Mercedes on her way to school. As her dad turned on Elm Street, Zoey’s cup fell down knocking the not so tightly closed lid off, spilling fruit punch all over her dad’s seats. “ZOEY!” Her dad yelled as he quickly turned around to pick up the cup. Zoey cried, “I’m so sorry daddy” over and over right up until the moment her dad’s Mercedes hit something in the road. After seeing the little boy lying still on the ground, Zoey Cooper became a “big girl.” 

Sam Walch
Sam Walch loved the smell of rain. He was on his way to school Monday morning and meant to take Kindle Street. However, due to an accident, he had to take Elm Street. He made sure to stay as close to the front lawns as possible. It had just rained the night before for the first time in a while, and Sam had almost forgotten the scent. While pedaling down Elm Street, he took a deep breath and closed his eyes. It was just for a second, but it was enough. Sam opened his eyes just in time to see a Mercedes coming quickly towards him, impossible to avoid. It would only be a moment in time, but it would be his last. Many would blame Elm Street for not having sidewalks, but they’d never know it was much more than that. It was Cindy Gordon wanting her husband to love her again. It was Diane Walch not having Monday off. It was Eric Carter having a crush on Stacy Steinbeck. It was Zoey Cooper being a “big girl.” It was Sam Walch loving the smell of rain.