Catherine Kos – Author

Happy Sunday!

Here’s another short story based on the first glance of a random photo.

Here goes:

On a Hot Summer Day

It wasn’t supposed to happen like that. It was a hot day, and when Trevor went to the pool, he was intending to have a nice relaxing day by the pool. He just wanted to cool down. He walked into between the open gate of the chain link fence and found an empty spot along the fence to hang his towel. He’d walked from home so he left his phone and wallet there. All he had on him was a towel, his flip flops, and sunglasses. He places his flip flops under his towel and took off towards the pool, moving past the moms coddling their crying children and the elderly that were edging their way around the deck. He slid into the water at the deep end, resting his arms and back along the edge of the pool. He leaned back, the warm sun shining on his face. He closes his eyes behind his sunglasses and lets out a sigh, content. He hadn’t been back to town in a year, and he couldn’t not come back for summer. Sure, he could have stayed at college if he had the money but he wasn’t prepared for an extra semester. That left Trevor with one option: going home. Even if there were lots of people who didn’t want to see him, he knew at least his mother would. And she welcomed him with open arms. And she tolerated the fact that he hadn’t left the house for two weeks. Then, this morning she kicked him out. “Get out,” she said after she’d dumped a bucket of cold water on his head. “Leave the house. Go to the store, walk down the street, I don’t care. But I need space and I need you to leave the house.”
“Alright,” he groaned, and got up before deciding to go to the pool. The pool should be safe, he thought as he was walking out of the house. Trevor made it about half an hour. Half an hour of pure silence. Of course, that’s not including the kids screaming as they jump in and out of the water or the mother who’s incessantly yelling for her son to stop trying to drown his sister. Aside from that, he had peace. Until the whispers started. It took one person who thought they recognized his face to start and then the rumor mill started and everyone was whispering loud enough for Trevor to hear. He didn’t notice it at first, until he heard someone near him say, “Is that the guy that burned down the police station two years ago?” His eyes snapped opened and he looked up to see an older woman staring at him from the other side of the pool. Time to go, Trevor thinks and pulls himself out of the pool. He slides his feet into his flip flops and reaches for his towel. “What do you think you’re doing here?” Craig Suttler asks, stepping into Trevor’s way.Craig Suttler is the Sheriff’s son. Of course, he hates Trevor for messing with his dad’s job but also for stealing his girlfriend. “Just came for a swim,” Trevor tells him honestly, holding his hands up in surrender to show that he really didn’t mean to start problems. “You should know you’re not welcome here,” Craig says. “I’ve lived here all my life, just like you, Craig,” Trevor says, curling his lips. “I can go wherever I please.” “Is that so?” Trevor was prepared for the fist that came flying at his head, but when he backed up he wasn’t considering how close to the pool he was. He dodged the fist, but fell backwards into the pool. Of course when he came to, Craig was grinning like he just found gold. Trevor watched as the Sheriff came through the fence next. “Trevor Stevens. Been a long time,” the Sherriff says. “Sherriff.” “Come on out, boy,” the Sheriff says, motioning to him. Trevor once again climbed out of the pool, and follows the Sheriff out of the pool deck. It takes a while for the people in the pool to settle, to go back to their business. For more than a few minutes they watch after the Sheriff and the boy who made a mistake, the water still, the only thing moving is Trevor’s sunglasses as they float down to the bottom of the pool, completely forgotten. It was supposed to happen like that.

The end.