Glenn had always been the older boy up at the end of the street, friendly and always saying “hello” as he went by. When he was fifteen, my parents decided he was old enough to babysit my nine-year-old self. I’d complained about this, everything from anger to pouting, because being babysat by my crush made me just that, a baby. I was mortified when he’d arrived and my parents left.
First thing he did was turn off the TV. “Let’s do something. TV is such a waste.”
I had no idea what he intended and felt myself diminished at having no suggestions.
Seeing my plight, he said, “Let’s go for a walk.”
“But it’s nighttime.”
“All the better.”
We put on jackets and walked the half mile to town, every step pure joy for me as I felt so grown up beside him. Everything but restaurants was closed, bu
