Beneath the Pear Tree

Penelope Washington had never distinguished or reckoned what true love really felt like until the summer of 1995. She would be turning 16 in June. Her grandparents Ulysses and Ethel Washington always kept her during the summers. Penelope's parents had moved away from this country town, but they always sent Penelope back to visit.

Penelope's grandparents owned a farm with hundreds of acres. She knew they were getting up in age, and wanted to help them, for they had treated her with so much love. So, she had decided she would run this farm one day, and she quite enjoyed the soft quietness and stillness that the country life gave to her.

Her grandfather had taught her how to plant a pear tree at the age of 3.

"Now Penny....the first thang ya gotta member about planting is ta make sho you choose the right spot." Ulysses would say. " Yes Granddad!" she would yell, happily.

"Now Penny, the second thang ya wanna remember now, is that pears need a lotta sun baby girl. With all that golden sun it will help it make good old sweet pears. Wherever we dig, should be getting about 6 hours a sunlight each day. And we want em sweet right?" Ulysses stuttered. "Yes sir, granddad!" Penelope would say. " Now before we pick ah spot, I wantcha to watch the land for a spell. Then, we will come back and you will choose the perfect spot to plant yo tree."

Penelope had watched a few days alright. She observed where the sun would rise, and where it would set. Finally, they chose the perfect spot. Right in the middle of the yard. They dug a whole together. Carefully placing the sapling in the hole. And over time, that pear tree, grew to be taller than tall.

Penelope's grandparents sometimes invited their neighbors, Cecil and Jacqueline Lumpkins over for supper. They too, had a grandchild, Lavell, who also came to visit during the summer. Both he and Penelope were 16.

I cannot stress the fact that they did not like each other initially. Penelope was in wonder as to why she was just meeting Lavell now. Penelope was soft and quiet, while Lavell was boisterous and sure of himself. She liked flowers and he like frogs. She couldn't stand him! But when she looked at him, she felt, well, parts of her, felt funny.

His skin was the color of coffee cream. His hair was brown, but when in the sun, turned a light red. His eyes. Penelope would always remember, those eyes. They looked brown, but sometimes they turned green.

Penelope would never tell him this, but, his smile, was what she liked most of all. Upon their first meeting, his smile was the first thing she noticed. He was a "pretty boy". Penelope hated boys like him. They thought they were better. But he was never mean to her. Loud! But never mean.

It was mid-June. The grandparents had decided to do a potluck. Ethel was always in the kitchen. She was a big, beautiful, proud, woman. On this particular day, Ethel made fried chicken, deviled eggs, a ham, and a big pot of collard greens with sweet water cornbread. Ulysses had gone to the local watering hole, catching just enough catfish to add to the feast. He and Ethel were excited for them all sit down and have a meal.

The Lumpkins arrived in tow, but they brought the sweets; 2 apple pies, and a peach cobbler. It was said that Mama Lumpkins made the best sweets in the country. One could not help but sympathize, but Penelope didn't see anything sweet about this situation. Ms. Ethel made her wear a pink dress. Pink. Penelope wanted to wear her norm; blue jeans, a t-shirt and a pair of fresh nikes. I mean she, was from the city.

Penelope didn't know this boy and didn't want him to get the wrong impression. Penelope loathed dresses and knew the mosquitoes would get her later. She even made Penelope wear a rose in her hair. Though Penelope liked flowers, she didn't want them in her hair.

It was as if they were setting her up with this boy. She was too young and too free, and too shy for all of this and had wished her grandparents would have warned her in advance.

When they arrived, the first thing "pretty boy" did was smile. She stared at him in awe. He was such a beautiful man. "Hello" he replied. "Hey." Penelope mustered.

They sat at the table in silence, while the adults talked. Lavell pulled out a handheld Nintendo Game Boy. " Nice. " Penelope said. Lavell squinted at her and smiled and said, "I didn't know you liked video games." he said. "Yeah, I do, my favorite used to be Contra, but I can dig a good Super Mario cart game anytime." she said.

Lavelle scooted closer to her in his chair at the table as they ate. They talked about what high schools they were attending, and where they wanted to to college. The more they talked, they more they both knew they were a lot alike.

After dinner, Lavell and Penelope decided to go outside. Penelope knew the perfect place to go. They walked a few acres and settled under what was now a miraculous tree. Penelope had decided they would grab some pears for the "old folks." But deep down, she just wanted to be near him. How could "dislike" turn into "really like" so fast? She had no clue.

Lavell wanted to know more about Penelope as well. So, when she invited him out to the tree her and her grandfather planted years ago, she had decided she wanted to kiss him.

"Can I ask you something?" Lavell said. "Sure." Penelope grinned. " I know we just met but can....can I kiss you?" Penelope looked up at the sky. It was nighttime now. The stars were shining down through the leaves on the tree. It was perfect; like a fairytale.

Penelope moved in closer to Lavell. She would never forget his smell. He always smelled so good. She didn't know any other guys her age who wore cologne. Lavell grabbed her pretty brown face as they both closed their eyes. He kissed her, and he felt an electricity he had never felt before. Had he took a moment to describe what he had felt, she would have confessed, that he made her feel the same way.

Penelope stood up and grabbed two pears, from the tree. She rinsed them off with water from a bottled water she had carried out there, as they walked. She shook off the excess water and passed one to Lavell.

For a moment, they were silent, and began to savor the taste of the sweet pears from a tree. They stared into each other's eyes for a brief spell. Then out of nowhere:

"Kiss me n0w. " Penelope said. Lavell did not hesitate and again moved in, They experienced one of the sweetest, French, kisses' known to man. Penelope didn't know she had it in her. Lavell licked the juices from her lips slowly. They made out for hours, never rushing the other do anything, they didn't want to do.

They stayed under that pear tree until the grandparents began calling their names. From that day, the remained inseparable. Lavell met with Penelope everyday, and stayed with her, each day meeting in their favorite place, the pear tree. They shared secrets and kisses. If the pear tree could talk: it would never stop talking about these two.

That tree, would be the location of many secrets and desires they would both share.

Years later, after the grandparents had passed on, they would reunite and exchange vows at that same pear tree; making sure to share a piece of pear, before exchanging the sweetest kisses, known to man..... I do.