AllFreeNovel
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"And this device fits in my pocket?" he marveled, handling my phone like a rare artifact.
"Yeah, welcome to the 21st century," I grinned. "You can look up music from your era, current events, even track the stock market in real-time."
His fingers danced hesitantly over the phone screen, swiping and tapping as if afraid he'd break it. "It's like holding the whole world in your hands. It's overwhelming but utterly fascinating."
"I'll bet. You're catching on pretty quick, though," I said, impressed at how fast he learned to navigate the browser tabs and apps.
He looked up, the screen's glow reflecting in his eyes. "It's like learning to read all over again, but the stories are constantly changing. It's like stepping into another dimension altogether."
Our visit to the park that afternoon was an adventure. We strolled casually along a pathway until Ben spotted a group of skateboarders performing tricks and flips. He stopped, completely captivated.
"Can I…would they let me try that?" He asked, eyes still following the skaters as they maneuvered with ease.
“You could ask them," I said, anticipating the funny things that might happen. “Have you never been on a skateboard before?”
“They had them back in the early 70s, but I bet the technology is better now—like your phone and the TV.”
Determined to try skateboarding, Ben handed me his jacket and sauntered up to the group, awkward but eager. "Hey, mind if I give that a go?" he asked, pointing at their boards.
The skaters looked him up and down, seemingly amused. "You sure, man? Ever been on a board before?"
"Uh, no, but there's a first time for everything, right?" Ben grinned.
One of the guys chuckled and handed him a board. "Alright, dude. Good luck."
The first few seconds were surprisingly impressive. Ben managed to balance himself, a look of triumph flashing across his face. Unfortunately, he couldn’t figure out how to turn. The board slipped from under him, and bam! He was on his butt, laughing like he was a kid again.
"Ah, so this is what it feels like to bruise," he said, rubbing his backside as he got up. Another attempt and another fall led to more laughter.
"You sure you wanna keep going?" one of the skateboarders asked, clearly entertained.
"Absolutely," Ben beamed, and once again, he took his place on the board. And, as before, down he went. Only this time, he managed to drag me with him as he fell.
"So this is what gravity feels like! Kinda aggressive, don't you think?" he chuckled, helping me up.
My sides hurt from laughing. "You've embraced life more in these weeks than some do in a lifetime, especially the law of gravity."
The skateboarders clapped, clearly impressed by Ben's tenacity, if not his skill. "Hey, man, you're welcome back anytime. You've got the spirit."
"The spirit," Ben echoed, sharing a look with me that spoke volumes. "Yeah, that I do."
As we left the park, laughing and rehashing Ben's skateboarding escapades, something caught his eye. It was a small tree shedding its leaves, a sign that fall was nearing its end. The leaves floated down like delicate spirits returning to the ground from which they'd sprung.
For a brief moment, his laughter faded, replaced by a far-off look.
"What's up?" I asked, noticing the shift.
"Leaves falling, seasons changing. Makes you think," Ben said.
“Think about?"
He sighed. "About cycles, beginnings and endings, and the things we can't escape. Not even me."
I felt a lump form in my throat. I knew what he was alluding to. "You're talking about going back, aren't you?"
"Yeah," Ben said softly, still watching the falling leaves. "Winter solstice is near. I have to go back to the spirit realm. It's part of our deal."
"A season," he said softly. "Winter solstice through spring equinox."
