Annie's grandmother's house had a wraparound porch.  

It was a big half circle that faced the street and stretched

almost to the backyard

 

We used to hang out there after school

since it was halfway between our two houses and

neutral ground between our families 

 

Annie's grandmother made us Lemonade and sometimes cookies

she would talk to us for a while,  pat me on the shoulder

then left us alone

 

Just the two of us, on the porch

on a swing,  not talking, just watching traffic

listening to the windchimes

 

I still think of that sound when humid summer fades into fall

as the winds turn around to the North

and shades trees empty themselves into piles of leaves  

 

Annie left town a few years back and her Grandmother passed

I'm pretty sure the house is still there, but when someone took the windchimes down

I stopped driving by to check 

 

 

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