Forty Things You Wanted to Know About Elizabeth Levin
1. She likes to wrestle under water.
2. Her favorite class in high school was Drama class aka Honors English Literature
3. Her best friend was Eddie Forrester.
4. Lizzie was born in Bolder Colorado but grew up in South Cove Michigan.
5. Her father was an accountant Paul and her mother Ruth was a school teacher and major crafter.
6. Lizzie lost her virginity at eighteen to a drummer named Al.
7. Lizzie considers herself quite charming and sexy.
8. She has wavy brown hair and soft green eyes.
9. Lizzie can do 200 sit ups but only four guys pushups before collapsing.
10.She tries really hard and puts her heart into things, people, situations. Sometimes her heart gets broken..her heart gets broken a lot.
11.Liz just wants to love and be loved. But finds herself bed hopping in pursuit of that love.
12. Liz likes to read well written novels by by John Irving and Jane Smiley.
13. She is a progressive liberal with a fiscal conservative bent. She wants to hold on to the money she made.
14. Lizzie likes long walks into the forest in Michigan
15. Lizzie swims like a fish. Summers she spent all day at beach reading romance novels and swimming with Eddie..dunking him more like it.
16. Liz is shy and frightened of the dark and always leaves a light on when she sleeps.
17. Liz is a drama queen with a tendency to exaggerate.
18. She wants love and fears being loved- yes she is neurotic why- her father was always working. She has father issues.
19. Really Liz feels lost and doesn’t quite know why.
20. She wants to understand and love herself more.
Wednesday, November 25, 2009
Saturday, November 17, 2007
Two page synopsis
Two page synopsis for Oh, Home at Last
Oh, Home at last is about a sweet romance rekindled after twenty years. Elizabeth (Liz) Levine, renowned writer and therapist at 36 finds herself with a broken heart. She has lived her life healing others, but has been looking for love in all the wrong places after moving away from her sweet-heart Edward Forrester twenty years earlier. In Liz’s heart she compares everybody to Eddie. Twenty years later, Liz reconnects with Ed 36, a New York City lawyer through a late night email.
Their reunion is complicated by Ed’s girlfriend and Ed’s father Ted is dying of cancer. Liz believes she can help heal Ted and maybe heal her own broken heart with a journey back to Michigan and Ed. Ed attempted to forget about Liz. He was very blunt in his return email writing, “Don’t fall in love with me, I have moved on.” Ed neglects to write that he called out Liz’s name while he made love with his girlfriend Katie shortly before Liz’s email.
Oh, Home at Last, opens with a heart felt goodbye between these teen lovers. Lizzie’s Mom and Dad decide to move back to Denver, Colorado from Cove, Michigan. The economy turned sour in Cove for accountants. We find Lizzie crouching in a tree, tearing up remembering her best buddy Eddie. Lizzie’s first experience of Eddie is of his face smeared with mud and him shoving a slimy frog named Herman down her shirt. They were both five. By the end of the day, they were fast friends. They learned to read, ride bikes, cars, dance and learn how to kiss with each other. By the age of fifteen, their friendship deepened into a sweet kind of love.
Sixteen year old Eddie discovers his best friend crying in their favorite tree. He climbs to Liz and embraces her tenderly drying her tears with his kisses. In darkness, they climb down together and make out again, but fear and loss grips Lizzie’s gut and makes her run away into the night and for the next twenty years.
As Liz grows up she becomes a Dominatrix to get through college. She majors in Psychology. Liz learns to dominate men to avoid intimacy. In graduate school, Liz studies Shamanic Healing from Jose Perez, a married Peruvian gorgeous older man (45) from Santa Monica. They travel to the mountains of Peru together to share their healing gifts with villagers as well as a hot steamy bed. It doesn’t last. Liz learns her lesson after she discovers Jose’s “loving tool” inside another student and leaves his house without goodbyes.
She writes about her sexual experiences in her dissertation which is #1 for three months on The New York Times Bestseller’s List. Liz becomes famous, wealthy and a sought after workshop leader on relationships. When she is not jetting setting to Chicago, London or Bombay for a workshop or book-signings she is sleeping with movie stars like Simon Taylor, who knows how to move his “money maker” but not her heart.
Back in Michigan, Liz and Ed rekindle their feelings for each other during the passing of Ed’s father. Ed breaks up with his girlfriend in New York City as Liz flies to Santa Monica to nurse Jose Perez back to health after a major heart attack. After a month separation, both return to Michigan with a better understanding of themselves and what they want. They decide to give each other a month to get reacquainted. They agree to no more distractions or running away. Liz and Ed see through their fantasies of each other built over twenty years and touch each others heart. By the end of this novel, both feel at home and loved and Liz exhales with a full heart to Ed as they lay in each other’s arms, “Oh, I’m Home at Last.”
Oh, Home at last is about a sweet romance rekindled after twenty years. Elizabeth (Liz) Levine, renowned writer and therapist at 36 finds herself with a broken heart. She has lived her life healing others, but has been looking for love in all the wrong places after moving away from her sweet-heart Edward Forrester twenty years earlier. In Liz’s heart she compares everybody to Eddie. Twenty years later, Liz reconnects with Ed 36, a New York City lawyer through a late night email.
Their reunion is complicated by Ed’s girlfriend and Ed’s father Ted is dying of cancer. Liz believes she can help heal Ted and maybe heal her own broken heart with a journey back to Michigan and Ed. Ed attempted to forget about Liz. He was very blunt in his return email writing, “Don’t fall in love with me, I have moved on.” Ed neglects to write that he called out Liz’s name while he made love with his girlfriend Katie shortly before Liz’s email.
Oh, Home at Last, opens with a heart felt goodbye between these teen lovers. Lizzie’s Mom and Dad decide to move back to Denver, Colorado from Cove, Michigan. The economy turned sour in Cove for accountants. We find Lizzie crouching in a tree, tearing up remembering her best buddy Eddie. Lizzie’s first experience of Eddie is of his face smeared with mud and him shoving a slimy frog named Herman down her shirt. They were both five. By the end of the day, they were fast friends. They learned to read, ride bikes, cars, dance and learn how to kiss with each other. By the age of fifteen, their friendship deepened into a sweet kind of love.
Sixteen year old Eddie discovers his best friend crying in their favorite tree. He climbs to Liz and embraces her tenderly drying her tears with his kisses. In darkness, they climb down together and make out again, but fear and loss grips Lizzie’s gut and makes her run away into the night and for the next twenty years.
As Liz grows up she becomes a Dominatrix to get through college. She majors in Psychology. Liz learns to dominate men to avoid intimacy. In graduate school, Liz studies Shamanic Healing from Jose Perez, a married Peruvian gorgeous older man (45) from Santa Monica. They travel to the mountains of Peru together to share their healing gifts with villagers as well as a hot steamy bed. It doesn’t last. Liz learns her lesson after she discovers Jose’s “loving tool” inside another student and leaves his house without goodbyes.
She writes about her sexual experiences in her dissertation which is #1 for three months on The New York Times Bestseller’s List. Liz becomes famous, wealthy and a sought after workshop leader on relationships. When she is not jetting setting to Chicago, London or Bombay for a workshop or book-signings she is sleeping with movie stars like Simon Taylor, who knows how to move his “money maker” but not her heart.
Back in Michigan, Liz and Ed rekindle their feelings for each other during the passing of Ed’s father. Ed breaks up with his girlfriend in New York City as Liz flies to Santa Monica to nurse Jose Perez back to health after a major heart attack. After a month separation, both return to Michigan with a better understanding of themselves and what they want. They decide to give each other a month to get reacquainted. They agree to no more distractions or running away. Liz and Ed see through their fantasies of each other built over twenty years and touch each others heart. By the end of this novel, both feel at home and loved and Liz exhales with a full heart to Ed as they lay in each other’s arms, “Oh, I’m Home at Last.”
Ed Loses it
Ed Loses It
The wind is whipping up the shoreline and the tide is driving the waves to crash against the sand. The waves seem to be matching Ed’s mood. Ed is dug into the sand. He is lying on his back and his feet and legs are covered by sand. His hands are covering his face. He is crying. Ed lets go of tears he has held inside since his father died. Ed cries to the wind.
“Dad I miss you!” He shouts into the air as he sits up and faces the roaring waves. It is during sunset. It is the first time Ed is alone in several weeks. Ed continues to have a conversation with the waves. Ed stands and walks on the shores edge, stepping into the crashing waves.
“Dad I wish you were here. I just want to sit on your lap again. I feel like I am five years old…I am crying like a baby. People are expecting me to act like a grown man. Mom is expecting me to take care of your affairs. I am this grown up lawyer. I am glad I took care of most of that paper work months ago. Because right now I can’t see what is in front of me because of all my tears. I know what you would say Dad, go ahead son be a puddle on the floor for awhile. I am that puddle. I so feel like that puddle right now. I have been trying to be strong for mom and also for you.
I have also these different feelings swimming around in my heart and head. I feel such a loss without you in my life. My heart is aching literally. At the same time I feel this renewed love for Liz. I haven’t seen her in 20 years. I wanted to have a life with Katie. But all I have been able to do is not break up with Katie when I wanted to.
I was going to break up with her on the way to the airport. But she does this thing with her voice that makes her sound so sweet and kind, maybe because she is sweet and kind. But she is oblivious sometimes to reality. I didn’t want to be the schmuck who made this sweet kind lovely woman cry. I didn’t want her to cry. I felt like if she started crying I would start crying.
I didn’t feel comfortable being a puddle of tears around Katie. I never have. She expects me to be able to juggle everything, be this big, strong and know it all guy for her. I am not. I am this little nerd from Hickville, Michigan, who used to crap in his pants when the bullies would jump on him in fifth grade. Dad you taught me how to use my brain, how to use humor and story telling to win over these bullies. Thank you for that and so much more.
Maybe the always holding it together crap is my expectation for myself. But when you live in the big city like to NYC and have to go up in front of mean scary bully judges everyday, sometimes I am reminded of fifth grade and those damn bullies dad. I use what you taught me. I use my humor and brain-power. I win a lot of cases. You told me that you were proud of me dad. You were one of the best legal minds in the country. I could always get your advice on a tough legal brief.” Damn, Ed shouts. He stomps into the waves and soaks himself. He dives under the wave, coming up for air and to continue the conversation. Ed feels more refreshed.
“Dad you have always said that the only thing you want for me is to be happy. I studied law, because I saw how happy it made you. But Dad practicing law doesn’t fill me with joy or satisfaction. I dread going into court. What makes me really happy is writing. Writing poetry, writing short stories. I have dreamt about coming back here to Michigan and write a novel. I want to write a love story about you and mom. How you met, fell in love, raised us kids. I don’t know for sure what I want to write, but I want to write a tribute to you.
I want to stay here and write and spend more time with Liz. Somehow Katie doesn’t belong here in Michigan. But everything inside me tells me to spend more time with Liz. I want to have time to get to know each other as adults. Dad I want your advice. I want your blessing. I can have never either because you aren’t here.” Ed begins to cry again. This time he is completely covered in the waves of Lake Michigan with only his head bobbing above.
“Dad I want to see you again, Ed cries.
From somewhere deep inside, he hears a voice say, “Not now… not yet…look to the shore.” Ed sees a figuring running on the shore. As the figure approaches, he sees soft curves, long legs and long brown hair tied in a pony-tail. The figure is waving to him. He can’t hear anything. He realizes he is 500ft out from shore. He dunks himself under the water again and swims closer.
He hears a familiar voice say, “Ed, I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Come closer to shore.”
Liz is holding a towel out for him. He swims to the shallow waters again and begins to walk to Liz. He feels like he is walking for the first time. He stumbles and Liz catches his arm and wraps him in a big warm superman towel.
“I am glad to find you,” she says.
“Me too” Ed says, beginning to feel better.
The wind is whipping up the shoreline and the tide is driving the waves to crash against the sand. The waves seem to be matching Ed’s mood. Ed is dug into the sand. He is lying on his back and his feet and legs are covered by sand. His hands are covering his face. He is crying. Ed lets go of tears he has held inside since his father died. Ed cries to the wind.
“Dad I miss you!” He shouts into the air as he sits up and faces the roaring waves. It is during sunset. It is the first time Ed is alone in several weeks. Ed continues to have a conversation with the waves. Ed stands and walks on the shores edge, stepping into the crashing waves.
“Dad I wish you were here. I just want to sit on your lap again. I feel like I am five years old…I am crying like a baby. People are expecting me to act like a grown man. Mom is expecting me to take care of your affairs. I am this grown up lawyer. I am glad I took care of most of that paper work months ago. Because right now I can’t see what is in front of me because of all my tears. I know what you would say Dad, go ahead son be a puddle on the floor for awhile. I am that puddle. I so feel like that puddle right now. I have been trying to be strong for mom and also for you.
I have also these different feelings swimming around in my heart and head. I feel such a loss without you in my life. My heart is aching literally. At the same time I feel this renewed love for Liz. I haven’t seen her in 20 years. I wanted to have a life with Katie. But all I have been able to do is not break up with Katie when I wanted to.
I was going to break up with her on the way to the airport. But she does this thing with her voice that makes her sound so sweet and kind, maybe because she is sweet and kind. But she is oblivious sometimes to reality. I didn’t want to be the schmuck who made this sweet kind lovely woman cry. I didn’t want her to cry. I felt like if she started crying I would start crying.
I didn’t feel comfortable being a puddle of tears around Katie. I never have. She expects me to be able to juggle everything, be this big, strong and know it all guy for her. I am not. I am this little nerd from Hickville, Michigan, who used to crap in his pants when the bullies would jump on him in fifth grade. Dad you taught me how to use my brain, how to use humor and story telling to win over these bullies. Thank you for that and so much more.
Maybe the always holding it together crap is my expectation for myself. But when you live in the big city like to NYC and have to go up in front of mean scary bully judges everyday, sometimes I am reminded of fifth grade and those damn bullies dad. I use what you taught me. I use my humor and brain-power. I win a lot of cases. You told me that you were proud of me dad. You were one of the best legal minds in the country. I could always get your advice on a tough legal brief.” Damn, Ed shouts. He stomps into the waves and soaks himself. He dives under the wave, coming up for air and to continue the conversation. Ed feels more refreshed.
“Dad you have always said that the only thing you want for me is to be happy. I studied law, because I saw how happy it made you. But Dad practicing law doesn’t fill me with joy or satisfaction. I dread going into court. What makes me really happy is writing. Writing poetry, writing short stories. I have dreamt about coming back here to Michigan and write a novel. I want to write a love story about you and mom. How you met, fell in love, raised us kids. I don’t know for sure what I want to write, but I want to write a tribute to you.
I want to stay here and write and spend more time with Liz. Somehow Katie doesn’t belong here in Michigan. But everything inside me tells me to spend more time with Liz. I want to have time to get to know each other as adults. Dad I want your advice. I want your blessing. I can have never either because you aren’t here.” Ed begins to cry again. This time he is completely covered in the waves of Lake Michigan with only his head bobbing above.
“Dad I want to see you again, Ed cries.
From somewhere deep inside, he hears a voice say, “Not now… not yet…look to the shore.” Ed sees a figuring running on the shore. As the figure approaches, he sees soft curves, long legs and long brown hair tied in a pony-tail. The figure is waving to him. He can’t hear anything. He realizes he is 500ft out from shore. He dunks himself under the water again and swims closer.
He hears a familiar voice say, “Ed, I’ve been looking for you everywhere. Come closer to shore.”
Liz is holding a towel out for him. He swims to the shallow waters again and begins to walk to Liz. He feels like he is walking for the first time. He stumbles and Liz catches his arm and wraps him in a big warm superman towel.
“I am glad to find you,” she says.
“Me too” Ed says, beginning to feel better.
Monday, July 23, 2007
You've Got Mail
You’ve Got Mail
About twenty years, one day and six hours after Lizzie ran away into the night, Ed received an email from Elizabeth Levin. He noticed as he read her email that he started to feel sweat on the back of his neck.
LizLevin@hotmail.com:
Hi. It is Lizzie, Liz Levin. I am hoping that you remember me and don’t delete this email before you read it. My intentions are good. I heard that your father hasn’t been well. He was always sweet to me, made me feel like part of the Forrester family. Maybe there is something I can do to help. I work as a healer, a therapist. I am good at helping folks through dark times in their lives. Liz sent this email off at 2am. She had been afraid to send it.
EDF@aol.com replies.
It has been a long time. I am glad to hear you are doing well. I am sure you are good at what you do, as a healer and all. I am not sure what you can do to help. I for one have moved on. I am involved with a lovely woman. Coming to Michigan would just complicate things. My father is letting go and having you here would just add to my pain. Please don’t come back to Michigan.
LizLevin@hotmail.com
Ed, I hear you. I don’t want to cause more problems for you. I know I hurt you. I am sorry. I just want to help your Dad. I think I can help him find inner resources to find his way back to life. I studied with a Shaman in the mountains of Peru who taught me the healing arts. It has been helpful with some patients who are near the end. At least it could make your dad feel more comfortable.
EDF@aol.com replies:
Katie, my girlfriend will be visiting me in Michigan, if you decide to come back here you have to know that. Don’t expect anything from me. My Dad may be gone by the time you get to Michigan. You may be wasting your time. Again don’t expect anything from me. I have moved on. I almost did forget about you. But how could I forget someone who seriously broke my heart.
LizLevin@hotmail.com:
I know I broke your heart. I should have stayed with you that night long ago. I got scared. It wasn’t my choice to move away. But it was my choice to run from you, to lose touch with you. I wish I had kept in touch. I haven’t forgotten you. I understand you have moved on and I respect that. I won’t expect anything from you. But I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t looking forward to seeing you again.
EDF@aol.com replies:
Come to Michigan, if you want to. But don’t fall in love with me. Maybe just maybe you can help my Dad. I am looking for anything that could make him well.
About twenty years, one day and six hours after Lizzie ran away into the night, Ed received an email from Elizabeth Levin. He noticed as he read her email that he started to feel sweat on the back of his neck.
LizLevin@hotmail.com:
Hi. It is Lizzie, Liz Levin. I am hoping that you remember me and don’t delete this email before you read it. My intentions are good. I heard that your father hasn’t been well. He was always sweet to me, made me feel like part of the Forrester family. Maybe there is something I can do to help. I work as a healer, a therapist. I am good at helping folks through dark times in their lives. Liz sent this email off at 2am. She had been afraid to send it.
EDF@aol.com replies.
It has been a long time. I am glad to hear you are doing well. I am sure you are good at what you do, as a healer and all. I am not sure what you can do to help. I for one have moved on. I am involved with a lovely woman. Coming to Michigan would just complicate things. My father is letting go and having you here would just add to my pain. Please don’t come back to Michigan.
LizLevin@hotmail.com
Ed, I hear you. I don’t want to cause more problems for you. I know I hurt you. I am sorry. I just want to help your Dad. I think I can help him find inner resources to find his way back to life. I studied with a Shaman in the mountains of Peru who taught me the healing arts. It has been helpful with some patients who are near the end. At least it could make your dad feel more comfortable.
EDF@aol.com replies:
Katie, my girlfriend will be visiting me in Michigan, if you decide to come back here you have to know that. Don’t expect anything from me. My Dad may be gone by the time you get to Michigan. You may be wasting your time. Again don’t expect anything from me. I have moved on. I almost did forget about you. But how could I forget someone who seriously broke my heart.
LizLevin@hotmail.com:
I know I broke your heart. I should have stayed with you that night long ago. I got scared. It wasn’t my choice to move away. But it was my choice to run from you, to lose touch with you. I wish I had kept in touch. I haven’t forgotten you. I understand you have moved on and I respect that. I won’t expect anything from you. But I would be lying if I said that I wasn’t looking forward to seeing you again.
EDF@aol.com replies:
Come to Michigan, if you want to. But don’t fall in love with me. Maybe just maybe you can help my Dad. I am looking for anything that could make him well.
Sunday, June 24, 2007
What is Home?
Home
What makes a home? Is it the brick, cement, metal and wood that create a home? It is what the heart knows, connections between loved ones, the feeling of being held with love and safety. It is the feeling of being seen as good enough and encouraged to go for what you want, even if it involves leaving home to make your dreams come true. As you make your journey into to this unknown adventure, you find that your home is still with you in your heart. It says to you, “We are with you, you are safe and you can do this.” Your sense of home is reflected in the way you say “hello”, help out a friend, and stand up for yourself. Home is also a place you may return to again and again. You are welcomed with open arms.
What makes a home? Is it the brick, cement, metal and wood that create a home? It is what the heart knows, connections between loved ones, the feeling of being held with love and safety. It is the feeling of being seen as good enough and encouraged to go for what you want, even if it involves leaving home to make your dreams come true. As you make your journey into to this unknown adventure, you find that your home is still with you in your heart. It says to you, “We are with you, you are safe and you can do this.” Your sense of home is reflected in the way you say “hello”, help out a friend, and stand up for yourself. Home is also a place you may return to again and again. You are welcomed with open arms.
Friday, June 8, 2007
Twenty Years Ago The Lovers Say Goodbye
Lizzie’s mind came back to the present and to the fact that she was sitting in a tree, escaping from the reality of having to move. The sun was setting, Liz felt the air getting colder and she wrapped herself in a brown wool sweater. It was Eddie’s sweater and it smelled of him.
She heard whistling below the branches. It was Eddie’s familiar impression of a woodpecker call. She saw his familiar dark brown curls and a flash of his bright green eyes. He knew where to find her. Liz was glad that Eddie found her. But she didn’t want to talk to him, she was afraid she would cry. “I know you are up there, Lizzie and I know why. Come on down.”, Eddie called to her.
“No way Eddie, I am not coming down. If I have to move away, no way.” So Eddie started to climb. Eddie had always been an active kid, a bit of a runt. But this summer he had a growth spurt. Liz noticed the muscles in his legs and arms as he climbed up to where she sat clutching herself. Eddie sat down quietly next to his miserable friend.
They sat together for a good ten minutes without saying anything. Eddie put his hand on Liz’s shoulder. She felt herself tingling. Her eyes started to well up. It is okay Liz I am going to miss you too. Liz turned to looking at Eddie. He wiped the tears from her cheeks. Liz saw that Eddie was crying too. She had not seen Eddie cry except for the time he lost his dog Ralph or Grandma Helen.
“Why are you crying, I am the one that is moving away?” “I know that’s why I am crying Lizzie. You are my best friend.” He reached out to hold her hand. She gave Eddie her hand to hold and with it some more of her heart. She felt tightness in her chest. She knew it that moment she was deeply in love with Eddie. Oh, no, she thought to herself. I want him to kiss me. In the next second, Liz kisses Eddie, gently on the lips. Eddie returned the kiss and kisses her again and again. She felt herself go weak at the knees.
“Do you like me a little bit”, Liz asked with a smile taking a breather. Eddie leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Yes I like you more than a little bit.” I want to stay home here on this branch kissing you until we die okay?” “Wow, you do? Oh, shut up and kiss me you fool”, Lizzie giggles. Eddie said, “I love you”, again and again and again with every kiss.
The sun was beginning to set. “Lizzie, I want to keep kissing you forever, but it might be safer down on the grass when the sun goes down. “You are right, Eddie.” Liz wiped away a tear and smiled at her closest friend. “Ed, you go down first and catch me.” Liz you know I am always here to catch you.”
As they found safe footing on the earth below, Eddie pulled his dearest friend into his arms under the birch tree. “You know something else we haven’t done Lizzie?” “There are many things we haven’t done? We may never get to do.” Liz is on the verge of weeping again. Eddie whispered in her ear. “Just be here with me Liz. Don’t think about tomorrow or an hour from now. We are under these amazing stars and our favorite birch tree is begging us to dance.”
Her heart was beating so fast she was convinced Eddie could hear her heart breaking. “Take my hand. I don’t want to go”, Lizzie sang. Don’t go stay with me right now. Liz rested her head on Eddie’s chest. “Eddie I feel warm inside. “It isn’t just making out. We have kissed a thousand times before, not like this. Lizzie. It is like I want to take care of you. Protect you and hold you until we both are old and kick the bucket.”
“Liz, let’s just feel this love. Let’s stop talking for a few minutes. But Liz is fearful of the unknown, fears the warmth between her legs and fears never seeing Eddie again. “Lizzie I don’t want you to run away into night away from me as he reached out to her crying. “ Let’s at least have this moment. Let yourself feel happy for a moment.
You will move to tomorrow but we still have this dance,” Eddie softly spoke in her ear. “Sweetie. Don’t run away from what you want, joy, from us.” “I am sorry Eddie I just can’t do this. It is too hard I have to leave you and I have to leave you right now or I wouldn’t be able to leave you at all. Eddie catches her hand. “Honey, let go.” Lizzie yanked her hand away and sprinted out into the darkness. Eddie cried out after Lizzie, “Come back!”, Eddie shouted several times before he collapses on the dark earth. He found their birch tree and leaned his back against it for support. His best friend was gone, Eddie felt lost and that nothing will be the same again.
Ruth and Ted discovered their son in the morning curled up under the white birch. They wondered what had happened. They saw their son’s tear stained face. “Eddie, do you want me to carry you home like a sack of potatoes,” his father asked after Eddie tripped over his feet as he tried to stand up. “Dad, that isn’t necessary. I can walk. I will be okay. “We know that son,” Ruth offered, taking her son’s hand in hers. “You are not alone and Lizzie will be a phone call away.”
“Thanks for saying that Dad. I don’t know. I don’t know anything. She ran away from me Dad, she felt hurt and ran away from me.” Ted and Ruth encircled Eddie in their arms and Eddie cried like a baby.
She heard whistling below the branches. It was Eddie’s familiar impression of a woodpecker call. She saw his familiar dark brown curls and a flash of his bright green eyes. He knew where to find her. Liz was glad that Eddie found her. But she didn’t want to talk to him, she was afraid she would cry. “I know you are up there, Lizzie and I know why. Come on down.”, Eddie called to her.
“No way Eddie, I am not coming down. If I have to move away, no way.” So Eddie started to climb. Eddie had always been an active kid, a bit of a runt. But this summer he had a growth spurt. Liz noticed the muscles in his legs and arms as he climbed up to where she sat clutching herself. Eddie sat down quietly next to his miserable friend.
They sat together for a good ten minutes without saying anything. Eddie put his hand on Liz’s shoulder. She felt herself tingling. Her eyes started to well up. It is okay Liz I am going to miss you too. Liz turned to looking at Eddie. He wiped the tears from her cheeks. Liz saw that Eddie was crying too. She had not seen Eddie cry except for the time he lost his dog Ralph or Grandma Helen.
“Why are you crying, I am the one that is moving away?” “I know that’s why I am crying Lizzie. You are my best friend.” He reached out to hold her hand. She gave Eddie her hand to hold and with it some more of her heart. She felt tightness in her chest. She knew it that moment she was deeply in love with Eddie. Oh, no, she thought to herself. I want him to kiss me. In the next second, Liz kisses Eddie, gently on the lips. Eddie returned the kiss and kisses her again and again. She felt herself go weak at the knees.
“Do you like me a little bit”, Liz asked with a smile taking a breather. Eddie leaned over and whispered in her ear, “Yes I like you more than a little bit.” I want to stay home here on this branch kissing you until we die okay?” “Wow, you do? Oh, shut up and kiss me you fool”, Lizzie giggles. Eddie said, “I love you”, again and again and again with every kiss.
The sun was beginning to set. “Lizzie, I want to keep kissing you forever, but it might be safer down on the grass when the sun goes down. “You are right, Eddie.” Liz wiped away a tear and smiled at her closest friend. “Ed, you go down first and catch me.” Liz you know I am always here to catch you.”
As they found safe footing on the earth below, Eddie pulled his dearest friend into his arms under the birch tree. “You know something else we haven’t done Lizzie?” “There are many things we haven’t done? We may never get to do.” Liz is on the verge of weeping again. Eddie whispered in her ear. “Just be here with me Liz. Don’t think about tomorrow or an hour from now. We are under these amazing stars and our favorite birch tree is begging us to dance.”
Her heart was beating so fast she was convinced Eddie could hear her heart breaking. “Take my hand. I don’t want to go”, Lizzie sang. Don’t go stay with me right now. Liz rested her head on Eddie’s chest. “Eddie I feel warm inside. “It isn’t just making out. We have kissed a thousand times before, not like this. Lizzie. It is like I want to take care of you. Protect you and hold you until we both are old and kick the bucket.”
“Liz, let’s just feel this love. Let’s stop talking for a few minutes. But Liz is fearful of the unknown, fears the warmth between her legs and fears never seeing Eddie again. “Lizzie I don’t want you to run away into night away from me as he reached out to her crying. “ Let’s at least have this moment. Let yourself feel happy for a moment.
You will move to tomorrow but we still have this dance,” Eddie softly spoke in her ear. “Sweetie. Don’t run away from what you want, joy, from us.” “I am sorry Eddie I just can’t do this. It is too hard I have to leave you and I have to leave you right now or I wouldn’t be able to leave you at all. Eddie catches her hand. “Honey, let go.” Lizzie yanked her hand away and sprinted out into the darkness. Eddie cried out after Lizzie, “Come back!”, Eddie shouted several times before he collapses on the dark earth. He found their birch tree and leaned his back against it for support. His best friend was gone, Eddie felt lost and that nothing will be the same again.
Ruth and Ted discovered their son in the morning curled up under the white birch. They wondered what had happened. They saw their son’s tear stained face. “Eddie, do you want me to carry you home like a sack of potatoes,” his father asked after Eddie tripped over his feet as he tried to stand up. “Dad, that isn’t necessary. I can walk. I will be okay. “We know that son,” Ruth offered, taking her son’s hand in hers. “You are not alone and Lizzie will be a phone call away.”
“Thanks for saying that Dad. I don’t know. I don’t know anything. She ran away from me Dad, she felt hurt and ran away from me.” Ted and Ruth encircled Eddie in their arms and Eddie cried like a baby.
An Ending and a Beginning
Elizabeth wanted to run and hide in the deep forest. She took off for a mile into the deep dark wonderful forest. She felt the crunch of the leaves under feet. Sweat was dripping down her forehead by the time she reached the white birch tree and started to climb. She decided she wasn’t going to come down until her parents changed their minds about moving away. She new she wasn’t acting like a sixteen year old she could hear her father saying in her own head but she didn’t care. She wasn’t going to leave her home and her wonderful fun with Eddie.
On the old birch, she found a sturdy branch to sit upon. She had granola bars and water in her backpack. She sat up in the tree for two hours crying and wishing she didn’t have to move. Lizzie thought to herself about the first she laid eyes on Eddie.
Eddie was six. He grinned from ear to ear and his right cheek was smeared with black mud. He looked like a wild creature to me. I was a little frightened. I stood behind my mother. I was five. Mrs. Forrester said this is “Eddie, my little rascal. He has been playing outside, by the looks of him playing with Herman, his frog.” Ruth giggled and winked at her son. She suggested that I go play. Mom had to push me out the door.
I remember mom saying “howler if you need me.” I did howler, after Eddie put Herman down my shirt. Herman was slimmie and smelled like poopy-pants. Herman didn’t seem to be happy in my shirt, because he slithered out two seconds later. Eddie grabbed Herman and ran. I chased this frog bandit. He was fast for a short kid. I had longer legs. I caught up to him by the stream. He was leaning over the edge with something in his hand. I stopped out of breath.
“Come here, I want to show you something, Eddie said. I sat down next this wild creature, Eddie. I tried to see what he was looking at. I couldn’t see unless I leaned over the edge, right next to Eddie. I lay down on my stomach. Eddie had his left hand on Herman and in his right was “Tina” a turtle. “These two are good friend,” Eddie said. From then on, Eddie and I became inseparable friends.
On the old birch, she found a sturdy branch to sit upon. She had granola bars and water in her backpack. She sat up in the tree for two hours crying and wishing she didn’t have to move. Lizzie thought to herself about the first she laid eyes on Eddie.
Eddie was six. He grinned from ear to ear and his right cheek was smeared with black mud. He looked like a wild creature to me. I was a little frightened. I stood behind my mother. I was five. Mrs. Forrester said this is “Eddie, my little rascal. He has been playing outside, by the looks of him playing with Herman, his frog.” Ruth giggled and winked at her son. She suggested that I go play. Mom had to push me out the door.
I remember mom saying “howler if you need me.” I did howler, after Eddie put Herman down my shirt. Herman was slimmie and smelled like poopy-pants. Herman didn’t seem to be happy in my shirt, because he slithered out two seconds later. Eddie grabbed Herman and ran. I chased this frog bandit. He was fast for a short kid. I had longer legs. I caught up to him by the stream. He was leaning over the edge with something in his hand. I stopped out of breath.
“Come here, I want to show you something, Eddie said. I sat down next this wild creature, Eddie. I tried to see what he was looking at. I couldn’t see unless I leaned over the edge, right next to Eddie. I lay down on my stomach. Eddie had his left hand on Herman and in his right was “Tina” a turtle. “These two are good friend,” Eddie said. From then on, Eddie and I became inseparable friends.
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