Tara Cleary - Indiana Girls Night Float

Copyright 2021 by Tara Cleary

All rights reserved. No part of this book may be reproduced in any form

or by any electronic or mechanical means, including information storage

and retrieval systems, without permission in writing from the publisher,

except by reviewers, who may quote brief passages in a review.

ISBN 979-8-9860016-0-9 (Paperback Edition)

ISBN 979-8-9860016-1-6 (e-book)

First paperback edition printed 2022

Cover art by Tara Cleary

In memory of my aunt, Diana Lynn ClearyFisbeck.

The most beautiful person who ever lived.

She always encouraged me to share all my talents with the world.

Preface

I love writing stories and have so many to tell. This is the first one I decided to publish. Its a fun adventure and has a happy ending. This story is pre-pandemic, in a time before we knew the whole world would soon be changed with sadness. I wanted to share this story, because it feels nice to escape into an adventure with friends, outside, in nature. So much of the last couple of years, we have been like prisoners in our own homes. Living lives of solitude, unable to visit with friends or family, not like before. Everywhere we go, faces are hidden behind masks, protecting our hands with gloves or hand sanitizer and or both. Always keeping a safe distance, between ourselves and all of the other people around us, everywhere.

It was important to me to share everything that happened that day and through the journey that night. I chose to share the whole story, even the secrets, because I am sure there are other people out there like me, like us, that can relate to this story.

My friends and I float down a local river on inner tubes, at night. We had never done this before and as you will soon find out, we were very unprepared for this journey. Its fun to try new things, but important to be some-what prepared for whatever you are going to do. Preparation takes the spontaneity out of the adventure, but believe me, you will still have all of the experience and reduce the risk of mortality.

Also, I went forward with actually finishing the publishing process, because life suddenly seemed much shorter than I had previously thought it was. I had been taking my time and the time I spend with the people in my life for granted. Life is too short. Dont wait too long to follow through with plans you have for your life or dreams you want to follow. Enjoy every moment and actually be present in those moments, especially with the people you love. I have been guilty of being distracted during what should have been meaningful conversations. Thinking about work or things I will need to do before the end of the day or week ext. Also, I have been guilty of putting things off, like family visits, because of the long drive. Or not calling someone, because they usually talk for an hour and I dont think I have the time for that. Trust me, give them the hour.

I was able to write this story and remember all of the details of the adventure, because I was sober. I was unaware of all of the little things I had been missing in my life, all around me, until I found them in sobriety. It is like landing in Oz, stepping from a black and white existence, into a colorful one, with shoes that sparkle. Now, when a bird sings, its just for me. All of the blooming flowers are for me. Every painted, sunset sky, is just for me.

I really hope you enjoy this story and can escape into the adventure with us.

Introduction

Our story takes place during the summertime, in Noblesville, Indiana. Everyone here loves summer, probably because the winter seems to last too long. After the holidays, it can be months of cold gray skies and bare trees and bushes. Also, Indiana weather can be unpredictable during the change of season. Warm one day and cold the next, often with an unexpected snow in the spring. And then bam, its summer and everything is green. The world is awake and alive. Birds are chirping and signing and people come out of their homes for every reason. To work in their yards or to rest on a chair, in the sun or in the shade, it doesnt matter, because its summertime.

Noblesville was a smaller town when I was born, but has grown a lot over the years. From a few stop lights, to a few more and now those intersections are turning into roundabouts. Corn fields are rapidly disappearing under subdivisions. I used to know almost everyone in passing, now since the population has grown so much, I may only see one person that I know at the grocery store.

My friends and I are from Noblesville and have known each other for a long time. Krystal and I have been close friends since we were 13 and 14 years old. We met on Conner Courts. A community basketball court that used to be next to McDonalds on Conner Street. The basketball court is gone now, but Ill never forget that day.

Back then I spent most of my free time playing basketball. In my neighborhood at the time, Noble Manor Apartments, we had a small court with one basketball goal. The kids would gather there after school and wait for someone to show up with a basketball, so we could play. We would play Pig or Horse or if we had enough people, we would play 21, until the kid with the ball had to go home for supper or do homework. I remember being so happy when I got my own basketball, then I could play as soon as I got to the court and for as long as I was out.

All of the kids in the area were happy when Conner Courts was built. There were several full courts, so an actual game could be played, if you had enough people. I would go there often. There was one goal I played on the most, even alone. The goal in the very back row, on the corner. One day, on my walk up, I could see a guy playing on my court, just him and his dog. Our outfits matched, both wearing white t-shirts and blue jeans. I knew I had never seen him before, because he was the most beautiful thing I had ever seen. I chose the court opposite of him and his dog, trying not to look over, but eventually I think my ball bounced over to his court (my court first). We played a few games and that was that. We would meet at the court and play basketball together almost every day.

He lived down the road, in the opposite direction. So, if I got to the court first, I would look for him to walk up to Conner Street and cross it. One day, I saw him and noticed he was walking with a tall blonde! I had never felt this feeling before, a sick feeling in my stomach, jealousy and rage. I wasnt sure what was happening or what I was going to do.

They approached the goal and I remember standing there in shock. She said Hi, Im Krystal. Im his sister. Relief, followed by disbelief. They looked nothing alike. He had dark hair and dark eyes, she had blonde hair and blue eyes. I kept looking at him and her, back and forth for any similarity, but found none. We didnt play ball that day. I made him take us straight to his grandmas house, to prove to me that they were siblings! We awkwardly walked the four blocks together, to ask his grandma if it was true. She laughed and laughed and confirmed for me Yes, its true, they are brother and sister. She kept laughing and laughing. I can still hear her laughing. She was a very sweet lady, never met a stranger and always had food for thought. God rest her soul. He and I did not work out, but Krystal and I remained friends, best friends.

A few years later, when we grew up, Krystal moved to her own place on the other side of town. A cozy community where everyone knew everybody. This is where we met Kisha and Katie, Krystals new neighbors. In the summer, everyone would get together for a birthday party or cookout and bring a dish for a pitch-in. The smell of a charcoal grill and the food roasting on it would fill the air. Kids would run around laughing and playing and the adults would gather in their lawn chairs, sitting on a porch or in a yard.