It was early summer 1968 in the small Northern California town. The weather was perfect. In fact, perfect enough to have a picnic, according to Sam.
The 12-year-old was excited about going into junior high school when the summer ended. He’ll be one of the “big kids” now. But, of course, there were even bigger kids in junior high, like the 8th and 9th graders. He’ll find out.
He fixed a baloney and cheese sandwich, some potato chips, Oreo cookies, and a Pepsi. He also fixed an extra sandwich for Jeff, who would be joining him for his picnic.
Jeff was his constant companion and best friend, a four-year-old mutt they rescued from the local animal shelter. Jeff was always up for a baloney sandwich.
Sam grabbed a blanket, and the two headed to the front lawn to set out their feast. Jeff kept stepping on the blanket while Sam tried to lay it out neatly. He finally gave up trying to make it neat, and they both just sat down and prepared to enjoy the picnic.
There was little traffic on Sam’s street, but an occasional car drove by, and the occupants always waived at the picnickers, even though they had no idea who they were.
Sam unwrapped the wax paper of his baloney sandwich as Jeff supervised. Just as he was exposing the delicacy, a girl about his age came into view riding her bicycle on his side of the street. She was on a pink girl’s bike with a white basket. She had flaming red hair. Of course, she had the required matching freckles that every redheaded girl seemed to have.
She stopped and asked, “Whatcha doing?”
Sam reluctantly replied that he and Jeff were having a picnic.
“I’m Pam. Can I sit with you guys?”
Sam didn’t know what to think of this very forward girl, again, with reluctance, said “Sure.” He thought it must be a requirement that all redheaded girls’ names are Pam, not that all Pams are redheaded.
Pam unceremoniously got off her bicycle and let it crash to the lawn, and walked over to the picnic. She sat down next to Jeff and crossed her legs in what we used to call Indian style. She said, “Nice to meet you, Sam and Jeff.”
“Nice to meet you too…but I didn’t tell you our names.”
“You must have, otherwise how would I know?”
Sam shrugged it off. “I’ve never seen you before. Are you going to Mountain Junior High next year?”
“I plan to if we don’t move again. We tend to do that every so often. My dad’s a scientist, and he says he goes to where the jobs take him. We live just down that way, around the corner.” Pam pointed down the street.
“Where did you move from?”
“Oh, a very long ways away. My dad said he grew up in this town.”
Sam remembered his manners and that he had a “spare” sandwich. “Would you like a sandwich?” Jeff whined a bit.
“Oh, no, thank you, I’m a vegetarian.”
“What’s a…vegetarian?”
“It’s a person who doesn’t eat meat. I do eat eggs and milk and stuff, and of course vegetables. I read some blogs and articles on the Internet about how it is much better for you than eating meat.”
Jeff looked relieved as Sam tossed him a hunk of the extra baloney sandwich.
“What’s an Internet?”
“It’s like a library sort of…from the place we moved from. I see you have Oreos…”
Sam passed her the bag of cookies, and she took a few and started eating them. They sat in silence for a while, enjoying the weather. Sam tossed Jeff more baloney sandwich that he just seemed to swallow without even bothering to chew.
Pam said, “Well, I guess I should be going; you’ll be worried about me being gone so long…I mean, my dad will be worried. It was nice meeting you and Jeff.”
“Nice meeting you too. See you in school?”
Pam wrestled her bike up and got on and peddled away, waiving as she turned the corner toward home.
Sam turned to Jeff and said, “What a strange girl,” and tossed him the last hunk of his baloney sandwich.”
Scattered Thought 
I liked it Scott. Short and entertaining. Hope all is well with you. Patty and I have firmly settled into Oklahoma and are enjoying the pluses of moving here. There are few minuses.
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