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It was the fourth of July in a small town just west of one of those big cities. For as long as he could remember, Max and his big sister Evelyn had driven their dad’s old ford out to the middle of nowhere, put on some music while they waited for it to get dark, and lit up their own fireworks. No matter what one or the other was going through, they’d always be peaceful and comfortable around each other. This night was always their night where they could just be themselves, and nothing had ever, or would ever get in the way of their time. Not even Ev going off to college in the next state over.
Max was thrilled to hear that his sister was coming home for this fourth of July weekend. He’d gone months without seeing her, let alone sitting with her in dad’s truck. He had never had an easy time making friends in his classes. Middle schoolers can be so cruel. He only ever really felt happy with Ev. She knew what he liked. She would always listen to him tell her about his favorite football team, and she always brought home cookie dough ice cream for him (even though everyone else in the house preferred mint chip.) And she would always let him do things that his parents wouldn’t like (like the one time she let him sit in the front seat and steer while she held down the gas pedal on their dirt road. Their parents found out. They were both grounded for a month. But it was worth it.) Max could go on forever about how much he loved his sister and why. The two of them just had a special bond. But this year, Evelyn brought home a friend from college.
“Mom, Dad, Max, this is Joanne.” Evelyn said with a smile. She looked different. Her hair used to be shoulder length and chestnut brown, like their mother’s. But now it was short and creamy white. Her previously plain freckles face was touched up with eyeliner and mascara. Her old jean jacket replaced with a big green flannel jacket. This was not Max’s Ev. Is this what college does to a person? If it was, then he did not like college.
“Hello Mr. and Mrs. Porter!” Joanne said sweetly. “And you’re Max! I have heard so much about you. It’s so lovely to meet you!” Max studied this “Joanne”. She had long dark hair that she held half up in a black bandana. She wore mostly earthy colors with the exception of her bright gold sun necklace and matching earrings. Her green eyes were framed with bold eyeliner and a sun sequin next to each eye (gold to match her necklace). Her tanned shoulder was tattooed with flowers and leaves. Maybe college didn’t change Ev. Maybe Joanne did. And if that was the case, Max did not like Joanne.
“Max, it’s rude to stare at people.” Said his mother. “Joanne, it’s lovely to meet you, please make yourself comfortable.”
“Thank you, Mrs. Porter, you have a beautiful home.” Joanne exclaimed.
“Please, Joanne, call me Kate. It’s wonderful to meet you.” Max’s mother said with her warm smile as she took Joanne’s hand.
After dinner, Max got on his jacket and brought out a box of fireworks.
“Are you ready, Ev? Can we go yet?” Max just wanted to get out of the house, into the truck, and away from Joanne. But she seemed to have a different idea.
“Oh! Is this your annual fourth of July firework thing? Ev’s told me all about this! It sounds so fun!” Was she trying to come along? Hah. That’s so insensitive. Why would Ev let her intrude on the one time that they could be together?
“Jo’s gonna sit up front, Maxy!” Evelyn called out from around the car. Max almost dropped his fireworks. What? Next thing he knew, Max was sitting in the back seat, crammed in with the box of fireworks and bags of snacks. And all he could do was listen to the two girls laugh and have “fun” while he pushed sparklers out of his face.
When they finally got to their spot it was already dark out. Joanne wanted to stop on the hill to watch the sun set, and for some reason Evelyn let her. Max was just about to think that the night couldn’t possibly get messed up any more when he heard songs he’d never heard before coming from the car’s radio. He stopped setting up the chairs in the back of the truck and ran to the front seat. Joanne had just finished putting in her own CD. And Evelyn was singing along.
What? Why? Why were they listening to her music? They always played their mixed CD. Why would Ev let Joanne watch the sunset? Why was she even coming with them? Why was she even here? Did Evelyn, Max’s dear sister, the one person that he was happy around, didn’t love him anymore? He wanted to scream. He wanted to cry and ask his sister why she didn’t care about him any more. He tried to open his mouth but his words were silenced by despair. It didn’t even matter anymore how things went on from here. Nothing could ever fix this night. Nothing would ever be the same.
About an hour later, after they were done with the fireworks, Evelyn leaned her head on Joanne’s shoulder and put her arm around her. There was this look on her face that Max had ever seen before. Her brown eyes almost closed, and her lips ever so slightly curved upward. With the moonlight showing on her skin she looked like she was in heaven.
That’s when he realized.
Max loved his sister more than anyone else in the world. She was his best friend.
Max was right, nothing would ever be the same. But if this Joanne girl made his sister as happy as she looked at that moment, then maybe it would be okay if she sat in the front seat.