The Greatest Things

We’d spend entire evenings up on the hills at Northview Elementary. Man-made, they were short and steep. When you ran down them it was as if gravity wouldn’t let you go. 

It was a two mile trip from Erin’s—maybe more. We’d leave our bikes at the bottom, climb up, and spend entire evenings there.

We’d talk about how the handrail in the back of the school was shot in a skate video. We weren’t sure which one but that’s what we heard.

We’d slide down it with the shapes of Minneapolis and St. Paul climbing up distant in the landscape. That’s a strong perspective to grow up with, an image that sticks around. Now it blends with the memory of a freshly made bed. Green linen rolling smoothly across a mattress.

We’d watch cars and wait for Alex to show up with French fries and menthol cigarettes.

We’d get sick smoking and I’d say something about what the point of it was.

We’d stare out at the Twin Cities

and I’d say something again about what the point of it was.