saw was a pair of very big bare feet along side my open book. Slowly I slid my eyes up over muscular, hairy legs, shagged blue cut-offs, a broad chest, and then the handsome smile. “Hi, Mud,” the smile in the direction of the lake. I heard the grass rustle behind me, and felt the warmness of his big hand on my bare said. told him?” I told my I asked smiling. him,” he exclaimed loudly. “Russia and I get along quite well.” Even though this sounded quite peculiar, I decided not to comment because he sounded quite serious.: “You don’t believe I talk ~ to Russia, do you?” he asked, as if reading my mind. “Well, I suppose I don't, but it really doesn’t matter.” “I wish you did,” he said. I didn’t say anything. “What’s that horrid smell?” i asked, trying to change the subject. “I don’t smell anything but good clean air, Mud.” needn’t come,” shoulder. I stopped, faced him, and looked into his sun-flecked eyes. A breeze had begun to blow with soft gusts that lifted his long hair and tossed it around playfully. My hair was whipping my face, and for . the first time in a long while I didn’t care how mussed or messy it looked. Let’s run!’ he suggested excitedly. “Run? Where?” I asked curiously. “I always run when the wind blows. It makes you feel free . . .” “Okay,” I answered, smiling. So we ran hand in hand. We ran slowly at first, then faster and faster. I could feel the weeds whip my legs and the wind through my nostrils made my head ache, but I loved it; and when we stopped by the edge of the lake, I was gasping for breath, and I felt flushed and happy. He not to bother us.” “Yes, “You I said, hoping that he would. There Was something vague and mysiterious that drew me to him, and I longed to know his secret. “But I want to go nowhere with you,” he said tightening his grip on “My name’s not Mud,” I replied as coldly as I could. “That’s okay, Mud,’ he added teasingly. “Where ya been the last few years?” I asked sitting up. “Nowhere,” he answered sitting down, “Where’s you big old dog today?” I asked half expecting a big red bulk of fur to smack into me any second. “He’s chasing rabbits. I told him “You shoulder. looked at me in his hands him, kissed me softly, and, took lifting my face it toward on the nose. “You’re okay, Mud,” he said quickly, ’and cute too.” I knew he didn’t expect an answer, so I just smiled. Then my mother’s voice | “Don’t call me Mud!” I said crossly, “and it’s these terrible weeds that stink.” “Just milkweeds,” he said,” I like the smell.” “Sure,” I said rising to my feet. He was beginning to get on my nerves and I was beginning to long for the smooth, sharp ways of Eric. “Where you going?’ he asked. “Nowhere,” I answered walking pierced the stillness, and he hurried- ly explained that he had to go. “Oh, don’t go,’ I said, “please wait and meet my mother.’ “No!” he said quickly, “but Ill meet you here tomorrow morning at ten.’ I nodded as he turned to go and said, 10 “Oh, and Rex ....I love the smell of miulkweeds.”’ He flashed me an approving smile and disappeared. I watched him until he was gone, feeling somewhat let down and even more perplexed about Rex. He was getting more mysterious by the minute, Just then my mother came walking out of the same clump of trees that Rex had disappeared into. Her tiny face was very red, and she looked worried. “Jill! Where have you I enjoyed that talked, and every minute We lay swam, with Rex ran, in the walked, sun. At tthe end of the day, we were at the edge of the lake again. The crimson sunset was reflecting it’s roundness in _ the late evening blue of the lake. and ‘our mood was peaceful. We both were worn and tired, but hap- py. We held hands for a long time, watching the sun sink behind the dark mountains. | I decided to break the silence and ask him to come and meet my parents again. I was very happy when he told me yes. SO we went tto meet my mother and father. They liked him, and were attracted by his charm just as I had been. We met the next day on the lake shore, and so the summer went. My summer with Rex. Rex taught me been? We've been terribly worried about you. It’s past seven o’clock.” I hadn’t noticed it before but the woods were beginning to get cool, and long shadows were forming in the dim light. “Well?” she asked again bringing me out of my thoughts. I didn’t answer. “Jill!” she exclaimed excitedly. “T was running, Mother, just running’ I said. Then I kissed her on the cheek lightly, put my arm around her and said, “Let’s eat. I’m starved.’ I hadn’t shown any sign of affection such as this in a long while. (In the crowd, it wasn’t “in” to like our parents.) She looked very surprised, but I could tell that she was pleased. She put her arm around my waist and we walked to ithe cabin in silence. The next day I met Rex at the lake as we had planned. He was wearing a light blue T-shirt and red swimming trunks. As usual, his cheeks were rosy and his eyes bright. We decided to go swimming and then hiking. He asked me if Russia could come, and I told him of course. Russia was a very peculiar dog.. She acted as if she could understand what you were saying. She gave me the creeps the way she looked at me and listened to Rex. She was just as mysterious as Rex, but I liked her because she was how to run through weeds, climb trees, and chase butterflies - how to really see and smell things - and how to live. I forgot about Eric, my gang, dressing to fit somebody else’s opinion of me, and many other things unimportant to me now. And at the end of this wonderful summer, I was happier than I had ever been. My mother was surprised and happy with the new simplicity of my life, and she really liked Rex. Rex had an uncanny way of making people love him without even trying. When we parted, I knew that Rex would be waiting for me by the lake when I returned the next year. When I asked for an address he just said, “Jill, I live anywhere. You know that, so how can you write?” he asked seriously; “But when you think of the mountains that rise to the sky, the great river, and our peaceful lake, I'll know you are thinking of me.” Rex, I wish you’d tell me where you live.” | really the one who had brought Rex and day. me together. 1