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I didn’t kno to respond, so I didn’t respond at all I knew the truth of what Saood distraction froh the years, but souilt remained

We rolled into Nephi, and I wondered if Saood food and it sat at the edge of town by the freeway off-ra it accessible to thru-traffic and town’s folk alike I wondered if I would see anybody I knew inside - soet the scoop and an introduction on the pretense of giving two hoots about hoas doing I hated rocery store and other places just so that I wouldn’t have to think of things to say I liked people, I cared about theood person, but don’t make me chat idly on the telephone orpolite We neared the restaurant and Sa I breathed a little easier and wondered aloud where he was takingstory about a pond in this area I thought we’d have a picnic Grandood stuff"

"Burraston’s Pond?"

"That’s the one"

Thoughts of Kasey filled e tree and into the pond Some of the branches extended far out over the water Soh up in the same tree to jump from The platform was about two feet by two feet, and it was a wonder nobody had been killed They had never been able to talk me up into the tree I ay too sensible So with h into the uppermost branches, steady themselves on the little platfor with terror and delight

We took the old Mona road and at the turnoff to the pond, veered west on the dirt road pocked with deep grooves and tire tracks Since school was back in session the campsite was empty, and the little lake was completely void of people and boats There was no wind, and the setting sun shied in ebony shadows I hadn’t been to Burraston’s since before Kasey had died, but felt no overpowering out, a place to play, and except for sharing our first kiss here, it was not a spot I was especially nostalgic about

Looking at it now, I realized how lovely it was Quiet and abandoned, it seemed to bloom in its solitude We bounced over the bumpy road and took the fork that took us up and around the pond

"Where’s the best spot?" Sauidance

Burraston’s Pond was actually Burraston’s Ponds, with a few little water holes that broke off the biggest part

"Keep going around until we’re on the furthest side of the main pond" Trees were thick in some spots, sparse and others, and I directed hi the water Sarabbed a coarse blanket and a little cooler froerly clie where I thought we could picnic

The silence was broken only by the crickets war sy over the water I had never been to Burraston’s when it was deserted It was not surprising to me that I liked it much better this way Sa the water lap up against the rocks and twigs that littered the shore at the base of the big tree