Chapter 3

"You are crazy!" Allie said excitedly, "Maybe," Noah replied. They treaded the water, their faces suddenly very close. After a second, she splashed his face. "I hate you," Allie said but it was more like 'i like you?' Allie turned, started toward shore, when Noah reached out, stopping her. She turned and kissed him, hungry, took his face in her hands, devoured him. And together they sank under the water, still kissing. (Present Day)... Duke read "southern summers are indifferent to the trials of young love. Armed with warnings and doubts…" Duke was still reading to Old Allie from the notebook. His thick glasses exaggerated the size of his eyes. Duke continued "... Noah and Allie gave a remarkably convincing portrayal of a boy and girl travelling down a very long road with no regard for the consequences." "They fell in love, didn't they?" Old Allie asked. "I knew it. Good. I like this kind of story. Go on," Old Allie urged. Nurse Selma approached in her white uniform and then suggested "lovely day outside. How about a walk?" Old Allie said "oh, not now, young lady. This nice man is just reading me a most fascinating story." "That's nice. But I want you to get some exercise, take some fresh air into your lungs," the nurse pointed out politely then Duke offered "I'll take her in a few minutes. Soon. I promise." He gave a wink and Nurse Selma moved off. "Okay. Go on. Read," Old Allie said impatiently. Duke reading "after that day on the lake, Allie and Noah spent every waking hour together. Soon, they were inseperable… "

(Story Continues… ) Outside lumberyard during the day on quitting time. The employees walked to the parking lot and Allie was waiting. When she saw Noah, she ran and jumped on him, kissing him then followed hoots and hollers from Fin and the workers. At night at the movie theater, Sarah and Fin watched the movie. Noah and Allie were wildly making out, paying no attention to the screen. The next day on the dirt road , Noah and Fin rode Allie and Sara on two bicycles, the girls on the handlebars. The next day, at the New Bern Streets park bench, Noah and Allie ate ice cream cones. "Ew," Allie jested, "what?" Asked Noah. "Smell this. I think it's gone bad," said Allie as she passed it to Noah. He went to smell it, and she stuck the cone in his face, getting ice cream everywhere. She then proceeded to lick it off his eyes, his nose, his lips. At the Calhoun house road at night, Allie walked down the moonlit road and saw Noah and his father, Frank Calhoun, sitting on the front porch in rocking chairs. Noah's voice drifted in the summer night air. "I depart ad air, I shake my white locks at the runway sun… " said Noah. Allie watched transfixed. Noah finished the poem and there was a moment of silence. "I think you have a visitor, son," said his father. Noah looked up to see Allie silhouetted by moonlight. She was embarrassed. "I'm sorry. I didn't mean to interrupt," said Allie nervously, Noah's father standing "who's interrupting? You're not interrupting. We could use something around here that doesn't smell like plywood."

"Dad, this is Allison Hamilton," Noah introduced Allie to his father. "Allie, pleased to meet you, Mr. Calhoun," Allie spoke respectfully. "My father was Mr. Calhoun. Call me Frank," he said. For some reason, Frank thought this was hysterical. "So, this is Allie?" Asked his father. "Dad?" Noah warned. "Allie, Allie, Allie. She's pretty, son. Even prettier than you said," said his father teasingly. "Is that right?" Asked Allie. "Oh, you two are ganging up on me? Really nice," he said as they laughed. "That poem was beautiful. What was it?" asked Allie. "Whitman. When Noah was young, he used to stutter," his father said. Noah corrected "stammer." "Same damn thing. Couldn't understand a damn word he said," said his father. "Really?" Allie asked unaware. Noah was mortified, but Allie was enjoying the story. Frank continued " so, I had him read poetry aloud to me. It wasn't very pretty at first. But after a while, it started sounding good. And before you know it, the stutter was gone." Good idea, that poetry," said Allie smiling. "That's what I thought. I'm a Tennyson man myself. But he loves Whitman, so I let him have his way. Now, does anybody want some breakfast?" Said his father as he asked. "Breakfast?" Allie asked surprised. "Dad, it's ten o'clock at night," Noah made him aware of the fact that he was making this situation even more akward. "It's a free country. I figure I can eat pancakes anytime I damn please. Now, who's hungry?" His father asked then Noah and Allie looked at each other.