Kisses from Yesterday

Episode 1: The First Meeting The sun was setting on a warm summer evening, painting the sky with hues of pink and orange as Joni’s family unloaded boxes from their car. Her mother, Mary, was directing the move with the usual efficiency she brought to every task, while her father, William, was at the front door, fumbling with the keys and trying to get the door open. Joni, being a curious and adventurous five-year-old, was running back and forth between the driveway and the porch, occasionally stopping to peer into the boxes or ask her mother questions about where her toys would go. The excitement of a new home, with its new smells and new corners to explore, filled her with an energy she could hardly contain. As she wandered to the edge of the front yard, peeking around the bushes, she saw a figure across the street. A boy, probably a little older than her, was sitting on his bike in front of a well-kept house, looking over at the new neighbors. His tousled brown hair fell over his forehead, and his dark eyes were watching her with mild curiosity. He had a strong build for a boy his age, his legs sun-kissed from the summer days spent outside, and the worn T-shirt he wore was evidence of his frequent outdoor adventures. Joni hesitated, a little nervous, but the intrigue of meeting someone new overpowered her shyness. She slowly walked over to the sidewalk and stood a few feet away from him, observing him from the corner of her eye. The boy noticed her looking, and with a friendly grin, he waved. “Hey, you’re the new neighbor, right?” Joni blinked, surprised. She had never met anyone so quickly before. She felt a rush of excitement that someone had noticed her. She nodded enthusiastically. “Yeah, we just moved here! My name’s Joni.” “I’m Jimmy,” the boy said, still sitting on his bike, but he straightened up a little. “Nice to meet you.” Joni smiled shyly. “I’m five. How old are you?” “I’m ten,” Jimmy replied, his voice steady but kind, as if talking to a younger child was no trouble at all. Joni’s eyes widened. She had never met anyone so much older than her. She had siblings, but they were much younger, and none of them had a bike like his. “That’s big!” she said, pointing at his bike. “Is it yours?” Jimmy grinned and nodded. “Yeah. I’ve had it for a couple of years. Do you like bikes?” Joni nodded enthusiastically. “I think I want one when I’m bigger, but... Mom says I have to wait until I’m six.” Jimmy chuckled, his voice warm. “That’s a good plan. I had to wait, too.” For a few moments, they simply stood there, both unsure of how to proceed. Joni was still shy, though her curiosity was growing, while Jimmy was quietly amused by the little girl who was so eager to speak with him. After a few seconds, Jimmy leaned his bike against the fence and stood up. “You want to see my bike up close?” he asked, stepping toward it. “I can show you how it works.” Joni’s eyes lit up, her curiosity piqued. She nodded eagerly, taking a few steps forward to get a better look. “Really?” she asked, her voice full of excitement. “You’ll let me see it?” “Sure!” Jimmy said, bending down to lift the bike, showing Joni how the wheels spun and how the brakes worked. “This is the bell,” he said, ringing it for effect. “And these are the gears. Makes it easier to go up hills.” Joni’s mouth formed an “O” as she watched with fascination. “I didn’t know bikes could do all that.” Jimmy smiled, enjoying the way Joni’s eyes sparkled with wonder. There was something endearing about the way she looked at him, like he was some kind of expert who knew everything. He wasn’t used to the adoration of younger kids, but there was something nice about it. After a few moments, Joni’s mother called her from the front yard. “Joni, come on inside now. Dinner’s ready!” Joni looked up at Jimmy, feeling a mix of excitement and disappointment. She didn’t want to leave yet, but she knew her mother would expect her. “I have to go,” she said, sounding almost apologetic. “But maybe we can play tomorrow?” Jimmy nodded with a smile. “Sure thing. I’ll be around.” As Joni turned to run back to the house, she glanced over her shoulder. Jimmy waved goodbye, and she waved back, already planning what games she might play with him the next day. That evening, after dinner, Joni couldn’t stop talking about Jimmy. She told her mother all about the bike and how he showed her the gears and the bell. Her mother smiled and nodded, noting that it was nice to have a friendly neighbor. Joni’s father also seemed pleased, but he made a joke about how Jimmy was probably too old to be playing with a five-year-old. Joni’s response was immediate. “I don’t care! He’s nice,” she said with determination, as though that was the most important thing. And from that day forward, Joni looked forward to the moments when Jimmy would be outside, riding his bike or playing in his yard. She would often watch from her bedroom window as he came and went, wishing she could join him. Sometimes she’d go outside to say hello, and on those days, Jimmy would pause whatever he was doing to chat with her. He was kind to her in a way that felt like a protective older brother, though she didn’t fully understand what that meant. All she knew was that he made her feel safe and important. Jimmy never once treated her like a nuisance, even though he was much older, and she couldn’t help but admire the way he carried himself. For Jimmy, spending time with Joni was easy. Though he was at the age where boys typically spent time with their peers, Joni was different. She wasn’t just a little girl to him—she was someone who looked up to him in a way no one else did. He’d seen kids his age admire him before, but it was different with Joni. There was a purity to her adoration, an innocence that made him feel special. And so, over the next few weeks, their friendship began to bloom. Joni would wait eagerly for Jimmy to return home from his afternoon bike rides, and when he did, they’d spend hours talking about nothing in particular—everything from her favorite cartoons to his favorite games. As the days went by, Joni began to view Jimmy less as just a neighbor and more as a friend—a friend who would never let her down. To her, he was the epitome of what a big brother should be: fun, protective, and never too busy to spend time with her. Little did Joni know that this innocent friendship, which started with bike rides and giggles, would eventually become something more complicated as they both grew older. But for now, their bond was simple and pure, and nothing else seemed to matter. As Joni lay in bed that night, she thought about her new friend. She smiled as she imagined what tomorrow would bring—a whole day to play and explore with Jimmy, her protector, her guide to the world around her. It was the start of something she would never forget, the beginning of a relationship that would shape both of their lives forever.