Double Bounce – Evelyn Winters

December 7, 2025

She took me to her trampoline. It was night time and there were stars, bats fluttering, and a moon the shape of my lazy eye. We jumped and flipped and giggled in the air. I could tell she was happiest when flying, so, I asked her if she wanted me to double bounce her. That’s when we had our first kiss. She said it’s like I know her more than she knows herself. With great vigor that can only come after a first kiss I double bounced her. She told me to do it again. And again. I was so happy to please her and it was something else to see the height I could never dare go. Do it again, she said. Higher. But I didn’t want to. I didn’t like her being so far away from me. It got to the point where she was getting harder to find in the sky. But I did what she asked. I’ve always been a sucker like that. Dad said I should try and get my way more often. He said I’ll get stepped on and go about life slithering around like a worm if I didn’t start going after what I want. But I couldn’t help it. I liked doing what people asked of me. Especially people I loved. When she came down she was breathing hard, a wide exuberance radiating from her. She kissed me again, but this time longer and open mouthed. One of those kisses kids at my school are always bragging about. If I had someone to brag to I would have, there’d be no stopping me. How can someone not divulge the greatest moment of their existence? One more time, she said. I did. I can still hear her giggles but I’ve forgotten her face. Whenever I attempt to picture her all I see are the stars aligned in an open-mouthed cackle, even you would die.