Writing Excercise: Description

ALTERNATE ROUTES TO ROOFTOPS

Being hauled up, my arms stretch and everything scratches. My toes have just barely left the fence, and I dangle here, completely dependent upon two girls who posses the physical dexterity I lacked wriggling onto a plateau above a Hawaii Kai cul de sac of nearly identical homes. We scale one roof among many, one vast expanse of whiteness – a blank canvas. The view towards the rest of the neighborhood consists of empty rooftops and pristine front lawns. Dusting off and walking around, we are amazed at our new perspective, our place directly above the marina. We contemplate; weigh the risks of jumping off our perch where we could shatter the complacency of the man-made lake. The roof is flat, it gives a little when we bounce, and we’ve forgotten others sheltered beneath it. No, it’s just us, she replies. We shy away, she continues with an apology. The neighbors are heading out, we can stay.
We roll skateboards; and savor baguettes with cream soda.

We let the warmth of the sun seep into our bones. Now, I watch dog-walkers and joggers, waiting for their reaction to three girls in bikinis sitting on a roof. Laughter binds us and later, full of contentment we lower ourselves, find the ledge and shimmy on down.