s.Hemadethemallyearlongexceptformidsummer,whenthebeachwasfullofpeoplefarintothenight.Sometimeshewouldmaketwoaweek,andsometimeshewouldgoamonthwithoutone.Hispacewasdetermiheamountofdriftwoodthatwashedashore.Ahetimecameforafire,hewouldbesuretocallJunko.Keisukehadanuglyjealousstreak,butMiyakewastheoneexception.HewouldribJunkoabouther“bonfirebuddy.”

    Theflamesfinallyfoundtheirwaytothebiggestlog,andnowatlastthebonfirewassettlinginforalongburn.Junkoloweredherselftothesandybeadstaredattheflameswithhermouthshuttight.Miyakeadjustedtheprogressofthefirewithgreatcare,usingalongbranchtokeeptheflamesfromeitherspreadingtooquicklyorlosingstrength.Fromhissmallpileofsparefuel,hewouldoccasionallypickalengthofdriftwoodandtossitiwasneeded.

    Keisukeannouhathehadastomachache:“Must’vecaughtachill.ThinkIjustneedacrap.”

    “Whydon’tyougohomea?”Junkosaid.

    “Yeah,Ireallyshould,”Keisukesaid,lookingsorryforhimself.“Howaboutyou?”

    “Don’tworryaboutJun,”Miyakesaid.“I’llseeherhome.She’llbefine.”

    “Okay,then.Thanks.”Keisukeleftthebeach.

    “He’ssuidiot,”Junkosaid,shakingherhead.“Hegetscarriedawayanddrinkstoomuch.”

    “Iknowwhatyoumean,Jun,butit’snogoodbeingtoosensiblewhenyou’reyoung.Itjustspoilsthefun.Keisuke’sgothisgoodpoints,too.”

    “Maybeso,buthedoesn’tusehisbrainforanything.”

    “Somethingsyourbrain’thelpyouwith.It’snoteasybeingyoung.”

    Thetwofellsilentforawhileinthepresehefire,eachlostinprivatethoughtsaingtimeflowalongseparatepaths.

    ThenJunkos