One evening, after returning home from his Italian lesson, Carter was moodily considering these things as he lay stretched out on the love seat on his front porch. His head propped awkwardly against the wooden arm on one end, his legs dangling over the top of the other, he stayed there for a time, gazing blankly at the darkened sky. It was a cool night, another reminder that summer was on the wane and fall would not be long in coming. He had just decided to go inside to watch a pre-season football game on the television when from next door came the sound of a screen door banging shut. Carter looked over to the Mahoneys’ house, where he saw Sheila descend the front steps. At seeing her walk across her front yard in his direction, he pulled in his legs and sat up straight.

Dressed in shorts and a lightweight hooded sweatshirt, a paper bag clutched in her hand, Sheila crossed the driveway and walked up to the porch.

“Hey there, stranger,” she said, giving him a nod. “Long time no see. Feel like a little company for a few minutes?”

“Sure thing,” said Carter with a smile. “Come on up and join me. I’m having another exciting night here listening to the crickets.”

“Hey, I love the sound of crickets,” she said. “I could listen to them all night.”

“Then you’ve come to the right place,” said Carter, sliding over to make room for her on the seat.

Sheila sat next to him, set the paper bag at her feet, and pulled out a bottle of beer. She twisted off the cap and handed it to him.

“Wow, this is service,” said a surprised but pleased Carter. He looked at the bottle and back at Sheila. “I hope you’re not going to make me drink alone.”

“Don’t worry,” said Sheila, drawing a second bottle from the bag. “I came prepared.”

She twisted off the cap and held up the bottle.

Carter eyed her for a moment, trying to read her expression.

“We drinking to anything special tonight?” he asked at last.

“How about to life after college?” she offered.

“That’s good enough for me.”

At that the two clinked their bottles together, and they each took a sip. For a time they fell silent, until Carter gestured to her sweatshirt.

“A little cool tonight,” he said.

“Fall’s coming,” said Sheila. “Can you feel it?”

“I can,” nodded Carter. “I don’t know when it happened, but today I could feel a change in the air. All of a sudden it had that little bit of crispness in it.”

“I know what you mean,” smiled Sheila. “It makes you want to go to the mall and buy some sweaters and corduroys.”