Elisabeth stepped outside again, now with a tall glass of sweet ice tea. She had taken a minute to change into something cooler yet, a flimsy halter top and a breezy pair of shorts. She also sported a pair of sunglasses, and were it not for the dark freckles on her shoulder she might have been mistaken for younger than she was.<br/><br/>As she stepped out the front door, meaning to inspect her gardening and lawn work, her attention was instead drawn to the unmistakable sound of girls. They were riding their bikes along the street, and talking. Elisabeth knew these girls, or of them at least. She wasn't sure of their names but had eyed them over the years as they blossomed from prepubescent girls to budding teenagers with curves that hinted at more. They seemed happy and effervescent, chattering away as they basked in one of the last carefree summers left.<br/><br/>On the pretense of checking the mailbox at the end of the drive, Elisabeth sashayed casually to the street, smiling at the girls innocently enough, while secretly admiring the youthful forms. The two seemed close, and good friends. Elisabeth wondered if the two had ever experimented. They couldn't have been more than seventeen; she herself having done so before that age. One was Asian, the other white and both freshed faced and as pretty as new flowers.<br/><br/>Elisabeth smiled, even waved, hoping to get their attention, if for a moment. Such two adorable distractions would be just the remedy for a mother's empty nest.