Exposure

On the gentle climb up the hill through the apple orchard, Betty stopped abruptly, nearly dropping the basket and blanket on the ground, to pick a bright-red apple. She took a bite and then held it up to Bill’s mouth so he could take one, too. “Nothing like having the first fruit right from the tree,” she said through a mouthful of juicy apple. As they slowly made their way through the brown, knee-deep grass beyond the orchard, Betty continued to feed Bill bites of the apple until it was eaten down to the core. At the top of the hill Betty stopped again and turned around without saying a word. Bill followed her movements to discover a beautiful, panoramic view of the Hill-Stead farm and the valley beyond to the distant hills. For several moments neither of them moved nor spoke; they just took in the beautiful scene in silence. Quietly, not breaking his gaze, Bill set down the camera case and tripod while Betty spread out the blanket, placed the open basket next to it, and sat down. As soon as Bill turned in her direction, she patted the blanket next to her as an invitation for him to join her. “Look,” she said, staring straight ahead, “isn’t it gorgeous?” “It certainly is,” he said, sitting next to her on the blanket. “And I feel certain this is the same spot the old photo was taken from. The only thing that’s different is the size of the trees.” “I just knew you’d love it here as much as I do,” Betty said, leaning gently back against his left arm and settling against his chest. “I’ve never shared this view with another person, or even told anyone about it. Most people follow the marked trail on the guide and stop at the bench down there,” she said, pointing down the hill. “Even people who walk up from the orchard, as we did, tend to stop at the bench and take in the view. I try to not leave a trail in the tall grass. I use a different way up and down each time, and I never go near the bench.” She paused and sighed deeply. When she continued, it was as if she were thinking out loud, spontaneously sharing her thoughts with Bill. “When I first came here a few years ago, it felt comfortable. There was something familiar about it, like I had been here a long time ago. Perhaps my parents brought me here as a child, when I was too young to remember it, but just the same I had a clear impression of it. I always feel safe and totally at peace when I’m here.” For a long, serene moment they said nothing at all. Then Betty turned gently and took a thermos from the picnic basket. “Would you like a glass of homemade iced tea?” “I certainly would, thanks.” Betty poured two glasses and gave one to Bill. Then, kneeling face-to-face on the plaid blanket and sitting back on their heels, they shared a spontaneous, silent toast, their glasses touching to make a soft clinking sound. Then they settled back on the blanket, sitting so close together that Bill was immersed in Betty’s warmth and fragrance as they shared the beautiful scene before them in total peace, just enjoying each other’s company and that moment in time. “When are you going to take the photo you came for?” Betty finally asked. “I could do it now, if you’d like,” Bill replied politely, not wanting to break the mood. “Sure, why not?” Betty said with smile. At that prod from Betty, Bill stood up, placed the camera on the tripod, and took a series of spot meter readings across the scene, from highlight to shadow, before calculating in his head the proper aperture and shutter speed. As he ducked under the focusing hood, Bill caught a quick glimpse of Betty looking up at him admiringly from the blanket just a few feet away to his left. His concentration completely broken, Bill turned the camera from the landscape to Betty without even coming out from under the hood. He then tossed the hood over the camera and focused directly on Betty, taking another series of exposure readings from his new subject and setting the lens accordingly. She was now lying propped up on her right arm in the middle of the plaid blanket, her cheek gently resting in the palm of her hand, her crystal-blue eyes brightened by the clear blue sky above. There were just enough buttons undone on her blouse to reveal the soft curve of her right breast. Everything about the moment seemed unreal to Bill, as though he were watching a play and at the same time participating in it. Captivated by her figure, feeling like he was moving in slow motion, he ducked back under the focusing cloth and began to compose the image on the focusing screen while Betty held the pose like a model. Heart pounding, Bill struggled to get beyond his excitement and tackle the photographic task before him. He feared making a technical error and not quite capturing on film what he now saw and felt. Moving out from under the hood again, he looked directly into Betty’s eyes as he released the shutter. Wanting to be sure he had the image on film, Bill quickly checked all the camera settings, recomposed, and refocused before making another, final exposure. After the last click of the shutter, Bill came out from behind the camera and knelt on the blanket close to Betty. Then, his heart pounding wildly, he leaned over and kissed her very softly on the lips. He knew he shouldn’t touch her, but he already had. He knew that he was breaking his contract with the school and with the law, but he could no longer resist. No wonder John joined the army, he thought. He sat back on his heels, and Betty rolled onto her back with her arms outstretched, palms up, so that her open blouse slid up on her belly. In response, Bill leaned over her, supported by his arms, and kissed her on the mouth, long and deep. Immersed in the prolonged, passionate kiss, Bill hovered above her like he was floating on air, suspended in space and time. He then slowly lowered himself on top of her, gently embracing her body with his body until they were exhausted and out of breathe. He rolled to onto his back next to Betty, holding her by the hand, and continued to breathe deeply, feeling occasional, uncontrolled ripples of delight flow through his body. Slowly, as though suspended by a parachute, he reached the ground safely. He felt Betty’s deep, relaxed breathing next to him.