Sunny

Sunny Sweeny-Summer of 1987

At about 10:30 on the morning of August 31, 1987, Rory Collins went to visit his friends James and Sunny Sweeney. The Sweeneys were brothers and sisters in their twenties. James was twenty-three, and his sister was twenty-eight. They lived with their mother, Grace Sweeney, in a patio garden apartment in Ashville, Maryland, in Baltimore County. When Mr. Collins approached the apartment, he noticed that the patio door was ajar. He looked into the living room and saw Sunny's face lying face down in a pool of blood. The cause of death was discovered later.

__

Sunny was a stunning young lady with a slim build, a lovely button nose, an oval face, long, wavy auburn-brown hair, and stunning, piercing green eyes.

Everyone in the room turned to look at Sunny when she entered because she was so incredibly attractive in her own unique way.

But Sunny was even more beautiful on the inside because she loved unconditionally and cared deeply.

She was vibrant and full of life. You could always find her near the water, splashing around and having fun with her friends.

__

Sunny was a 1977 graduate of Raven High School. She began taking classes at a Baltimore County community college in interior design. However, a serious automobile accident interrupted her studies when she was twenty. Plastic surgeons had to operate on her face and shoulder to repair the damage from the accident. Sunny went through hell for a year but bounced back. Sunny's mother, Grace, has always bounced back too, finding the strength to survive her husband's death and her family's financial hardships.

The Sweeney's always pulled through!

__

It was a hot summer day on a Friday towards the end of June, and Sunny was just about to get off work.

Sunny worked at a furniture store called Buttons. She could not wait to get off and have a drink with her coworker friend, Beth Clark.

Beth was funny and cursed like a sailor at times. She had long, straight, jet black hair and loved to wear red or black clothing. Sunny could always count on Beth to make her laugh, and when she needed an extra hand at work, Beth was there for her.

Beth lived in an apartment a couple blocks down from Sunny, although she was raised in the countryside that was just a couple minutes from Ashville. Beth frequently spoke fondly of the times she spent growing up in the countryside and enjoyed spending time outdoors when she could.

__

At the end of the workday, Beth walked up to Sunny and said, "By ten o'clock, I'll pick you up." "Put on something sexy, because we're going to meet some hot guys! "

Sunny replied, "Gosh, Beth, does it always have to be about men? I just want to dance the night away! But don’t worry, I will wear something sexy! "

Beth laughed and replied, "Of course it's always about men!"

__

When Sunny got home, she had dinner with her brother James and her mother Grace. Sunny’s brother had dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes. He was a bit strange but super friendly and nice.

While passing the spaghetti to James, Sunny asked, "I’m going to a bar tonight with my friend Beth from work." "Want to tag along?"

After taking a bite from his plate, James replied, "I don’t want to impose on your girls' night out, but I'd love to meet your new friend that you talk so much about."

Sunny announced, "She's a crazy one, but you will love her!"

Mrs. Sweeney's mouth curled into a smile as she said to both of her children, "I love that you both share friends and spend so much time together." She then continued, "And Sunny, darling, you're such a good sister."

James replied, "It will always be that way." "We are two peas in a pod.

As Sunny put her fork down on her plate, she grinned, wiped her mouth with a cloth napkin, and said, "Yup! "

__

After dinner, she went into her room to get dressed.

She picked out tapered jeans and a pastel pink tank top, got dressed, and curled her hair into a big, glamorous style.

Sunny called out to her brother, "Ready to go?"

James replied, "Let's do this!"

Sunny smiled, grabbed her purse and apartment keys, and they walked outside.

__

Shortly after Beth arrived in her beat-up old car, Sunny and James jumped in the back seat.

Beth said, "This must be the famous little brother James." It's so nice to meet you! "

Sunny smiled and said, "Yes, this is him!"

__

They arrived at the bar and went inside. It was a nice little bar with a small dance floor, and they played the best eighties jams.

After a couple of drinks, Sunny, James, and Beth hit the dance floor. Beth was the type of girl who would walk up to any guy and start dancing with them, and that’s just what she did.

James was the shy type. He stood close to a corner, bopping his head to the beat.

Sunny danced with herself. She would sway to the beat and move her fingers through the air.

While James blended into the background, Sunny embraced her surroundings and let loose. She closed her eyes and let the music take over her body.

Sunny stood out and inspired everyone who saw her dance because of the way she moved her delicate frame. She was like an angel, with the grace of a dove and the strength of an eagle.

Sunny's lack of interest in men, however, irritated Beth. They all watched her, but Sunny seemed oblivious to the attention, focusing solely on the joy of dancing.

Beth couldn't understand why Sunny didn't want to date or find a partner. She thought that Sunny was wasting her beauty and charm by not using them to attract a man. But Sunny was content with her life, and she didn't need anyone else to make her happy. She found joy in dancing and expressing herself through movement, and that was enough for her. As she twirled around the dance floor, she felt free and alive, with no worries or fears holding her back. And even though James admired her from afar, he knew that he could never match the passion and energy that Sunny brought to every performance on the dance floor. But that was his cool older sister—the person he looked up to the most!

While Sunny was dancing, Beth pulled her aside and said, "Fuck! You can have anyone in the room. ""I just don't understand!"

Sunny smiled and shrugged, unconcerned.

Beth then takes a deep breath and continues, "Why don't you use your beauty to find a nice gentleman? "

Sunny replied, with a laugh, "Because I just want to dance and get lost in the music. " "I don’t need a man right now, and let's face it, no one in this bar is a gentleman!"

Beth replied back, "You have a point there!" as she grinned at Sunny, shaking her head slightly in amusement.

__

The next day was a dazzlingly hot Saturday, so James and Sunny made plans with their friends Rory Collins and Finn Gibson to swim at the Beaver Dam swimming hole.

Finn was a big teddy bear. He had a short and stocky build with a bushy beard and kind eyes that made him look like he was always smiling. He was great friends with James, lived in a different part of Asheville than the Sweeneys, and treated Sunny like a sister.

Rory was a friend that lived in Baltimore City, and he came down to visit every now and then. He was a gentleman, a looker with blonde surfer-like hair, but Sunny never seemed to be into him that way, as most girls would fall head over heels for the boy with silky blonde locks . Despite this, Rory and Sunny had a deep connection, as they shared a love for music and would often spend hours jamming out together. Rory was also an avid reader and would recommend books to Sunny that she would devour in a matter of days. Their conversations were always deep and thought-provoking, and Sunny appreciated how Rory challenged her to think outside the box. Even though they lived in different cities, their friendship remained strong over the years, and they made sure to catch up whenever possible.

__

Ashville is a small area of mostly apartment complexes up and down Cranbrook Road.

Everyone knew everyone, and that's why Sunny had a tight knit group of friends.

—-

The Sweeney siblings and two friends met up at the gorgeous dam and enjoyed the freshwater quarry.

Sunny looked amazing in her pink bikini. The sun struck her auburn hair, giving it a radiant shine.

Sunny grabbed on to the infamous rope swing and yelled, " See you suckers later!" She swung and fell into the quarry's water.

Finn was the next person to jump after her, saying, "Wait for me!" and "I'm ready to make a splash too!" With a big smile, Finn grabbed the rope and swung across, hooting and hollering as he landed in the water.

After Finn swung in, it was Rory's turn for the infamous rope. As he swung, he closed his eyes and felt the wind rush past him. When he opened them again, he saw the clear blue sky above him and the sparkling water below. The thrill of the swing made his heart race, and he let out a whoop of excitement as he let go and dropped into the water. His golden blonde hair soaked up the water as he surfaced, grinning from ear to ear.

Everyone laughed, and then it was James’s turn. However, he was afraid of heights, so he got into the quarry the regular way , by climbing down the rocky slope. After watching his friends swing from the rope, he couldn't help but feel left out. He wished he had the courage to join in on the fun. But as much as he wanted to, his fear held him back. Instead, he contented himself with wading in the shallow end of the quarry and watching his friends have a blast. And as the day wore on, James grew more and more frustrated with himself. He didn't want to be known as the scaredy-cat of the group.

Sunny swam closer to the shallow end of the water to be closer to her brother.

Sunny lightly gave her brother James a hug and said, "I know it can be scary, but remember, high times and good times equal fun! " She then smiled while pulling her wet long hair out of her face and continued saying, One day you’re going to have to swing from that rope! "

James replied, "One day I will have the guts!"

Despite his fear, James knew that eventually he'd have to face it head-on and find the courage to swing from the rope.

Suddenly, Finn put his hand on Sunny's shoulder and said, "Sorry to break up such a sweet sibling moment, but I’m going to have to do this!"

Finn picked up Sunny and threw her back into the water with a playful splash. Sunny emerged from the water, laughing and spluttering. James couldn't help but smile at the sight of his sister having fun.

Everyone laughed and continued to enjoy their day by the water. As they lounged in the grass, soaking up the sun, James couldn't help but feel grateful for his friends and family. He knew that life was full of ups and downs, but moments like these made it all worth it. They reminded him that good times and bad times were all part of the journey and that it was important to cherish every moment along the way. With a smile on his face, James decided that he was ready to face his fear and take on that rope swing. After all, what's life without a little adventure?

With a deep breath, James took a running start and launched himself off the edge of the cliff. As he swung through the air, he felt an exhilarating rush of adrenaline that made him both scared and alive.

James murmured to himself, "Holy sh*t."

The wind whipped through his hair and the sun beat down on his face, but he didn't care. In that moment, nothing else mattered except for the pure joy of living in the present. As he landed safely in the water below, James couldn't help but feel proud of himself for facing his fear head-on.

Despite being on the slower side in terms of education, he knew that life would continue to present him with obstacles, but he was prepared to face them head-on with courage and determination.

Everyone was so proud of James for overcoming his fear and taking the leap. His family and friends cheered him on from the water, their faces beaming with admiration.

That Saturday, the Sweeney's siblings and their two friends had a great time swimming in the 200-foot-deep quarry. After jumping off floating platforms, rolling logs, and diving, the fun quickly came to an end, and everyone returned to their homes.

That night, as Sunny got into her bed, a thunderstorm came. It was the most harmonious sound ever made after a long day of swimming. With a loud bang, sleek crackles, and a peaceful rumble, Sunny went into a deep slumber as the sound of rain pitter-pattered on the rooftop like a soothing lullaby.