I remember as a little boy I'd see this little girl playing in her yard down the street. I thought she was the cutest thing I ever did see. I'd watch her all day, just wishing I had the courage to speak but I never could. And I'd never see her throughout town just in the yard tending her garden or on the porch just watching and reading.
And so life went on That was untill I got my first job delivery's for the neighborhood corner store. I would deliver random items all day throughout the neighborhood and then clean up the shop around closing time. It was a dream job I even got to deliver to my crushes house. Oh I was blessed or so I thought. You see she'd always meet me at the door we would have our little chit chats, and then some old man I think he could be her daddy, would pier through the window and she would recommend that I'd leave and continue my route.
Which it never bothered me. Because I'd lose my job if things went undelivered. And so that's how my summer went I'd save up all of my paychecks with a dream in the back of my head. I'd buy me a suit get some flowers and I'd take the girl of my dreams on a date or rather a picnic.
So as the summer went on and day finally approached I went to the tailor and told the man "I've saved and I've saved and I've saved all summer. I'd like to get snazzy, so I could take the future misses out on a picnic. And start a romantic tale". The tailor just smiled. "Let me see how much you got kid". I handed him my envelope full of my wages and tips. And the tailor let out a whistle and said "your a man with a goal I see determined ain't yah" to which I replied yes sir with a big ole smile. He then continued to ask me "which color of suit would you like" to which I've given it a lot of thought. So with out hesitation I replied "khaki sir". "With a velvet tie and a hat to match". The Taylor smiled again and said " smart man" and set off to work.
When I say I left the tailor feeling like I was the man to be I was the coolest thing moving since they put wheels on the cooler. I even had enough to get the flowers and sandwiches I needed to complete my master scheme. So I went to the shop I worked at. As soon as I entered my boss started calling me Hollywood. He went on to asking me what was the occasion. To which I told him I was a man with a plan to take me crush on our first date. He could just grin like the tailor as he prepared my order. I picked out some sunflowers for my crush. I figured they were perfect because regardless the day it always brightened my mood to be able to see her. I also got us turkey and cheddar on rye with a bag of chips and sodas to drink I had all my ingredients for my plan just needed to get the ball rolling.
Oh how I wished and I prayed she'd say yes to me as I walked to her house the journey seemed longer then usual. Or rather I was walking slow as I was enjoying the walk on the outside and lamenting the answer of my one dream date. I rounded the corner to her street. Opened the gate to her yard and as usual she met me at the door with a surprised look. "We don't have any deliveries today" she said. She had some elegance to her in a way that was time less her long dark hair and her glasses that framed her face and a smile that just warmed your heart if you ever did see it. I took a deep breath put on my best smile and said "I know I'm delivering for my self today and these are for you". I handed her the flowers and she flashed me one of her precious smiles which almost made me weak at the knees. And then she looked me up and down as if just seeing for the first time. She said "well we'll arnt we dressed to the nines I likeee, Mr Baltimore what is the occasion?" To which I replied " only thing I've ever wanted was to maybe go on a date with you so I thought how about we go on a picnic?"
And the moment was finally here it seemed like time slowed as soon as those words left my mouth, my heart started pumping so loud I swear she could hear it and my mouth turned drier then the Sahara desert. I was ready to run and hide. But she just put on her seventh wonder smile and said "I thought you'd never ask".
Never ask I thought never ask! Oh how musical it sounded to my ears not only did I fancy her she fancied me. It was ment to be. But then her face shut down as if something was troubling her she lowered her head and said "I can't leave my houses property but I have somewhere we could go here that'd be beautiful if you wouldn't mind." With out thinking I replied " mam I wouldn't mind at all". So I stuck my elbow out for her to grab onto and told her to lead the way
She led me around the side of her house and to her back yard which seemed to go on for quite a distance untill it met the mountain side. It had fountains and gardens and hedges it was almost like it was a completely other world. And we just strolled through it all keeping up with our normal chit chat. walking toward the mountain wall. And as we got closer I noticed there was a opening in it and looked as if it could be a mine of some sorts. But I never heard of a mine here that was on the other side of town and it seemed as if she was going to take us into it. I stopped at the entrance almost hesitant to which she looked me in the eyes and smiled and said "just trust me".
I had no resolve in that moment it was as if she had cast a spell on me and I was hers to do with as she pleased. We continue inside a little bit untill the light from the entrance faded. To which I said "don't we need a lantern or something" she just smiled and shook her head no saying " just a little more mr Baltimore just wait untill you see it". We hit a bend in the tunnel the light from the entrance was lost. And we came upon this cavern where the tunnel kept going off to the left. But I found something on the ceiling I couldn't put my finger on it but there was as if there were shinning crystals dotted all along the ceiling. And I was taken by surprise it was something truly magical. It was as if the stars them selves were with us in this very cave. Almost mesmerized I kept walking untill she gripped my arm tightly and stopped and said "here we are".
I finally took my eyes off of the ceiling and looked down there was a pond there that reflected the ceiling if she didn't tell me to stop I know I would of walked fell right into it. And as I peered into it I could see some little things zipping back and forth inside it. I figured them to be tad poles. The whole time I didn't realize we had stopped talking and my jaw was just hanging there agape. For I had never seen anything so beautiful besides her. And the two together was otherworldly. She then proceeded to let go of my arm and trace my jaw line with her index finger and push my jaw closed as she giggled saying I'd catch a fly like that. I almost forgotten my self in this new world "ahem" I cleared my throat and spreaded the blanket I had brought with me on the ground and sat down the rest of the bags offering her a hand to help her sit. Which she took daintily and sat down with the grace of a butterfly.
The moment was perfect her sitting beside me in such a wonderful place I was left speechless she scochhed in close to me leaning her head on my shoulder and said "you know this is my first date ever" which snapped me from my trance.
"Oh really lucky me it is my first as well I've dreamed of this day, and never in a million years I thought it'd be this perfect."
She giggled
"I know I've seen you watching me and the way you act when you make you delivery's stopping to fix your self up before entering my yard".
I was started and flushed red blushing she was watching the whole time I was so embarrassed.
"I always thought it was so cute all the extra effort you'd take to stay and chat with me always brightened my day"
If only she knew it was her who really illuminated every day I got to see her.
"This moment right here is trully perfect I could relive it every day and still count my self lucky" I said.
She just looked up at me smiled and kissed me on the cheek. I being so lost in the moment forgot I had even brought food for us so I straightened up and start to drag the items from the bag and disperse them between us two. And soo the time went by us chit chatting eating and telling life stories. She was from beyond the mountains and didn't remember her homeland or her parents. And told me that the old man that would peer through the window was her uncle. And that the house had been in there family for generations untill finally being inherited by her uncle. And continued onto say she even fell into the pond at our very feet once and got all quite.
All of a sudden I started to here noises and lights come from the other end of the tunnel and her face turned. It was as if she was trully scared she jumped up pulling me up with her. And pushed me towards the tunnel we entered from. "Leave the property now" she said "run and don't stop untill your on the street" she pushed me off looking like she was about to cry. I hesitated looking at her confused. Tears started rolling down her cheek. " I'm so sorry but you must go now! Please Run pleaaaseee run just run don't look back just run."
So I took off at top speed running as fast as I can doing as she said. I burst through her side gate and continued to her main gate. Trying to jump straight over the small picket fence. Boom! It was almost as if I hit a brick wall I was sent sprawling back onto her lawn.