I saw a lot in the park. Different colors abound. The grass was leafy green, the sky was pure blue, and the sun was bright yellow.
I also saw many there. Their faces were also colored with laughter and happiness. Families, children, and friends move from all directions within the park and I’m in the middle of it all.
Lucky them!
Unlike them, I just carefully walked in the park. My destination was certain. I’m going to see Craig… alone!
Though it was a bright sunny day, I felt as if I was in a horror movie. My heart was beating a million beats per minute. Every step I took towards ‘you know where’ seemed like an eternity to me.
I looked at my watch and I’m still early by a few minutes. I’m still safe for now.
A few steps later, I looked far away and there it was… the statue! There were many benches and I was still too far off to know whether Craig was in one of them.
I stopped in my tracks. Though my feet were not moving, my heart now was beating a BILLION beats per minute!
Relax, PA, relax.
Breathe in, breathe out, breath in, breathe out, breathe in, breathe out.
I stood there and looked for my pocket mirror. Ah. Here it is.
I unfolded it…

“Now how do I look?” I asked at the mirror.
“You’re just yourself and you look fine girl,” my conscience answered back, “Now, go to your date. He’s probably waiting, you know?”
“I just want to assure myself, okay?”
“Okay!”

I’m still having the jitters, oh boy! When will my heart slow down for a change?

“Now answer me this, Ms. Know-it-all,” I said. Then I asked a “fairy-tale” question to her, “Mirror, mirror, on the wall, who’s the fairest of them all?”
My conscience answered, “I’m not on the wall okay?”
“Okay, you’re not then,” I said, “But I’m the fairest, right?”
“Well,” she said, “too tell you the truth, I would have to say Trinket, Cissy, and…”
Snap! I quickly placed my mirror back in my pocket, “Traitor!”
I heard a voice from my pocket, “Hey! I’m just telling the truth, you know?”

That was no help. But I have to admit she was right.
Hmm, maybe I don’t have to go through this?
Maybe I’ll just say to Craig on Monday that I got sick today? Yeah, that’s it!
Or maybe I had tons of homework but my dog ate it so I had to do it all over again over the weekend?
Wait a minute! I don’t have a dog. I have a cat!
Or maybe, I had an accident before I got here and went to the hospital or something.
Aww, that’s no good.
Oookaaaay! Maybe I would just turn around, about face, and marched home. I’m sure I would have thought of some good excuse over the weekend.
I turned. About… face!
Forward, march!
I just started walking away from our meeting place and then…

“Milo! Nicky! Wha-what are you two doing here?”
Nicky replied, “Milo and I had consulted each other yesterday, and we thought that we should be present so we could provide you the emotional support that you require for this extremely memorable event.”
“Wha-what?”
Milo translates, “She means that we’re here to help you out… as friends!”
Wow! No matter how they said it, it was real nice of them to come, “Thanks guys!”

Milo then reached for his things and unraveled a baseball. He plays around with it by tossing it in the air and catching it many times.

“Besides, PA, “ he continued, “It’s a great sunny afternoon at the park and it’s a good place to play catch. Right, Nicky?”
“Right, Milo! Oops!” she said, barely catching the baseball that Milo just tossed to her, “Want to join us, Pepper Ann?”
“Thanks,” I said, “Maybe later. After ‘you know what,’ ” I pointed at the statue.

Thanks guys! I really, really needed that.
Alright! No more excuses. About, face… again.
I now started to walk back towards the ‘Craig’-zone statue and they both followed me.

“PA. We’ll be just here a bit far from your meeting place but you can still see us,” Milo says pointing to the spot, “If you need help, just go to us, okay? We’ll just be here playing some catch.”
“Alright.”
“Good luck, Pepper Ann!” Nicky waved.
“Thanks Nicky. Thanks Milo.”

They moved to the place where Milo pointed and they began to play a simple game of catch.
I now walk towards the statue… alone.
I took a step.
Then I took another. Then another…
Hey! That was no problem.
Nope! That wasn’t a problem at all.
A great feeling came over me.
I felt great!
I took more steps.
I felt much better. I felt courageous.
Now, I feel like taking on the world!
I gave a smile when I saw Nicky clumsily tried to catch the baseball that Milo threw. It slipped out of her hands and tried to run after the baseball as it rolled away from her.
Now my spirits are up! Now I feel ready!
… and before I knew it, I’m already by the tall statue!
I then hid and leaned my back against the statue.

Okay, here’s my plan. I’ll look over the statue, I’ll see Craig in one of the benches. Then, I’ll show myself from behind the statue. Then, I’ll walk confidently towards him and say, “Hi!” Finally, I’ll TRY not be a nervous wreck while I talk to him.
Here I go, I’ll find where he is among the benches. I’m ready, and it is exactly 4 o’clock on my watch.
Okay I’m ready. Here goes nothing…
3…
2…
1…
I looked over the benches. Where is he? He wouldn’t be late, you know?
Oh my, there he is! Craig… he’s on one of the benches…
Yes!v But wait a minute! What’s Trinket and Cissy doing there sitting beside him? I thought he’s going to be alone in our date? What are they doing here?

“Thanks a million, Craig,” I heard Trinket said to him as she gave him a picture of some kind. “Like, you’re really, like, cool!” Cissy also said to him.
“We’re just lucky to have Craig here, right Cissy?”
“Like…like yeah!”

Oh no! They then both hugged Craig! What the…
I just stood there in disbelief. He said he wouldn’t be alone! He wouldn’t break his promise! He just wouldn’t!
A fiery feeling suddenly erupted from within. Every second that my eyes see them both hugging him, the more these fires burned within me.
I just couldn’t STAND it!
The passion, the romance, but none of it for me! Why?
I broke some tears, as I started running away from them.
As I ran away, I just looked down on the pathway.
I’ll go out of the park, stay in bed, and hope that this day will just…
Oof! I was hit with a ball and it had put me off balance a bit. I stopped to regain my composure. Then, I just walked, but I still looked down.

“Oh! Sorry, PA!” Milo apologized, “It was an accident!”
“It’s okay,” I weakly replied, not looking at him.
“What happened?” Nicky said, showing concern.
“Don’t ask,” I just spoke, still looking down.

They slowed their pace a bit but they were not far behind me. They knew I needed to cool off for awhile.

“See? I told you,” I heard my conscience talking from my pocket, “Trinket and Cissy ARE the fairest of them all. That’s why they’re with…ooof.”
“CAN IT!” I poked my pocket real hard.

Chapter 4