Now, how to make it up to him? I couldn’t just tell him how sorry I was, first of all he wouldn’t believe me, and second it had to be special. Something that was so sincere, so sweet that he would have to forgive me. I know what I need, I just don’t know exactly how to do it.
Let’s think about this. What does Dad do for Mom when she’s mad at him? Buys her jewelry, candy and flowers, of course. Somehow I don’t think that would win Owen over. Hmm. Who would know what a guy wants?
"Neal, if a girl that you liked broke your heart, what would she have to do to win you back?"
He looked at me quizzically. "You’re serious?"
"Yes. Please Neal, I really need some help here!" I cried in desperation.
"Okay, okay. You came to the right person, love god that I am. Now, this boy you need to win back, it is our dear little Owen, is it not?" I nodded. "Well, this is a conundrum indeed. If a girl broke my heart, I think I’d want her to go through the humiliation I went through. You know, make yourself look stupid for him."
"What? Neal, that’s retarded. I’m not going to humiliate myself."
"Fine. Let Owen stay mad at you," he shrugged.
"All right. What do I have to do?" I conceded.
"I have no idea."
"Neal! That is not helping me!"
"Hey, I told you what you have to do. Now it’s your job to figure out how." He walked away.
"Thanks a lot, Neal!" I yelled sarcastically to his back.
Sigh. Neal was a big help, wasn’t he? Maybe he was right, though.
Night fell, and all the boys retired to bed. Time to put my plan into action. Quietly, I crept up to Owens tent, and took out the poem. My hands were shaking as I began to read.
"I love you, I like you,
I really do like you.
I do not want to strike you,
I do not want to shove you.
I do want to like you,
I do want to love you,
And like you and love you
And love you and love you."
By this time all the boys had come out of their tents and were laughing and snorting. I saw Neal smiling and nodding. Owen rushed out, his face even more red than mine, I’m sure.
"Devonny, what are you doing?" he hissed.
"I love you, I like you
I really do like you.
I do not want to strike you,
I do not want to shove you."
Before I could finish, Owen clapped a hand over my mouth.
"All right, everyone back to bed!" Eda Bell dispersed the crowd.
"Owen, I’m really sorry! Really, really, really, extremely, tremendously, hugely, unbelievably sorry!"
"So you’re saying you’re sorry?" he asked suspiciously.
"Yes! Completely, utterly, enormously…"
I didn’t get to finish because Owen kissed me.
"So you forgive me?" I asked.
"I guess so."
Someone tapped me on the shoulder.
"So, you’re sure you don’t like me?" Merric asked hopefully.
I couldn’t help it. I burst out laughing.
************