Nat awoke to the sound of several chirping birds, beckoning him to rise and greet the warm sunshine that flooded through his window. 'Another day,' thought Nat. "And what a day," he sighed out loud. Suddenly his thoughts were interrupted by a voice, a very loud, familiar voice
"Happy Birthday, Nat!" shouted Dan, almost scaring Nat out of his wits. Dan’s enthusiasm almost made Nat burst into laughter.
"Thanks, Dan," he smiled.
"Well, what are your plans for the day?" Dan asked mischievously. "What do you mean?"
"Ya know, ain't ya excited Nat? You've just turned eighteen!"
"Yeah, I guess."
"Is something wrong?" Dan's voice was full of concern.
"I don't feel any different. I guess I was hoping that something different would happen, you know, something, well," he paused, "exciting, like you said."
"Aw, Nat, things can't change over night. C'mon, Asia's cooking your favorite breakfast, and I'm gettin' real hungry."
"Alright, let me just get dressed." After Nat changed, the two raced down the stairs like little boys, but were stopped abruptly by a beautiful, young woman.
"Happy Birthday, Nat!" cried the woman who embraced him warmly.
"Thanks, Nan," Nat said as he returned her greeting. He felt nervous at the touch of Nan, the girl he had loved ever since he first met her. Although she blossomed into a very attractive young lady, her zeal and fervor were still imminent.
At that moment, another young lady entered the room and briefly kissed Nat on the cheek. "Happy Birthday, dear," said Bess. "Hey, don't I get a kiss," said Dan playfully. "Hmph," Bess scoffed, "In your dreams, Dan!" She then glanced at him with a smile. "Come, everyone's waiting at the table for you Nat.."
The table was full of the young men and women of Plumfield. Nat felt special being the eldest student, next to Dan of course. As he was about ready to sit down, Mrs. Jo and Nick, her now husband entered the room. She gave him the warmest smile, as any mother would, for she indeed became like a second mother to Nat over the years. And Nick too, as a father.
"Happy Birthday, Sweetheart." She gave him a gracious and emotional hug as her eyes began to fill with tears. "Oh, Nat. You've grown so much since you first arrived, and so handsome at that!" Everyone laughed softly as Nat blushed.
"He has certainly grown handsome," said Nick. "Happy Birthday, Nat."
"Thanks, Nick."
"Thought we'd get ya something." As Nick said that, he removed something from the box he was holding. It was a new composition book, complete with gold plaited borders and an ink set.
"Its for you to write in, cos' I know you've been wantin' it for a while now." Nick said. Nat was close to tears. But he couldn't cry, not now, not when he just turned eighteen, a real man. He had recognized the book and pens from Gerson's General store and knew how expensive they were.
"I don't know what to say," Nat choked, ashamed at his weariness and yet ecstatic at the same time. "Thank you!" he cried while giving Nick and Jo a bear hug. "After all," Jo said, "You are such a wonderful writer,--"
"And you deserve the best," finished Asia who popped in from the kitchen carrying a tray full of pancakes and hot biscuits. "Happy Birthday!" she smiled. "Who's ready to eat?'' A chorus of 'me's' and "finally's" arrived from the table.
Nat secretly dropped his napkin on the floor to wipe away a tear

*******

"Dan will you do me a favor and drop me off at the clinic. I have a few things to do before I close up for vacation." Nan was working in the clinic for 2 years now, and it would be only four more years before she would become a doctor. She had been attending medical school in New York and came home every once in a while for vacation and had usually worked in the clinic during this time. "Your not going to work?" Dan inquired.
"Nah, I don't feel up to it. I figure I need a break."
"Wow Nan, that's the first time I've heard you say that," Dan said.
"Yeah and it'll probably be the last," and at that the two laughed. "What's so funny?" asked Bess who came into the room.
"Oh nothing,:" the two said simultaneously. "Well, it better not be anything about me," she pointed, staring directly at Dan. "What?" Dan responded to her glare.
"Oh nothing," Bess said in return.
Nan watched the two in amusement. The two were in actuality courting each other but were also the butt of each other's jokes. 'I'll never understand those two,' she thought to herself. "Dan, we ought to be going." "Oh yeah, sorry. See ya Bess," he winked. Just then, Nat entered the room.
"Hi guys."
"Hi, Nat," replied all three. "Where are you off to?"
"Dan and I are going to the clinic. Would you like to come?"
"No thanks, but I was wondering if we could go on a picnic later, if you can that is" Nat asked shyly.
"Sure, Nat! We'd love to come! Oh I just adore picnics!" cried Bess. Now this wasn't the exact reply Nat had expected. He was hoping for an evening with Nan, but of course, to his dear heart, everyone was always welcome.
"Great," he smiled. "See ya later, Nat" Dan said. "Bye Nat!" Nan added, thinking of Nat secretly.

*********

"So, did you hear about the town dance, ehem, Ball as Bess would put it " Dan asked during the carriage ride to town.
"Nope. When is it?"
"This Saturday."
"Oh, well you know I'm not going."
"Why not, Nan?" Dan asked disappointedly.
"Dan, you know how I feel about dances. I don't fit in to them and I feel so awkward against all those girls who only care about what the hair looks like or what shoes they'll wear."
"Aw, you don't gotta worry about them girls. That's what makes you different. Besides, I know there are plenty of men waiting on giving you an invitation."
"Liar!" she cried as she playfully punched him.
"Nan, are ya that oblivious?"
"If you're talking about those rich boys who could care less for me and would especially be scornful of a lady doctor, I don't want to have anything to do with them. Your not convincing me to go, not now not ever," she said with the uttermost determination.
"What about Nat?"
"What!" she cried as the reigns of the coach came to a halt.
"What do you mean, 'what'?"
"Nat doesn't care for these dances either," she said quietly.
"How do you know, Nan? Have you ever asked him? Don't ya notice the way he's been looking at ya?"
"Really?" Nan answered with a slight appreciation in her voice.
"Yeah, him and the other ton of men lookin' at ya. But Nat's sincere, not like the rest of them, who only got one thing on their mind."
"Dan!"
"I swear if one of em' even"
"Dan! Enough!" she cried laughing at his protective behavior. Dan had become like a big brother to her over the years.
"So," she continued shyly, "Nat does think of me as more than a friend?"
"You'd be a fool not to notice," Dan answered with a grin.
"Hey!" Nan replied. The two reached the clinic and Nan gathered her things and returned to go home, thinking of Nat along the way.

**********

Nat sat at his desk trying to think of a new poem to write. He couldn't stop dreaming about Nan, both in the day and at night. Sometimes he would have reminiscent memories of when they were younger and all the mischievous pranks they had pulled. He smiled at the very thought of it. And then he thought of the present, of how much they had grown, they including everyone at Plumfield. As he continued thinking, Mrs. Jo quietly stepped into the room with a glass of lemonade.
"Nat?"
"Oh, hi, Mrs. Jo," Nat said, startled at her presence. "I didn't notice you came in."
"That's alright," Jo replied. "I brought you some lemonade. Rob made it and we all figured you should be the first to try it." Jo looked down and gulped at the appearance of the beverage.
Nat laughed at her facial expression. "Sure, I'll try it." Nat took the glass and took a sip. "Mmm," he said under gritted teeth, "Bitter, but quenching."
The two laughed at his remark. "So what are you up to?" Jo questioned as she sat beside him.
"I've been trying to write a poem, but I seem to be suffering from writer's block. Any suggestions?"
Jo sat thoughtfully as she tried to think of a way to solve his dilemma. "Well, what would you like to write about?" she asked.
"I don't know. I've always wanted to write a sonnet. You know, like Shakespeare. But I'm definitely not as talented as he was."
"Well, most of his sonnets were about love" She stopped at the word and smiled. "Are you thinking what I'm thinking?"
"Mrs. Jo, I couldn't write a sonnet about love if I tried."
"Dear, the words that you feel are your best expression of love. Write your feelings and," she added, "worry about all the iambic beats later," she winked. "Mrs. Jo?"
"Yes, Nat?" She said as she stopped at the doorway, ready to leave.
"How do you know how you feel? What I mean to say is, how do you know what love is?"
"I think its different for everyone. You'll know it when it comes, I promise." She was just about to leave when she paused and turned. " Oh, and Nat, your talent will exceed Shakespeare's one day, if you have the courage to accept it for yourself." And with that word of wisdom, she left the room, leaving Nat to think about what she said, and what to write.

***********