Dear Diary

March 27

9am

Dear Diary,

I need to squeal like a teenage girl, for-oh let’s just say practically this whole entry. Yesterday after the garden I had an A-M-A-Z-I-N-G day.

Let me start from the beginning…

So I left the garden, and actually got the key out, which by the way, I definitely need to find information on why that is. James didn’t question taking me to the library, although he did bring up that my father had returned from his trip. I really wasn’t in the mood to talk to him, especially after he left on business without even telling me, and also the fact that I haven’t seen him in two months. So anyway, James drove me and I must say I was nervous the whole ride, I wondered what Cliff would say about what happened the last time when I ran out on him.

We had to take the back roads to get to town, a spring festival had been going on and there was no other way to the library. When I say back roads, in a town like this I mean a dirt path with barely any room for one car to fit. James dropped me off around the corner since there had been so many cars parked along the road. He said he was going to go back to the house and to call him when I was ready.

I was so nervous; my hands were shaking by the time I reached the door. I nearly jumped out of my shoes, the second I reached for the door Cliff had come barreling through. He looked flustered.  In his hand he held the papers that he made for me. He handed them to me and explained that Mrs. Rush had scolded him for making copies of the book it came out of. He told me that the whole town believed in the witchcraft that came from the Gavin residents, including Mrs. Rush. Cliff also found out that her x-husband had been the mail carrier. He had lived here his whole life, but was young when the incident happened. It had dawned on him after reading the article, who the carrier was. It’s also probably why Mrs. Rush got upset with him for copying information regarding the house.

I was about to read a little bit of the article, but he placed his hand on my wrist and brought my arm down. I can remember his green eyes the way they locked with mine. I could feel my heart flutter, and my stomach fill with butterflies. When he lifted his hand from my wrist I could feel a tingle radiate through my arm, almost like his hand was still there. He invited me to the festival going on up the block in the center of town. He explained that every spring the town has a festival to celebrate “New beginnings”, because spring is like the beginning of something new. A fresh start when plants and animals all come to life again.

We walked side by side down the street to the festival. He had so much to talk about, from the festival to a couple of other books he had found some interesting facts in. They were mainly all about the Gavin Estates; he promised he’d help me. I had no idea why he was being so nice, but I really didn’t care because it was making me happy. I hadn’t been truly happy since I lost my mother, I thought I had my father but apparently he could care less.

The town was crowded, I had no clue the town was so populated. Set up on the sides of the streets were vendors, they sold arts and crafts, flowers, gardening supplies, some vendors had books, and others had food. Down the far end of the street near the grocery mart were various carnival games, it kept all the kids and teens happy. A sign on the American legion across the street said: Casino located in rear.

Cliff took me over to the games. I wanted to race him in one of those games where you squirt water into a tiny hole and a stuffed animal moves across a giant bored, and whoever gets to the end first wins. The bell sounded and we were both in the lead. I was concentrating really hard on beating him when I felt a spray of cold water hit me. I screamed and looked over at him. He was laughing so hard. I couldn’t help it; I laughed back and tried to get him.

The result of that game was soaking wet shirts and an angry person running the booth. We laughed the whole way to the next table, where he promised to win me something. The next game, was one of those, get the ball in the fish bowl games. He claimed he had played basketball all of his life and was amazing at this game. It turns out he really was because right now I am sitting here on my bed staring at Goldie Locks swimming around and around. 

Our night was cut a little short; both of us were standing at Murphy Farms booth eating a container of strawberries when a bolt of lightning lit up the sky. He guided me towards where he said he parked, before we could get to his car the sky opened up. Rain started pouring down in chunks. Cliff tore off his light spring jacket and held it over my head as we rain through the newly formed puddles. My jeans were soaked and so were my converses. I could say that I actually cared, but really I didn’t this wasn’t ruining my night, not one bit.

I haven’t even gotten to the best part; he offered to drive me home too. I called James in advance to let him know, and he was okay with it. Thank god, the past few months he had been more of a father to me then my own. He has yelled at me a few times, kept me in check and he also has been there for me. Anyway-off of James, the ride home… we talked the entire way to my house. James buzzed the gate and let us through. He pulled up in front of the circular drive-way. I laughed when he made a comment about the random statue of a guy in the middle.

So, he gets out of the car and walks around to open my door. He threw the jacket over my head again, and then guided me up the concrete steps towards the gigantic archway and porch. Once on the porch he pulled the jacket down and I came face to face with his smile.

Here’s our conversation:

Cliff: I had a really fun time, we should do this again.

Me: *shocked* Yes, yes of course I would love to; I have no one here to be a teenager with. I live with a forty year old maid, and ancient butler, my twenty-something year old tutor and some maintenance workers. It would be nice to hang out with someone close to my age. (Yeah I had a little word vomit, I know)

Cliff: Great, maybe I could help you with some research too, maybe not at the library after what happened today, but maybe for lunch or something…

Me: You could come over here too, that would be cool.

*Hesitation*

Cliff: So I will call you then. *More hesitation*

Me: Yes please *Slap hand to mouth* I mean, yes I’d like that.

Wow! Just wow! It was such a perfect day.

*Madison Rhodes*

Mission for today: Figure out how to open the book I found, and read the papers Cliff copied.

Oh-and squeal like a little girl!!!! :) :) :)