Even though Valentine’s Day has come and gone, I’ve got yet another story for you all. This is a story about a sweetheart of a gal, and a young man with a romantic dream.
Disclaimer: I wrote this short story in 2008, while I was working on Simply Bret.
Kevin Frazier always had a crush on Sarah Elizabeth, and it began on that day he saw her taking pictures for her prom in 2003. He fashioned her as his Cinderella, and he always dreamt about the day that he would sweep her off her feet and ask her to marry him. There was just one problem—Sarah was in her mid-twenties, and Kevin was a little fella… that is to say, Kevin was in the Fifth Grade.
One afternoon, Sarah came home from work and noticed a pink rose in the door and a sweet little note in the mailbox.
Dear Sarah:
I think you are a very pretty girl. You remind me of Cinderella. Your eyes are as blue as the sky, your lips are as red as strawberries, and your hair is as golden as the afternoon sun. It would mean a lot to me if you were my Valentine this year.
Your Secret Admirer,
Kevin
“Awwwwwww—what a sweetie!” Sarah blushed, obviously knowing who her secret admirer was. When she told her mom and dad about the note, Bret chuckled and said, “You don’t know what kinda power you have, Apple Blossom.” Susie took out her cellphone and pretended to call a wedding planner. Sarah made up in her mind that she would make young Kevin’s dream come true on Valentine’s Day, so she called him and made arrangements. Sarah couldn’t see through the phone, but she assumed that Kevin must’ve leapt for joy, judging by the little fella’s cheerful exclamation of “Yahoo-hoo-hoo!” After calming down, Kevin suggested that he treat Sarah to a simple lunch at Pizza/Wing/Subs.
On the day of his Valentine’s date, Kevin was all dressed up—such as it was: blue jeans, his favorite red shirt, and a navy blue hooded sweater. Sarah had on her yellow sundress with orange sweater and matching open-toed shoes. When she knocked on the door, Kevin answered and stood in awe.
“Wow, Sarah—you’re very pretty. You look like a sunset.”
“Thank you, Kevin—you look sharp yourself.”
Kevin grinned, then he asked his mom to take a picture of him and his “future wife.” Mrs. Frazier shook her head and laughed, but she took a pretty damn good picture of the two. Always wanting to look photogenic, Sarah struck a supermodel pose—her hand on her hip and her hair brushed back. Kevin was so giddy that he couldn’t help himself. He went on ahead and hugged Sarah’s waist. Sarah chuckled and pinched Kevin on his cheek. After the impromptu photo shoot, Kevin’s dad gave him thirty dollars to treat Sarah, and wished him well.
Upon arriving at Pizza/Wing/Subs, Kevin insisted that he escort Sarah into the “fine eating establishment.” Sarah smiled and took Kevin’s arm as they headed towards their destination. When they sat a table, Sarah complimented how Kevin was such a gentleman. Kevin grinned and said, “Well, my dad says that chivalry is the best way to impress a pretty lady, especially one as pretty as you.”
“Awwwwwww, so sweet!” Sarah smiled. “Tell me, Kevin—why did you choose me to be your Valentine, when you could’ve chosen any girl in your class?”
With his head held down, Kevin sighed and said, “Well, Sarah—to be honest, the girls in my class don’t like me too much. They call me names and say that I have cooties, and the boys in my class always talk about how I’ll never get a girl when I grow up because I suck. Besides, as long as I’ve known you—and it hasn’t been that long—you have always been nice to me. You’re the only girl I know that speaks to me and calls me by my name.”
As Sarah listened to Kevin talk, she couldn’t help but notice the sincerity in his eyes. She knew that Kevin had a crush on her, but it was much more than that. Kevin saw Sarah’s inner beauty. Sarah was more than just a pretty face; she left quite an impressionable mark on the young lad’s heart.
“Kevin, I am so flattered that you would think that of me,” Sarah said as she caught his hand. “Listen, Sweetheart: You don’t ever have to worry about me, because I’m always gonna be there for you. Now, for obvious reasons, we can’t be boyfriend and girlfriend…”
“Aw, man!” Kevin pouted. “Why not?”
“Well, Kevin—by the time you graduate from college, I’ll be close to 40!”
“But you’ll still be beautiful, Sarah.”
Sarah blushed and pinched Kevin on his cheek.
“Awwwww, such a sweetie!” she smiled. “But no matter how much you try to catch up to me, I’m always gonna be older than you. But hey—I will always be your crush.”
“I guess that’ll have to work,” Kevin nodded.
Suddenly, two Fifth Graders walked inside Pizza/Wing/Subs with chaperones. When Kevin spotted them, he tried to duck and hide. Sarah knew automatically that the two kids were Kevin’s fellow classmates, so she whispered something to him. Kevin grinned and nodded appreciatively, as his fellow Fifth Graders walked over to him. The young man was so busy gawking at Sarah that he unhinged his Valentine.
“Whoa, Kevin—who’s the hot babe?”
“What up, Roy? What up, Shannon? I’d like you both to meet Sarah, my Valentine.”
Sarah snuggled up to Kevin and said, “That’s right—I’m his Valentine, and he’s my hot stuff.”
To make it more convincing, Kevin wrapped his arms around Sarah, and nonchalantly rested his head against her bust to seal the deal. Roy was at a loss for words. Shannon was so shocked that she muttered under her breath, “I’ll be damned—Kevin’s chick is hotter than me!” As for Kevin, he decided to take it one step further and kiss Sarah on her cheek. Roy and Shannon looked at each other and walked away shamefully to find their chaperones.
After the date (such as it was), Kevin thanked Sarah for being his Valentine, and for boosting up his self-esteem. Sarah pinched Kevin’s cheeks and said, “Anytime, Kevin. By the way: I want you to promise me that you will continue to stay a gentleman, because an all-true woman is always looking for an all-true man. And trust me when I tell you—when you get older, all the lovely honies will be fighting over you in Royal Rumble fashion.”
“Thanks, Sarah—I’ll remember that,” Kevin said as he kissed Sarah on the cheek.
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