The paper primrose

She's six and new to this foreign city. She's taken to a pizzeria. A boy her age, sitting at the next table, spots her. He fidgets, leaves the restaurant, returns, and whispers at his father, who arranges a paper napkin into a white primrose. Shyly, he shuffles toward her table and gives the flower. Equally shyly, she accepts.
In response, she makes a drawing of a decidedly feminine ladybug (eyelashes, ruby lips), signs it and has it delivered. The boy's parents accept delightedly.
Both parties leave separately, and she's left standing pensively at the bus stop, waiting.

Posted by cronopio at 02:37 PM, May 10, 2006