Your Forever Love

Your Forever Protector

Ben and Miranda were now in the third grade at Serendipity Falls Elementary. It was time for recess and their class was released to go to the playground. Miranda wasn't one to go and play a good game of kickball. She'd rather find a hiding spot and dive nose first into a Science fiction novel. She absolutely loved Sci-fi novels and movies, the potentially realistic fictional worlds embraced Miranda and always kept her wanting more. Miranda was hiding underneath the slide reading her brand new copy of Ray Bradbury's "Fahrenheit 451". She felt a presence in front of her but was too consumed in the book and she figured it was just Benjamin Warren, her best friend. She ignored it, that is until her book was snatched from her hands and she was brought back to reality. The figure ran from under the slide, out into the open grass and Miranda followed desperately trying to retrieve her book.
    "Whatcha reading, Mandy? Another stupid book, I bet."
A group of boys surrounded Miranda. Jeremiah Spates wildly flipped through the book. And threw it to another boy, Brendan. They was the most annoying boys in Miranda's school. She often thought about zapping them into oblivion, but she knew morally it wasn't right. She took a deep breath.
    "Give me back my book, Jeremiah! Give it to me NOW."
Miranda hollered. She lunged to grab her book but Jeremiah snatched it away and held it above his head. The group of boys laughed at her failed attempts. Miranda being the smallest in her class, tried her best to jump and reach her book. While jumping her glasses slid off of her face and fell to the ground. Jeremiah and the group took this as an opportunity to run away with Miranda's book in hand. Miranda rolled her eyes and ran after him. Ben noticed what was going and ran over to help Miranda.
     "Miranda,"
Ben started, besides her parents, he was the only on to use her full name. She never understood why but she never complained.
        "What's going on?"
Ben asked, a high frustrated Miranda. She huffed.
       "Jeremiah took my book and won't give it back. He held it over my head knowing I can't reach it."
Miranda's brown skin face started to turn red. She crossed her arms and furred her brow. Ben knew that look. She was getting upset and he didn't like when she was anything but happy.
       "It's okay, Miranda. I'll see if I can go get it. I am pretty fast and tall."
Ben smiled down at his little best friend. Ben had started Pop Warner Football and it seemed as if he was getting taller by the second. Miranda looked at the ground and nodded her head. Ben ran off towards the direction of Jeremiah.
         "HEY! Give me her book back!"
Ben shouted. Jeremiah turned around smiling until he saw Ben standing there.
          "Here Ben. I don't even want the silly book. It's probably stupid like just her!"
Jeremiah sneered. Ben snatched the book out of his hands. He looked at the book, the pages were all wrinkled and the back cover was slightly ripped off of the spine. Ben knew that Miranda would be sad because her new book was ruined. Miranda, Ben, and Miranda's Dad, Mr. Will, had walked to the old bookstore in the middle of town and helped Miranda find a new book this past weekend.
       "Jeremiah leave her alone. Look what you did to her book. You mess with her again, you're going to have to deal with me!"
Ben said with glowering look on his face. And with that Ben turned to go find Miranda. He didn't know how to tell her about her book. He walked back towards the slide where they parted ways earlier in recess. There she was, in her denim overalls and blue shirt and her thick pink glasses, sitting crossed legged.
      "Miranda..."
Ben sat down next to her. She looked at him smiling then down to his hands where her once fresh and crisp paperback book was supposed to be, laid a tattered book. Miranda looked at Ben with her big brown eyes as tears started to form and fall down her cheek.
         "Miranda, I am so sorry. He's really mean. And I hate him for messing with you and messing up your book."
        "Benja-"
She sniffled. She stopped talking, which Ben was scared she was speechless. Miranda Bailey ALWAYS had something to say.
        "That's the third book this week! W-why can't he just leave me be!"
She huffed and puffed crying. She grabbed the book out of Ben's hands and held it to her chest and cried some more. Ben got up and when he returned he had a dandelion in his hand. He held the "flower" towards Miranda.
         "You know, how you're my bestest friend in the whole wide world?"
Ben asked Miranda. She nodded her head.
         "We should get married, so I can protect you all of the time. You're my best friend and I don't like when you cry. My mom and Dad said they are each other's best friends and they are married. And my dad always protects my mom. So, I'm going to do the same for you, forever."
Ben sat down and kissed Miranda's cheek and hugged her until she stopped crying. She looked up at him and smiled. It was time to go back into the classroom. They got up and got in line to walk with their class. Ben whispered to Miranda.
        "Can I see your book? I'll give it back before we get out of school."
Miranda thought it was strange. Benjamin Warren wanted a book? He didn't even like reading board for their teacher, Miss.Windson. The dismissal bell rang and the kids were waiting for Ben's Dad, Mr. Nate, to pick them up. Ben dug around his backpack and handed Miranda her book back.
        "I know it's not the same as before but I tried my best to fix it."
Ben nervously scratching the back of his neck. During the rest of the class Ben tried his best to tape the book back new again. He even made a tape bookmark with the dandelions from earlier. Miranda smiled and jumped into his arms giving him a big hug.
        "Thanks, Ben! I love it!"
They both laughed and continued waiting for Mr. Nate.