Linda's Story

Cotton Candy Kisses

Linda sang as she pulled on her outfit for the day. She, Brie, Danny, and Sandy were all going to spend the day at the fair. She loved the greasy food, and seeing the animals. "Especially the bunnies. Right, Trudy?"

The bunny her fiancé brought for her before he joined the Marines rubbed her white face.

She smiled and grabbed her brown purse with the fringe before slipping her feet into her white canvas shoes. She looked at her outfit in the full length mirror; she was wearing a jean skirt that hit her mid-thigh and a matching white, blue, and black patterned loose tank top. She looked cute.

She met Brie and Sandy in the lobby of the apartment building. They made small talk while they waited for Danny.

"Next time, I'm telling him we have to leave ten minutes earlier than we actually do. Then he'll be on time." Linda mused as she crossed her arms and shifted her weight onto one foot.

Brie and Sandy smiled and laughed.

***********

Linda looked at the ride Sandy had chosen. She swallowed- it looked like bad news. Just inspecting it seemed to give her a headache and dizziness. She yanked on Brie's arm.

"What?"

"I cant go on that ride."

"Why not?"

"My motion sickness!"

"So don't go on."

"What's wrong?" Danny turned around, having heard the whispers of the two ladies. He didn't understand the words they had said.

"Oh, nothing," Linda lied. "It's all good. Just... girly things."

He nodded and turned around again, started to talk to Sandy about his job as a pilot.

Linda groaned as the line moved forward. Why couldn't she ever say no?

************

As soon as the ride stopped and the safety bar opened to let the passengers out, Linda bolted out. Only she bolted a little too fast because she landed on the graveled ground and scraped up her knee. She hissed as the rocks dig into her skin and warm blood started to trickle down her shin.

"Are you okay?" She heard at least five voices ask all at once.

"I'm fine," she smiled and started to stand when a hand grabbed hers and hoisted her up. That would be Danny, she thought as she dusted off her jean skirt. "Thank you."

"Ooh, that don't look too good, miss," the ride operator cringed. He had a cute accent Linda couldn't place. "There's first aid kit there."

Linda looked to where he was pointing.

"I get Jan to help."

He called for Jan on his wallow talkie while other people got on the ride.

Danny helped Linda sit back down on the ground, before pulling the first aid kit out of its spot.

"You sure you're okay, Linda? That looked like a nasty fall," Brie stated, obviously worried for her friend. Some of her tension released when Sandy put an arm around her shoulders.

"I'm fine. I've fallen on gravel before. Really, go ahead and enjoy the day. I'll catch up with you."

"We'll catch up," Danny corrected, now holding a thick piece of gauze to Linda's bleeding knee. He was being very gentle- if he pressed too hard, he might lodge some of the little stones in her knee.

"Are you sure?"

"Come on, Brie." Sandy suggested, "we'll grab a cool drink or treat, and wait in the commercial building. That way, we'll be able to find each other."