Danny, Dakota, and the Wishing Well

iii. the want

July 2nd, 1958.

Dakota sat alone at the picnic table in the only green park in town. It was her twelfth birthday and it seemed that her only guests were the gnats. They flew around carelessly a few feet in front of her face. Not even they seemed to notice the bitter prepubescent girl.

Dakota was angry that she had still not gown up yet. All of her other friends gushed about boys, makeup, and underwear while Dakota still felt as though she were still a child. Her twig legs and arms had been the same as they ever were and did not look as though they were going to change.

April, her mother, sat in the shaded grass, fanning herself as though she were dying, "Dakota, where is everyone? Your ice cream cake is starting to melt!"

She shrugged and stared at the cake her mother had spent a long time creating. The pink and green frosting was starting to slide off in an unattractive manner. The 'ice cream' had commenced the transition to become liquid, making the cake lopsided and somber.

She didn't know where anyone was. Dakota had only invited a few close friends. She couldn't accept the fact that they had ditched her on her own birthday. Especially her best friend, Danny. Where was he?

Sighing, she rested her head in her arms and though about him. He had certainly changed and all of the other girls had noticed. His jaw became defined, he grew taller and broader, and his whole personality seemed to have changed. Danny was only twelve for crying out loud! How had he grown up like the others?

Suddenly, someone tapped her on the shoulder making Dakota shoot up in her seat.

Expecting Danny's freckled serious face, she was instead disappointed by the pitying looks of her aging mother.

"C'mon, Dakota. Let's go home, okay? We can open your presents where there is at least some air conditioning," her mother chided Dakota who grudgingly stood up in defeat.

-

The whole walk home had consisted of April telling her daughter old horror stories about boys which, surprisingly, made Dakota feel a lot better. Now at home, Dakota was opening the second present given to her by April. The first one consisted of socks (April was very amused by this gift unlike Dakota). April promised the second one was a real gift, though.

Before Dakota could take a full look at what was inside the green box, the doorbell rang.

"Don't just sit there, Dakota. Go get it," April casually smoked her cigarette as she said this.

Sighing, she got up and answered it. There stood a sheepish-looking Danny. None of her other friends showed up, only he did. In his hands were her favorite flowers, white roses.

"I'm sorry that I am late, Dakota, my mother kept giving me all of these dumb chores! I split the second I finished 'em."

Danny then handed her the lovely crisp blossoms and she accepted them with an unhappy hand.

April (who eventually welcomed Danny and Dakota's friendship) took the flowers from Dakota's hands and swooned, "My, my, Danny! These are wonderful! How did you get them in this dusty desert town?"

"I asked my father to get them in the city because he works there," Danny grinned at the giddy mother who pulled him into a big hug.

Dakota swore that April thought that Danny was more of her kin than she was. April may not always have been a good parent, but she was always there when it was counted for.