A Poem By Walt Whitman

𝐸𝑥𝑡𝑟𝑎 𝘐𝘐𝘐: 𝑇𝒉𝑒 𝐶𝑎𝑑𝑑𝑦

Mrs. Nolan was waiting for Kim to go to the Danburry's house.

-Ready, Overstreet? -She asked her.

She took a deep breath.

-Ready to go, sir.

They left Welton. They arrived at an urbanization with small illuminated plots, since it was getting dark. It was a nice afternoon. The car parked and Kim got out of the car and rang the bell at the Danburry's house. When the door opened, Kim was impressed. The door was opened by a boy with blond hair and blue-green eyes that made the house shine. He smiled.

-Can I help you? -He asked.

Kim looked him up and down.

-Hi. Kim Overstreet. Uh... This is the Damburry's, right?

-Are you here to see Chiara? -The boy asked.

-Mr. Danbury? -Kim asked.

The boy laughed out loud.

-No!

-Sorry, thank you, Chris. I'm Mrs. Danburry. You must be Kim.

-Yes. -She answered, nervously.

-Please, come in.

Chiara's parents closed the door behind her, and upon entering, they found a boy, about her age, happily stretched out on his sofa.

-Oh, have you met our son Gabriel?- Mr. Danbury taught his son. -Gabriel, turn it down, will you?

-Gabriel, say hello! -Mrs. Danbury said.

-It 's Gabby, mom. -He had short hair just like Chris, but had a higher-pitched voice than a boy's. -Hi.

-Hi. -Kim answered, happily.

Kim sat on a small sofa across from Mr. Danburry as he told her things she didn't understand.

-He didn't tell you what happened? -Mr. Danbury asked, amazed.

-Uh, no, no. -She looked confused.

-Oh, well, we were really stuck. I was sure I had lost the biggest case of my life. And then your father came to me and told me that he could weasel a settlement, but only if I gave him the entire free from our client. -

Kim realized: Mr. Danburry was also a lawyer like her father, and as she would soon be. Chris was slowly coming down the stairs and Kim leaned in to get a better look at him, but Mr Danburry asked her something.

-No, no. -She answered, but she didn't even know the question.

-I let him have it. -Mr. Danbury laughed. Gabby, who was on the sofa, looked at his father with disgust, embarrassed. -I was so desperate, I let your father take the whole fee! -He laughed again.

-Excuse me. -Mrs Danburry said. -While I see how things are going for dinner.

Mrs Danburry got up and at the same time the most masculine girl you will ever see in your life arrived: Chiara Danburry. With her extremely muscular arms and the jacket that her boyfriend had left her, she spoke to her father. She was much taller than Chris, and she was holding her boyfriend by the arm.

-Dad, can I take the Caddy? -She asked.

Kim imagined she would have a deep voice, but her voice was soft and sweet.

-What's wrong with your car? -Her dad asked.

-Chiara! Where are your manners? -Her mom intervened. Then she looked at Kim. -This is my daughter Chiara and her boyfriend Chris Noel. This is Kim Overstreet. -

-Yes, ma'am. We... Sort of met. -Kim stood up. -Almost.

Chiara sighed.

-Yes! -Chris agreed.

-Yes. Hi. -Chiara greeted him. -Uh, dad? Come on. Why is this always such a big deal? -

-Because I bought you a sports car, and suddenly you want to take my car all the time. -Mr. Danbury answered.

-Yes. I know. But Chris's mom feels safer when we're in a bigger car. Right, Chris?

-It's okay, Chiara.

-No, it's not okay. Dad, what's the problem?

-It's all right, Chiara... -Chris repeated.

-No, I don't think it-

Mr. Danburry walked up to his daughter and they argued for a while about the sports car and her father's. She and Chris looked at each other and he shrugged.

-So, Chirs, uh...-Kim talked. -Where are you in school?

Chris moved closer to her to hear her better.

-Ridgeway High. -Then he looked at Vinny. -How do you like Henley Hall, Gab?

-It's okay.

Chris looked at Kim.

-That's your brother's school, right? -She asked.

"Brother"?

-Sort of. -She answered.

"Brother"?

Chris smiled at her and sat down on the couch with Gabby.

-So, Gab, are you going to go out for the Henley Hall play? -

-Uh, maybe.

-They're doing "A Midsummer Night's Dream" -He looked at Kim. -You know, you really should, Gab. You would be great.

Kim remembered it. A Midsummer Night's Dream was Nicole's play. She was playing the main character.

-I don't know...

-So, how'd you meet Chiara? -Kim intervened.

The two boys looked at Kim, confused.

-I- I mean, uh... -Kim spoke.

-She was a cheerleader for Ridgeway. -Chris answered. -And I'm a football player, she used to go to Welton but she flunked out.

-Yeah. -Kim chuckled. -I know.

Chris nodded, frowning, then looked at his friend. Both kids made the same face. They were about to burst out laughing. Chris went back to talk to his friend.

-At least try out, you know. -Chris talked to his friend.

Kim looked to the center of the room as Chiara Danburry called out to Chris and he turned.

-Come on, Chris. Let 's go. -She leaned against the door frame as her boyfriend got up. -Got it.

-Bye, Gab. -He said goodbye to him.

-Bye. -The curly-haired boy waved back.

The situation was very uncomfortable for Kim. The boy she has started to like, his girlfriend and his brother. What worse could happen?

-Hm, it was nice meeting you, Kim. -The sweet blonde boy turned around to look at her. -Bye.

Kim swallowed and nodded.

-Bye, Chris.

Music from the 1960s was playing on the Danburrys' radio, and Kim stared at the door, sorrowful, realizing that she had just lost the love of her life. Gabriel looked up from her, gaping at him, and chuckled. Chiara and her boyfriend got into the car.

Kim crept over to the window, whistling, pulling the curtain back a little so she could see. Chiara and Chris were making out in the car, and all Kim did was sigh.

When Gabriel noticed the girl's sigh, he asked.

-Something's wrong?

-No. -Kim answered quickly. -No, no, no. Everything 's fine.

Kim forced a smile and peered out the window again.