Two Of A Kind

The Almost Confession

With Sarah and her family set to leave in two days, Richard was running out of time to confess his feelings. Ethan, sensing his friend's anxiety, encouraged him to seize the moment. "Just do it, man," he said. "You'll regret it if you don't."

Richard knew Ethan was right, but he was terrified of rejection. What if Sarah didn't feel the same way? He couldn't bear the thought of losing her friendship.

As the days passed, Richard's anxiety grew. He couldn't focus on anything else. He was constantly stumbling over his words, forgetting things, and behaving in a generally strange manner.

That evening, as the family was preparing dinner, Richard decided to take a deep breath and finally confess. He cleared his throat and approached Sarah.

"Sarah, I have something important to tell you," he began, his voice trembling.

Sarah looked up, her eyes filled with curiosity. "What is it, Richard?" she asked.

Richard hesitated, his mind going blank. He tried to remember the lines he had practiced, but they were all gone.

"I, uh, I wanted to help you with the dishes," he stammered, his face turning bright red.

Sarah's eyebrows raised. "Oh, that's very sweet of you, Richard. But I think I've got it covered."

Richard was mortified. He had blown it. He had meant to confess his love, but instead, he had offered to do the dishes.

He had to wash the dishes and sweep the floor. As he again tried to open up a conversation with Sarah, a loud crash rose from the living room. It was Uncle George, who had accidentally knocked over a vase. He turned to Richard and launched into one of his infamous jokes.

"Hey, Richard, did you hear about the guy who fell into a hole?" he asked, his voice filled with enthusiasm. "He was so deep in thought, he couldn't get out!"

Richard groaned inwardly. He had been hoping for a romantic moment, but Uncle George had managed to ruin everything.

Grandma Helen, who was sitting nearby, patted Richard on the head. "Don't be so grumpy, dear," she said. "Uncle George's jokes are always a good laugh."

Richard tried to smile politely, but his heart wasn't in it. He was still thinking about Sarah and his failed confession.

Amy, who had been observing Richard's strange behavior, couldn't resist teasing him. "What's wrong with you, Richard? Are you feeling alright?"

Richard just mumbled something incoherent and retreated to his room. As he lay in bed that night, he couldn't stop thinking about Sarah. He knew that he had one more day to tell her how he felt. He just hoped that he wouldn't mess up again.

As Richard lay awake in bed, tossing and turning, his parents were also having a conversation about his unusual behavior.

"Have you noticed how Richard has been acting lately?" Wanda asked Eustace. "He's been so quiet and withdrawn."

Eustace nodded. "And he's been doing all the chores without being asked. It's unlike him."

Wanda smiled knowingly. "I think I know what's going on."

Eustace raised an eyebrow. "Oh really? What do you think?"

Wanda leaned in conspiratorially. "I think Richard has a crush on someone."

Eustace laughed. "You're kidding, right? Our little Richard?"

Wanda gave Eustace a stern look. "I'm serious. I've seen the way he's been acting. He's been moping around and doing the dishes without complaining."

Eustace thought about it for a moment. He had noticed Richard's strange behavior, but he hadn't considered that it might be due to a crush.

"Maybe you're right," he said, finally admitting. Eustace couldn't help but smile. "Well, I suppose it's about time. He's getting old enough. I wonder who it could be."

Wanda shrugged. "I don't know. But I'll find out."

Meanwhile, Amy was also pondering Richard's strange behavior. She had noticed how he had been acting differently around Sarah, always trying to impress her and spending more time in his room. Amy had a pretty good idea what was going on, but she decided to keep it to herself for now.

Amy decided to confront Richard the next day. "Hey, Richard," she said, sitting down beside him at the breakfast table. "Have you been acting weird lately?"

Richard looked up, startled. "Weird? How so?"

Amy hesitated. She didn't want to pry, but she was curious. "You've been really quiet and distracted. Is there something going on?"

Richard avoided her gaze. "I'm just tired," he mumbled.

Amy wasn't convinced. She knew her brother too well. She could tell that something was bothering him.