The two kids were just stepping off the school bus when Tabitha Muse noticed something red peeking out of Lionel Rybold’s backpack in front of her.
“Ooh, what’s this?”
Lionel turned his head, saw where Tabitha was lunging, and promptly twisted his backpack away from her – but too late. She had already pinched the mystery in her fingers, and with the added force of Lionel’s jerk, the small pocket zipped open wide. Out spilled a flock of papery hearts, ruby-wrapped chocolates, and candy.
“Valentines!” Tabitha hooted as Lionel scrambled to grab them all from the crusty snow. She bent down and managed to snatch one from his groping hands. The heart she was holding was a deep romantic crimson color frilled with white lace. Yes, these were definitely more than just the simple, obligatory cards the lower grade students exchanged with each other each year.
“I don’t believe it,” she laughed. “How many sweethearts do you have, a dozen? Don’t they know you already have a sweetheart? How come I didn’t get a Valentine from you?”
“Shut up, Tabby.” Lionel’s face was fanning as red as his hearts.
She gave a dramatic sigh. “Those other poor boys didn’t stand a chance, did they?”
Lionel tore the card from her hands and stalked down the dirt road, Tabitha walking with a light skip in her step just behind.
“I’ve always said you’re the prettiest in your grade,” she commented amiably. “Prettier than all the girls even. Hey,” grinning, she ruffled her hand through his lustrous blonde curls, “you sure none of those are from a few boys?”
“I said shut up!” He slapped her hand away, his face beet red now, and sprinted off toward the two mailboxes that were standing just across the road from his house. He grabbed the mail from one and stuffed them in his pack before seizing one of two bicycles that were propped against a nearby spruce.
Tabitha came leisurely on, whistling K-I-S-S-I-N-G as she pulled a much larger pile of letters from the second mailbox. She was standing by her own bike, cramming the envelopes into her already filled pack, when she noticed Lionel making for his house.
“Come on, I was only teasing,” she called. “I’m sorry, alright? I promise I won’t say another thing about your sweeties. You can have as many as you want. Well…for now, at least!”
But Lionel was already hauling his bike up the steps to his porch. Tabitha huffed.
“What are you going to do, stay there until your parents get home? I said I was sorry!”
“That’s not it,” Lionel answered quickly. “My parents are coming home early today. It’s their anniversary and they won’t be here for the weekend. I think they want to hang out with me or something before leaving tomorrow.”
“Oh.”
Tabitha wasn’t sure she approved of Lionel remaining behind, even if he had a good excuse. They always rode back to her house on their bikes after school, hanging around there until Lionel’s parents arrived in the evening to pick him up and head home. She wasn’t looking forward to making the journey to her house alone.
“But wait,” she called, as Lionel opened his front door. “But our rite is tomorrow, isn’t it? Aren’t your parents going to miss it?”
Lionel shrugged. “Guess so. We’ll have to do it at your place instead.”
“No, no, we can still do it here!”
Lionel frowned at that. “What, have your parents come over here instead? Why not just do it at your house?”
“I’m saying we do the rite without them. My parents won’t have to know yours’ have left town.”
