[ twenty four ] sidewalk chalk
Ashton showed up at the Carrigan home bright and early.
He knew that if he wanted Prudence to himself that day, he would have to wake up long before his mates.
His index finger pressed on the doorbell and he waited for someone to open the door.
Soon, the door was opened by a woman dressed in a nurse uniform. She held a cup of coffee in one hand, and a small pastrie in the other. When she saw the teenage boy standing outside in the morning air, dressed in a band shirt and ripped skinny jeans, she smiled politely.
"Hello Mrs. Carrigan." Ashton greeted her.
"Goodmorning, son." She replied, "Are you here to see Lucy?"
Ashton shook his head. "Actually, I'm here for Prudence. I would like to spend the day with your daughter, if that's okay with you."
"Oh," Mrs. Carrigan cooed. "I am so glad Prudence is opening up to people and making friends again."
Ashton looked away awkwardly. Sure his intentions with Prudence were the best, but he knew his mates didn't have the same ideas. They were after winning the contest and weren't concerned for Prudence's feelings like Ashton was.
It pained him that she would end up hurt because of him and his friends.
Mrs. Carrigan walked around Ashton to go out the front door. "Prudence is asleep right now, but you can go wake her. I have to go to work now, but I trust that you will be a responsible young man. If Prudence trusts you, then it means you are one hundred percent trustworthy."
"I won't let you down, Mrs. Carrigan." Ashton smiled at her.
.
.
.
.
When Prudence opened her eyes, a boy with golden curls stood at the side of her bed. His hand was on her shoulder and on his face was a warm smile.
"Goodmorning Pru." He told her.
Shooting up in bed, her eyes peeled in shock, she asked him, "Ashton! What are you doing in my room?"
"Your mum let me in." He replied. "I asked her permission to take you out today and she said yes."
"Uh," She began, wiping her eyes with the backs of her hands. "Well, can you just...wait for me downstairs? I'll be right down. I just need to shower and get dressed."
He nodded.
"While you're down there, help yourself to some breakfast." She offered.
.
.
.
.
By the time she had gotten down stairs, Aston had made vegemite toast and was sat in the livingroom watching the tele.
"Ready?" She asked him with a smile.
She was dressed in her white knitted sweater and her ankle length white skirt. Her hair fell past her shoulders in long straight strands. In her hands was her prayed old bible. He got up off the couch and watched her with a smile.
He led her out the door and to his car.
"Where are we going?" She asked him, getting into the car after he opened the door for her.
He went around to the other side and climbed into the driver's seat. He replied, "That depends on what you have written on your list."
Pulling her list from in between the pages of her Bible, she handed it to him. His hazel eyes scanned over the list until he found one that seemed reasonable. It seemed easy enough, at least to him.
