Farmboy

Chapter 9

It was because, maybe, deep inside of me, I really did like him. Not just a silly crush, like I told Saige, but something else. Not love, not yet, I was too young. Maybe, I realized that all things that reminded me of my dad were not meant to be pushed away, but rather kept close. Maybe I realized Andrew could fill that void my dad left in my heart, even if only a little bit.

I finished the story, and Andrew looked at me, his mouth open a little. Melancholy swam in his eyes. He let go of my hand and put his arm around my shoulders. I let it stay there. I needed comfort.

“So that’s why you ran.” He whispered. I nodded, staring determinedly at my piece of moss between my feet.

“And why you wanted to be called Gail.” He said. I nodded again. I opened my lips to speak, then paused.

“You can still call me Abby.” I whispered. He squeezed my shoulders.

“Okay, Abby. That’s perfectly fine with me.” He said.

We stayed sitting together, silently, for the next few minutes. Then I got up, got my gloves back, and headed home. On my way there, I realized I’d chosen two options during the encounter. Option one, because we were friends again. And a new one, Option Four - Fighting and then Confessing.

I admit I never planned for the second part of option four to exist, but the first part, I kind of expected.  The fight was kind of bad…I might have cursed at Andrew. I couldn’t really remember that well, even though it has just happened.  

I reached home and opened the door. My mom was in the kitchen.

“Oh, hello, Gail. Where were you?” She asked.

“Just taking a walk.” I said, evasively. “Oh, and Mom - you can call me Abby, again, if you want.” I said. My mom looked surprised.

“I can?” She asked.

“Yep. Now, I’ve gotta go do homework...see you at dinner!” I ran up the stairs, two at a time. Then, once I was in my bedroom, I grabbed my  phone and called Saige.

“What happened?” She asked immediately. She had known I had had plans to go see Andrew after school had ended.

“I told him about my dad.” I said.

“You did? Gail, that’s awesome. You guys are bonding!”

“Saige, you can call me Abby, if you want.” I said.

“I can?” She asked, incredulously.

“Yep.” I said. Everyone was so shocked…I’d had them call me Gail for over a year. Now, thanks to Andrew, I was Abby once more.  

⚘⚘⚘

Everyone at school was shocked when I said they could call me Abby. Some still called me Gail. Some called me Abigail. And some called me Abby. I knew, then, I had made a good choice. Maybe to some, it will just be a name, but to me, it was meaningful. It showed who I was, Abby or Gail. As it was, after I saw Andrew on Monday, I felt like a different person. I was no longer struggling between Abby and Gail. I was, however, struggling with two other things. Option one or two.

As it was, it was Wednesday, and I hadn’t visited Andrew since Monday. However, Mom insisted we have a family movie night on Wednesday, so I postponed my visit till Thursday. To prepare for movie night, I rummaged through a closet and got blankets, while Mom made popcorn and chose a movie. When I came downstairs with the blankets, I arranged them on the couch, and then helped my mom carry the popcorn and the movie into the room.

“What movie are we watching?” I asked.

“The Princess Bride. It’s a classic, I watched it all the time in college. I’ve always meant to show this movie.” My mom said, settling down on the couch.

“Okay…” I said, helping myself to some popcorn.

The movie started with a video game. I double-checked the cover the of the movie.

“You’re sure this is the right disc?” I asked.

“Yes. Now be quiet.” My mom replied, eyes glued to the screen.

The movie continued, and the little boy, in his bed, sick, stopped playing the video game when his grandpa came in. The grandpa began to read the boy a story called The Princess Bride.

“Ooh.” I said, suddenly understanding.

“Yeah…” My mom replied. “Now shut up and watch the movie.” She added playfully. THe movie went on. The protagonist, Buttercup, lived on a farm, evidently without parents. The only other person on the farm was the hot guy who did all the farm chores, whom Buttercup called Farmboy, and who she had no romantic feelings toward.

I did a double-take when they said Farmboy. That’s I called Andrew!

“Farmboy, fetch me that pitcher.” Buttercup said, from the TV.

“As you wish.” Westley said.

And then they fell in love. Again I was slightly reminded of Andrew and I, although our kiss was unwanted by me, and not that…intimate. But then Westley went and got himself killed by pirates. And then the story went on, with Prince Humperdinck, whose name gave me a laughing fit when I heard, and then the capture, and then Vizzini and Fezzik and Inigo Montoya, who, by the way, was awesome. And then the man in black.

And then the ending, and Buttercup and Westley kiss, and a warm feeling spread throughout me. The credits came on, so my mom and I began to clean up the popcorn and the blankets. Shortly afterward, I went to bed, hearing Buttercup say ‘Farmboy’, in my head.

⚘⚘⚘

Thursday morning I awoke to looking at my clock and realizing the bus should have come over an hour ago. I kicked over my blankets and ran downstairs.

“MOM! WHY DIDN’T YOU WAKE ME UP?” I yelled, running into the kitchen. My mom was sitting at the table, sipping coffee. She looked slightly startled when I ran in.

“Oh, honey, there was no bus today.” She said.

“Why wouldn’t there be a bus today?” I asked.

“Look outside.” She replied, gesturing towards the window.

Snow drifted lazily towards the white ground. What had melted since winter break had come back.

“SNOW DAY!” I yelled.

After a scarfed down breakfast and a quick change into a sweater and heavy sweatpants, I grabbed my snow things. I zipped up the coat, jammed the hat on my head, slipped on the mittens, and ultimately failed at putting on my winter boots because, stupid me, I was now a fattie due to my puffy coat and couldn’t reach my feet. Once my mom helped me put on my boots, I opened the door and ran outside.

I might have been fifteen in reality, but when it snowed I was five again. I danced in a circle and caught a snowflake on my tongue. I built a snowman, made a snow angel, and sledded down the hill.

Then, after I was exhausted, I began to walk up to the fence. Like always, the woods were beautiful when there was snow, but today they seemed extra beautiful. I reached the gate, and there was Andrew.

“Hi, Farmboy.” I said, a little shy. For once, he didn’t protest.

“Hey, Abby.” He replied. He climbed over the fence. Then, all at once, I ran towards him and gave him a hug and a kiss on the cheek, because I had just chosen Option Two.

I was staying with Farmboy.

THE END