Contests Short Stories

My Audrey

My name is Wynn Oliver Harris. Or at least, that's who I was long ago. Now that I'm eighty-six, I have a confession to make. Some may call it a crime; others might say it's the justice of fate.

Nonetheless, I think somebody should know about us.

I was a regular farm-boy from a small town far north from here. My folks weren't rich people, we didn't have much, but we always enough. When I was eleven I had to quit school to help momma run the farm after father died. Momma was an honest, hard working woman, tough as nails, but she always brought me books to read. She told me that even if I couldn't finish school that didn't mean I should stop reading, and she made me read to her every night after dinner. After father's passing there were years better than the others.

One day, while I was making my usual delivery in town, I saw her, the most beautiful girl. She has just moved in town. Her hair was wisps of sunshine and her eyes were the sky. Her voice was a song and her smile, lord what a smile, it could brighten a dark day. There was a small puff ball wagging its tail by her feet. I think it was a Pomeranian breed. I fell in love right then and there. Her name was Audrey Foster. My Audrey.

I couldn't get her off my mind even though I knew a girl like her would never look at a farm boy like me. Peeking at her from afar was all I could do and for the following days I went go to town just to catch a glimpse of her.

Until that one morning, I have just finished my usual delivery and went to buy some things momma wanted. I was about to get in my truck when someone's groceries bag got torn and apples rolled all around. I picked the few that rolled close to me and just as I was about to hand them back I swear my heart skipped a beat and I lost my breath. It was her .I couldn't speak or hand her back her apples.

"Hi..." She smile and looked at me with those blues.

The only sound was from the little pooch that was jumping around us.

"I'm Audrey."

I was finding it difficult to breathe, how could I speak?

"So, are you going to give me back my apples?" She looked down at my hands.

"I... I'm sorry." I finally spoke and let go. "Here..." I quickly flipped one of the grocery bags I bought dumping its contents in the back of the truck and stuffing her apples in it.

"Please, allow me." I eagerly offered to carry her groceries and I was thrilled when she let me walk her home. It felt like the most natural thing.

"So, what's your name?" she asked.

"Wynn, Wynn Harris."

"Well Wynn," there was a scolding and a smile in her voice, "were you ever going to stop and say hello or just walk around town silently every day?"

I was shocked speechless that she noticed me and at the same elated that she did. I laughed like a nervous idiot which luckily played in my favor because she thought it was cute. The entire time I was gathering the courage to ask her out, but every time I lose my words.

When we reached her doorstep she turned to me and said, "I'm going to make an apple pie, why don't I save you a piece for tomorrow, say in the afternoon by the lake."

"It's a date!" I blurted with excitement making her laugh and making my ears burn with embarrassment.

She took her bags from me and smiled, "It's a date."

I couldn't sleep a wink that night neither could I wait for the morning to come. Our first date was like a dream, Audrey was like a dream. She was smart, funny, beautiful and gentle, everything a guy would wish for. I could swear that she was made for me and I for her.