A Walk Through the Park

Once upon a time there was a girl named Charlotte. She had deep blue eyes like the ocean and dark brown hair like the woods. Her smile lit up the sun and she was hardly seen without it. She was a crazy little being. Never a day went by when she didn’t have an adventure. She loved dancing and whenever it rained she ran outside and danced to the beat of the wet drops on her face.

She lived in the little white house on Marin Dale Lane. The cutest little street you ever did see. Charlotte could always be found in the oak trees lining the streets or in the grand park at the end of the block. She loved walking in the park, running through the woods and singing in the shower. Everybody simply adored her.

Except for one.

His name was James. He wasn’t much older than Charlotte but much taller and stronger. He had eyes like Charlotte but they were the light color of the sky. His hair was just as dark and curly. He was the sweetest boy to everyone and never spoke harshly. No one quite knew why he didn’t adore Charlotte like the rest of the town. He was very much like her. He was quite the adventurer himself. You could often find him swimming in the creek, balance walking on fences and wandering his big backyard. He lived on Courage Avenue and his house was directly behind Charlotte’s.

Many a time had Charlotte try to get through to him. She would say hi and invite him to go running through the woods with her, but he would say “Sorry but I’m busy.” and continue on. He wasn’t rude. But Charlotte never gave up. She would smile and say hi to him whenever she passed him and she often told the neighbors of such sweet things she notices about him.

The neighbors couldn’t understand how a girl like Charlotte could find nice things about a boy like James who despised her. They called her a princess. For that’s what real princesses do.

One lazy afternoon when Charlotte was walking through the park the clouds distracted her so much that she didn’t see James and ran right into him. “Oh I’m so sorry, James!” she exclaimed.

Picking himself up from off the ground and dusting off his pants he said, “That’s alright, Charlotte. Well I must be on my way.” And as he walked on Charlotte said to him “James! I know you don’t like walking with me through the park but please just this once?”

James turned, looked at Charlotte then looked at the ground as he thought about it. “Alright.” said he “Just this once.”

Charlotte’s big smile got even bigger. As they walked along the curved path through the park they talked of the weather and how the family was. Their walk soon came to an end and they departed from each other. But is seemed as if James’s smile and walk was a little bit brighter.

Weeks went by without the two seeing each other. When suddenly one day James went looking for Charlotte. He asked for her all around the town. As in most small towns, gossip started. Soon the town knew all about James looking for Charlotte. He finally found where she went. Betty, from the local grocery store, told him she went to the lake. He was soon on his way to the lake and when he got there he didn’t find Charlotte, but her little brother, Daniel. He soon asked Daniel where Charlotte was. “She’s out in the garden picking flowers for mother.” Daniel replied. James walked so fast he might as well have been running all the way to Charlotte’s garden by the side of her white house.

There she was. With her dark curls hanging down about her shoulders, bent over, singing as she picked the white lilies and pink roses. Her yellow dress shined like the sun. “Charlotte!” he called. This startled Charlotte and she dropped her bouquet onto the ground.

“Oh dear!” she exclaimed. “Hi there, James. Nice to see you this afternoon.”

James hurriedly opened the garden gate and helped Charlotte pick up her flowers. “I’ve been looking all over for you.”

“You have? I thought you didn’t like me much.”

“Oh but I do!” he stated.

This surprised Charlotte a bit.

He continued on “You see, the moment you moved here I thought you were the prettiest girl I ever did see. You’re hair was down and the way you went about was very much like a princess.”

“I have often been called a princess. But I never thought I would by you!” Charlotte remarked.

“But you see Charlotte, I have never really disliked you. I’ve always liked you. Quite a bit. But I knew if I were to ever take more than 5 minutes spent with you I’d fall madly in love with you and I’d never be able to sleep another night till I knew what you thought of me.”

“So that’s why you always hurried away from me when I tried to befriend you.”

“I admit I went about this all wrong. I shouldn’t have ignored you like I did but that is now in the past. That walk we took through the park a few weeks ago has been on my mind day and night. I wake up to the sweet voice of your singing in the shower and it makes me start with a smile every morning. I’ve watched you dance in the rain. I’ve seen the way you interact with the town and it’s people. You were so astounding I thought you were a dream. I had to pinch myself to know if you were real.”

As James took a breath Charlotte just looked at him with her deep blue eyes in wonder and surprise as she took the story in. She waited for him to go on.

“Charlotte, I’ve watched you take care of your family. The way you cook is just so wonderful and the way you are with children is heart melting. You will make the greatest mother. You are what I’ve always dreamed of. What I thought couldn’t be real. Charlotte, I’ve done it. I’ve done what I was afraid of. I fell in love and I’m in love with you. I’ve always loved you. Since the first time you walked into this lovely white house with your face all aglow and ready for any adventure out there.”

“Oh James. That’s lovely, it really is. It’s simply marvelous.” Charlotte said with the voice of a princess in love. “I’m happy to say I love you, too. Since the first time you declined my friendly offer I knew it wasn’t real. There was something about you. Something wonderful.”

Soon the whole town knew about the two being in love and they planned for the wedding at once. Charlotte and James were soon married and they bought a little blue house with a big backyard and wonderful garden. “Perfect for two adventurers and their children. “ Said Charlotte when she first saw the place. There they lived the rest of their days in happiness and joy. The End.