The Book

Shayla was just a girl. A small girl with big eyes and a brilliant mind. She loved to sing and dance and dream. But what she loved most was smiling. She herself had the brightest smile and shared it with everyone.

Ricky was just a boy. A tall boy with small hands and a big heart. He was shy by loveable and had the sweetest crooked smile. He loved adventuring. He often did so in his backyard, in the big woods, anywhere.

Both these characters were just people. But remarkable ones. All who knew them loved them. But yet, they didn’t know each other.

Shayla and her family were going to California to visit Auntie May and Uncle Jack. Shayla took her favorite book along with her and a photograph of her and her sister used as a bookmark.

She was sitting at the airport, waiting to board her plane, lost in the magic of her book. There were people and noise all around her. But she seemed to be enclosed in a silent bubble.

In the same airport was Ricky. He was waiting at the gate across the way for his plane. He and his family were going home from Grandma Lynn’s.

He was just sitting, watching people as the walked by or as the sat and occupied themselves waiting for their flight. He looked across the way and saw a toddler sitting and playing at a young girls feet. He looked up at the girl and a book covered her face. But behind the book he could see the dark brown curls around her. He tried to read what the title of the book was, but he was too far away. He then looked around at other people.

Shayla felt a tap on her shoulder. She looked up out of her book and saw her mother telling her the plane was boarding now. Shayla set down her book, grabbed her luggage and boarded the plane.

Just then Ricky looked over and saw a book, but no girl. His head turned towards the boarding gate and he saw the foot of the toddler disappear inside. Ricky ran through the sea of people and grabbed the book and rushed over to the boarding gate. He could see the girl down the tunnel but there were too many people in his way. He attempted to push through and as he started, the gatekeeper stopped him and wouldn’t let him in without his ticket.

The gate closed and Ricky was alone with the gatekeeper. He walked over to the window and watched the plane takeoff. He sighed sadly for he had failed his mission. He then walked over to his seat and sat back down. He flipped the book around and read the title. He smiled. It was his favorite book. He opened the book and out fell the photograph. He bent over and picked it up from off the airport floor.

Now he could see her face. She was beautiful. Ricky stared at Shayla’s image completely captivated by her smile. There was something remarkable about her. He couldn’t quite tell what it was. Ricky then opened the cover of the book to place the picture there and he found Shayla’s name written on the front page. “Shayla.” Ricky whispered to himself. He smiled.

“Pardon me,” he heard a sweet, light voice say. Ricky looked up and saw the girl herself. “Is that my book?” she asked.

“Why yes, it is! I promise I didn’t steal it. I tried getting it to you before you got on the plane, but it was too late.” Ricky explained.

“Oh that’s alright. As soon as I realized I didn’t have my book, I got right off the plane. It’s my favorite book.” Shayla replied.

“Oh really?” said Ricky as he handed the sweet, small girl the book back. “Mine too!”

Shayla smiled. “Well it is a lovely story. I’m Shayla, by the way.”

“Ricky.” He said with his crooked smile.

“Oh that’s a sweet smile,” thought the girl, “My favorite.”