Falling through the floor. (Part two)

"Peter." He said quietly, sitting close beside me.

A memory came to mind.

He squealed as the frog nearly escaped his grasp. It was hard to keep a firm grip on the slippery amphibian with his small hands, but he was determined to go through with his plan.

He leaned forward and kissed it.

The frog finally managed to escape from him. He pouted, It didn’t work…

“Ummm…what’ya doing?”

Peter looked up and began to laugh in a gleeful manner that only a child could manage. “It worked! You’re here!” He shouted, wrapping his small arms around my neck and planting a wet kiss on my cheek.

My face grew hot with embarrassment. “Wh-what worked?” I stammered, unused to close contact with other people.

“My wish came true!”

The wide smile on Peter’s face made my stomach do flip-flops. “R-really? You wished for me?”

A nod from Peter, “Let‘s go play now.” He declared, grabbing my hand and tugging me towards the playground.

He followed Peter, not really minding that I was being dragged away from the sandcastle I had been building. “I’m Gabriel. Who’re you?”

“I’m Peter.” He motioned to the older man sitting on a nearby park bench, “That's Henry. He’s my big bro.”

Henry seemed amused by Peter’s excitement, “I see you’ve made a new friend.”

“Uh, hi.” I waved with my free hand. Peter’s brother made me nervous, but I was quickly becoming attached to my new friend.

Peter beamed at his brother, “We’re gonna be best friends! Then we’re gonna get married, just like in the story!”

I wondered why Peter’s brother spit out what he was drinking, rendered speechless by the declaration. It didn’t seem like such a bad idea.

In fact, I kind of liked it.

"I remember you." I stated, "You were...my friend."

He smiled that familiar wide smile. "Yes."

Was he blushing? Strange. Although my ears were turning red.

We talked and drank hot chocolate until I thought I had outstayed my welcome. He drove me back to my apartment that was now in shambles.

"Thanks." I said really really quietly.

"No problem." He said with an embarrassed flick of the hand. "You take care."

"Yeah, you too."

I walked into the apartment, glaring down the huge gaping hole in the floor.

"Wow." It nearly tore down the walls.


Dexter.