San Pueblo University
Part 1: Valentine's Day
Aura Thundera
deonii@yahoo.com

***

    "Cabe, you're moping again!"  Sue said, observing the small figure curled up on the windowseat in the dormer.

    Cabe stared out at the gray rain that was falling against the panes.  "Grandma let you in again, huh?"

    "Yeah.  She said that you were in one of your funks again."

    Cabe rested her head against the cold window panes.  "Do you know what yesterday was?"

    "Valentine's Day.  What are you all worked up about?  Joe sent you a beautiful card--he showed it to me before he mailed it to you."

    "I don't care about Joe--or his card."

    Sue heaved a sigh.  "You're pining for that bird boy in California again, aren't you?"

    "He didn't send me a card and he said he would."

    "Well, I've got something that'll cheer you up, or at least it'll make you laugh.  I've got the special Valentine's edition of Tiger Beat, featuring the newest heartthrob to rock America."

    "I'm not in junior high anymore, you loon.  What do you think that I want with an issue of Tiger Beat?"

    "You're not too old for this one.  Take a look!"  Sue held out the magazine.  The cover bore a photo of Keith looking luscious in his red velvet stage costume and holding a boquet of flowers and a heart-shaped box of chocolates.

    "It's Keith!"  Cabe exclaimed, before turning back to her window.  "Oh no!  No, no, no, no..."  With every 'no' she banged her head lightly against the window.

    "What's your problem?  He's your bird boy, isn't he?"

    "I really wish you wouldn't call him bird boy.  His name is Keith and he was the nicest, sweetest boy I have ever met."

    "A partridge is a bird, isn't it?"

    "Keith isn't a bird.  I wonder if this is what held up his letter, all the work to do a photo shoot for a special issue."

    "Take a look.  Read the article called 'Keith's Dream Girl'--you'll like it."

    "What about it?  He's a teen idol now.  He can have any girl he wants.  Why would he even bother wanting me?  I'm two thousand miles away and I'm sure that he has plenty of interested girls back in San Pueblo."

    Sue opened the magazine and began reading.  "  It goes like this: I want a girl who is intelligent, so that I can have someone to talk to while I'm on tour.  I love dark blond hair and gray eyes.  Gray eyes fascinate me, maybe because no one in my family has them so they're a sort of mystery to me...  Cabe, he might as well have said 'My dream girl is named Cabe McAllister'!

    "Yeah, like they'd let him do that.  Bad for his image and all that."

    "Ca-abe!" Cabe's grandmother called from the living room below.  "Mail's here!  And there's a big box from San Pueblo!"

    "Coming!"  Cabe yelled, and dashed down the stairs with Sue hot on her tail.

    Cabe ripped open the box.  Inside rested a glossy 8x10 photo of Keith, of the sort that a fan club might send out.  Cabe choked back the bitter dissappointment of the photo and pulled out the tissue-paper packing.

    Under the paper rested a pile of gifts from Keith.  There was a box of chocolates, a framed snapshot of Keith grinning with a zit on his chin, and a small stuffed cat.  Cabe picked up the cat, her eyes shining.

    "Keith didn't forget," Cabe said, holding the cat tight as though somehow it might transform into Keith.  "It just arrived late.  He didn't... oh, Keith!"

    Sue was looking at the discarded glossy.  "That's quite the mess of hair that he's got.  I know girls with less hair."

    "You know girls who shave their heads.  Leave Keith's hair alone."

    "Cabe, is it too late for you to apply to San Pueblo University?"  Sue asked.  "If you go to Penn State next fall, you'll never survive.  You'll pine away to nothing without your hairball in San Pueblo."

    Cabe blushed.  "I already did.  It was a  moment of weakness, weeks ago.  I was accepted.  And... well... they are known for having an excellent arts program.  Keith is majoring in music theory.  But I told Keith that I was staying here to go to school."

    "So?  Don't tell Keith what you're doing.  Surprise him when you return to San Pueblo in August."


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