I always wondered what would happen if Sheridan and Luis had met when they
were very young children. Now that we know Luis was once living at the
cottage. Here's my take on that chance meeting. Hope you like it.
Luis kicked the dirt as he made his way secretly around the big oak tree. He
leaned against it and spied over at the cottage he used to live in. Before
SHE came home.
He was hoping for a peek. He wanted to know just what was so special about a
little girl that she had to have their big house all to herself. Mama had
said they were turning it into a playhouse. Must be some playhouse, he
thought.
He wiped some dirt off his skinny arms, then wiped his face. It was hot and
his hands left the dirt streaked on his face. He turned back around hearing
something. Hoping it wasn't his buddy Hank. He had ditched him.
Luis heard something and he crouched down low behind the tree. His heart was
pounding. He didn't want mean old Alistair to catch him. He had only met him
once but the boys in the neighborhood didn't have mighty nice things to say
about him. He wiped his sweaty palms on his worn and torn jeans.
Suddenly the something came around the bend and he realized it was her. She
had blonde ringlets and a pretty blue dress on. He noticed she looked like
she was crying too. Ah, man. He figured she was coming straight for him.
Tough guy that he was he stood up and puffed his chest out. He pulled his
hands through his hair and nervously tried to make himself presentable. She
had to be the Crane. Those people were richer than the Beverly Hillbillies.
He kicked the dirt so she would look up. Man, he hated crybabies. Nothing
ever made him cry. Nothing.
The little girl looked up and just stared at him. Her eyes were filled with
tears. She had the bluest darn eyes he ever saw. He suddenly felt bad for
her.
"What's wrong little girl?" He asked. He didn't think she was that little
though. But she was a cry baby.
"I found this little bird and he's dead." She said softly. She was looking at
him suspiciously. "Well, why don't you just bury him then." She started
crying harder. "What! What did I do?"
"I dont...like....stuff...like....that" She stuttered out. Ah, man. Luis
couldn't believe this. But he felt bad for her. "What's your name anyway?" He
asked. He warily walked over to her. He crossed his arms and stood on his
toes to make him look taller. He lost his balance and had to take a couple
steps. He got beet red.
Sheridan laughed through her tears. "That was funny." Luis couldn't help it
he smiled back. She smiled too and then got real shy and turned away. "I'll
tell you my name if you tell me yours?" He said.
She gave him a hesitant look. "Sheridan, my name is Sheridan." Luis said the
name over in his head. He would never admit it but it was a real pretty name.
He puffed his chest out again. "Mines Luis. Nice to meet you."
She gave him a little secret smile. Luis got all flustered. She was much
prettier than he thought when she smiled. "Hey, ah, you want me to bury that
bird for you."
Her lip quivered. "Your not afraid too?" Luis laughed. "Who me? I'm not
afraid of anything!"
"Wow, you must be really brave then." She held the bird in her hands out.
Luis reached over with both hands and when they touched they looked at each
other.
She gave him the bird and she was impressed that he treated in so gently. He
looked sad too.
He walked over and dug a big hole under the tree with his hands and put the
bird in. He covered it up and wiped his hands over his white T-shirt. He was
real messy now. Mama would be mad.
He stood up and walked back over to the girl named Sheridan. "You live in
that fancy house over there?" She just nodded.
"Its pretty big I bet."
"Big and scary too." She said.
"Well, I'm not afraid of nothing. Not one thing scares me." Luis said proudly.
Sheridan looked at him with big blue eyes and nodded. He was her hero.
"Look I gotta go, before mama catches me." He started walking backwards
slowly.
Sheridan ran over and gave him a great big hug and then kissed his cheek.
He pulled her off him all flustered.
She batted her big blue eyes at him. He couldn't stop staring. She was
getting prettier every minute.
"Thank-you" She said.
Luis stuffed his hands in his pocket and started walking backwards again.
Then he turned and ran. He stopped real quick and looked back and she was
still staring.
His face broke out in a big grin. His hand touched his cheek.
Wait til he told the boys!
THE END