New Story Starts Next Week!

So check back on Monday.

In the meantime, I'll be rambling on at my other blog: Today's Words.

Smiley Tie - 10

To start at the beginning of this story, click here.

-------------

The rest of the evening was more fun than Anton had had in ages. That evening was the most fun he'd had in ages. They finished feeding the ducks and played at the playground, a sadly dilapidated affair that should have been overhauled years ago, Anton noted. When they were tired and thirsty, they wandered downtown for ice cream sodas at the soda shop.

Now, Herman, Joseph and Pauline had him skipping to the movie theater. Of course his shoes were not made for such frivolity and he didn't want to ruin his smiley socks. He tied the laces of his shoes together and did the same with the ankles of the socks, making it easy to swing shoes in one hand, socks in the other. When he skipped past Meeker's Drugstore he happened to catch a glimpse of himself in the plate glass window along with his three companions.

This is what Peter Pan is all about, he thought to himself. Staying young. He thought about the three children and how quickly they had formed a bond. So why was he stuck in a corporate world with nothing but stuffy old men who spent their afternoons snoozing in leather chairs at The Club? Why did he associate with airhead women who had nothing but position, power and money on their mind, when there were people out there like Pauline, who knew the precious value of loyalty and self-sacrifice. Perhaps he didn't fit into his father's world, because he didn't belong there. There was really no shame in leaving. Only the opportunity to be happy.

----------

10 Years Later

THE LUNDSFORD DAILY -- Page 14

LUNDSFORD--Lundsford's most eligible bachelor, Mr. Anton Brewer, son of the late business tycoon Harold Stevenson Brewer and his former wife Patricia, was married in an outdoor ceremony Saturday. He and the former Miss Pauline Turner were married by the duck pond in Tracer Park at 6:00 in the evening. Reverend Steve Stout officiated.

The bride wore a simple white satin gown trimmed with pearls. Her bridesmaids were dressed in yellow satin. The groom and his groomsman wore black tuxedos, their bow ties and cummerbunds patterned with yellow smiley faces.

The only flaw in an otherwise idyllic setting was the tendency of the bold ducks to flock around the couple.

Mr. Brewer has made his mark designing innovative playground equipment that gives a high priority to safety. Over the past ten years, he has become a self-made leader of the industry, establishing his headquarters in Columbus. Once his father passed away and left him the estate, Mr. Brewer returned to Lunsford and opened his first satellite company here, employing 400.

Mrs. Brewer is a speech therapy specialist. She reports that their romance blossomed when the pair collaborated on a special needs playground project. Rumor has it that they knew each other several years ago.


Their reception was held at the Brewer Manor, where the bride and groom danced shoeless; both wore socks patterned with smiley faces. The balcony was opened to the local school children who wanted to attend the festivities.

They will live, "happily ever after" according to the groom, at Brewer Manor, after a honeymoon trip to Disneyland.

The End

Previous Stories

Smiley Tie - 9

To start at the beginning of this story, click here

.

------------------

In a few minutes they were on their way. Joseph and Herman continued to chatter on about things that required only a nod or a grin in response, and pretty soon Anton was lost in his own thoughts, his own world. Things were changing on a level that scared him and excited him all at once. But above all that there was Pauline and her courage. He still couldn't believe that given his ten years head-start, he'd never had the courage and grace to stand toe-to-toe with him as she had. It was impressive. She shouldn't be off crying somewhere; she should be standing tall and proud.

"There." Joseph had pulled on his suit coat to stop him, and was pointing to a little figure huddled by the side of the pond under a huge willow tree. The ducks were starting to congregate around her.

"Do the birds always do that?"

"Oh, yes. She's the duck-girl. She never comes here without something to feed them. Sometimes she swims with
them."

"I see. Well. Are you two going to keep a safe distance, or provide backup?"

"We'll provide backup from a safe distance," said Herman after a brief silence. "She'll come around on her own, you know."

"Well, it doesn't seem right. She stuck her neck out for me, and I at least owe her a thank-you. Which is what should have come before that "deal" comment I made."

Sure enough the two boys let him proceed on his own. Why he should feel this nervous about approaching a ten-year-old was beyond him.

He didn't say anything as he approached, but the ducks scattered, which made her scowl. Pauline didn't look at him. She continued to stare across the water. So Anton lowered himself onto the grass beside her and stretched out his legs.

For awhile he said nothing. He half expected her to get up and leave, but she didn't.

"I'm sorry, Pauline."

Silence.

"I was only worried about your parent's work here at the estate. Dad can be a bit vindictive at times."

"Who are you telling?"

"That's the only reason I asked you not to jump in. But in the end, I'm glad you did. You were terribly brave."

"Then why did you say what you did?"

"Because I'm stupid. I was still reeling from the entire incident. I'm sorry. I shouldn't have said it."

"Well, you shouldn't have worried. My parents are leaving the estate anyway. That's why I wanted to come see the party tonight."

"Leaving?"

"Yes. Dad is going to open his own landscape business and Mom is going back to school to finish her teaching degree."

"Will you be going far away?" For some strange reason, Anton felt his heart sink with this news.

"Oh, no. Just to the other side of town. I'm sure my dad will be back over here tending the lawn, same as he used to. But he doesn't like working for your dad much. I can understand why. My dad is strict, but he's never mean. Not like that. No wonder you say stupid things."

The ducks were beginning to congregate again. She picked up the plastic bag beside her and started tossing bread at them again.

"I can't believe I got you thrown out of your house."

"Oh, Pauline. Don't ever for a minute think that was your doing. That was the culmination of years of clashing between the two of us. It would have come eventually whether or not you spilled cake on his dance floor. Please believe me."

"I just can't imagine what I'd do if my dad told me never to come home."

"Trust me, Pauline, it may be a blessing. We might get along better if we're not under the same roof. It's time for me to start pulling my weight, making my own mark. You may have done me a favor tonight."

"Really?"

"In fact, I know you've done me a favor tonight. You've shown me the grace of courage and conviction. I want to grow up to be just like you. I've never had anyone stand up for me like that. I hope I can do it for someone else someday."

She looked at him then and grinned.

"That's much better. Can I tell the guys it's safe to come over now. Did you know they are afraid of you?"

"Yeah. I have to hold my own with the two of them or they'd run right over me. I'm a girl. I'm not stupid or anything."

"That, my dear, is an understatement!" Anton turned and motioned the two boys over.

"So you're going to let us live up to our end of the bargain?" Pauline asked. Now her eyes were glowing with excitement.

"That was the deal," Anton responded.
----------------
Tune in tomorrow for the final episode of Smiley Tie.

Previous Stories

Smiley Tie - 8

-----------------------

"He just wanted to do something nice for us." She turned around to look at Herman and Joseph who had joined Gertie on the sidelines. Herman gave her a thumbs up, and that seemed to renew her determination. Pauline pulled her hand from Anton's and walked up to his father.

"I would never, ever have wished anything so awful to happen to you or your friends, Sir. It was so lovely and I would have loved to watch you dance all night long." She turned around to face the crowd that had gathered behind them.

"I am so very sorry for dropping my cake. It's ruined your evening and hurt someone who wanted to do something nice for me, and I would undo it all if I could."

She turned around to face his father again, and waited for him to speak.

"Well, that was quite eloquent. I hope he's paying you well for that little speech, my dear."

No one said a word.

"Gertrude, get these children out of my house. All of the children." He picked up his drink, waved to the band. Music began, the dead silence began to be filled by murmurs.

Gertie turned and walked toward the kitchen with Joseph and Herman at her side. Anton and Pauline followed along behind. She never said a word to any of them, and kept her arms folded across her chest as she walked. Anton hoped it was a small detail that wasn't missed by his father or anyone else looking on. Gertie was letting them leave, not forcing them out.

"Well, I tried to tell you it would be dull," Anton said, as they reached the kitchen.

Herman hid a smile behind his hand.

"That is such a lie!" said Joseph.

"Okay, maybe I should have warned you it would be dangerous," Anton responded. He couldn't help grinning himself. "So why don't you three high-tail it out of here before anything else can drop?"

"But that wasn't the deal," Pauline said.

"Look, little lady. Don't you talk to me about deals," Anton said, a bit more sternly than he intended. He was horrified to see tears well up in her eyes. Apparently she was just as horrified, because she rushed past him like a tiny tornado, ripped open the kitchen door and was gone like a beam of light.

"Now you've done it," Herman said.

"She'll be mad at you forever," Joseph added. "She never cries. Not in front of us anyways. And you've made her cry three times tonight alone."

"Well, it's not like I was trying to set a record or something. Honestly, I didn't mean to! We have to catch her."

"Yeah, right," he heard Herman say from behind him as he started after her. "You let her get too far ahead. Trust me I know!"

Sure enough, Pauline was already a speck on the expanse of the manicured lawn that stretched down to the gatehouse.

"Where will she go?" Anton asked Joseph when the two boys appeared at his side.

"Probably the duck pond. But she'll be as pleasant as a teased hornet. Best leave her alone."

"After surviving my father, I'm not so scared," Anton said. "Can you take me? At least get me close and then you two can split if you'd rather."

"Why not? Deal was we'd show you a good time right? Maybe we can get close to what happened in there! Long as you don't mind getting chewed out again," Joseph said.

"But we do need our shoes," Herman added.

"Right."

---------------------
Tune in Monday for the next episode of Smiley Tie.

Previous Stories