The Girl And The Boy

The girl: I hate you. Oh, I hate you the most.

The boy (in a solemn voice): Hate is a strong word. You can’t just use it so loosely.

He fiddled with the wood which he was carving and didn’t lift his head to meet her eyes.

The girl: I waited for you next to the creek for hours yesterday.

The boy: Why? I never asked you to.

The girl: You didn’t have to ask me. We have always gone to the fair together and we always meet there.

The boy: So?

He was now irritating her.

The girl: Would you rather want me to go with somebody else?

The boy: Why do you need somebody to go with. You go alone.

The girl: Who are you to decide?

The boy: I am the one who goes with you to the fair every year.

With this, he chuckled and stopped his work, looked up and saw her frowning innocently.

The girl suddenly giggled: Lets go now.

And with that, they disappeared in the woods, two nine-year-olds, hand in hand, with their heads wobbling in unison. The fair was loud and colourful as expected, with stalls of interesting stuff making it difficult to choose from.

The girl: I can buy everything displayed here.

The boy: No, you can’t.

The girl: Why? My parents are rich!

The boy: But you need a donkey to carry all this across the river to your house.

The girl: What are you for?

The boy: So, you have come to the fair with a donkey and not your friend then! You decide. I can only be one of them.

The girl giggled again: But I don’t have any money. My parents never gave any.

The boy: Why would they? For them you are at school, learning things.

The girl: I am indeed.

The boy: What?

The girl: Learning things....hmmm..about the fair. Here, with you. Look, there are so many new things around!!

The boy: That you are. But, I need to be discreet. My other friends here at the fair should not find me.

The girl: You can hide behind me. In fact, two like you can hide behind me!!

The boy: Yes, that’s an advantage of being thin.

The boy quickly added: And having a fat friend!

The girl made a face.

The girl: No. It’s an advantage of having a clever friend. I would have found a way to hide you nevertheless!!

The boy: What do we do here now? Without money?

The girl: You have money. I know.

The boy: That’s for my supper. That’s all I got.

The girl: C’mon. For once you can skip supper and instead play some games.

The boy: What if I die by morning?

The girl: I will come with somebody else then tomorrow to the fair. Or as you said, alone.

The boy: I want to finish my wood carving before I die!

The girl was heartbroken.

The girl: You were always thinking about the deadwood piece and not the very much alive me!

The boy winked and they went into the thick of the fair. It was crowded and they had to make their way to their favourite stall. The boy paid for the game and they played for several minutes till they exhausted all the tickets for the game.

The girl showed off the box of paints that she had won in the game to the boy.

The girl: Now, I will be an artist like you.

The boy gaped at her and laughed suddenly.

The boy: Then the shopkeeper must be the most talented artist!

The girl, all of a sudden, tried furtively to hide behind the boy.

The girl: My mother is here with her friends.

The boy, snatching the box of paints: I will go to the other end. Meet me in 10 minutes. If you don’t, I will come to get you.

The girl desperately tried to merge with the crowd and reach the other end, but unfortunately was recognized by one of her mother’s friends the very next moment.

Mother’s friend: What are you doing here? Why are you not in school?

The girl, perplexed, said: I …I …I….

Mother’s friend swiftly got the girl’s mother. Her expression as if she found an unexpected treasure.

The girl to her mother: Mother, I…I…I

Mother: Where are your classmates?

Suddenly, the boy jumped in, addressing the girl: Mam, your teacher has sent the box of paint the whole class is waiting for you at the other end to finish the painting class at the fair.

The girl (not looking at the boy, but at her mother): I...I...I

Mother: Why are you still here honey? Rush back to your outdoor painting class.

The boy immediately took her away and pulled her to the far end gate of the fair without again looking back towards the girl’s mother.

The girl: Thank you, you saved me.

The boy: Yes, as always.

The girl, on the way back to the creek: Now you are stuck with me for today.

The boy: Why? I am done with all the drama for today.

The girl smilingly: You will need to teach me to paint so that I can take my painting home, which I supposedly was doing with my classmates at the other end of the fair!!

The boy teasingly handed over the paint box to the girl: Why? I am not your teacher or saviour or your donkey? So, hold your paints.

The girl on reaching across the creek, lovingly handed the box back to the boy: Yes, but you are all. You are my friend who goes with me to the fair every year.