All of us cheer for him, and he hams it up. He’s definitely not a graceful winner. The vendor then goes to Carlos, and says, “Sorry, but looks like you’re buying breakfast.”
“No way,” he groans. “There’s no way Angie beat me.”
“What can I say?” She blows on her knuckles and scrubs them across her shoulder. “I’m a badass.”
“Whatever,” Carlos rolls his eyes, and turns to Eric, “let me know what you decide and I’ll have it there tomorrow morning.”
“Can’t wait,” Eric grins. He follows the vendor to the side of the basketball goals and digs around for something. The rest of the group says they’re goodbyes and part ways. Each of the couples heading in different directions.
I watch them for a few moments before looking to the sky. The sun is setting and we’re losing time. We can’t stay out all night since I have to get up earlier than normal to make it to my weekday job on time.
A few moments later Eric approaches me with his hands behind his back. What in the world?
“Here you go.” He pulls his hands in front of him, and waits for my reaction. Uncertainty flashes across his face.
In his hand is a small stuffed bear holding a basketball. I guess being the winner of the game also meant he got to pick out a prize. I set the bags on the ground, careful to keep them from spilling. “Thank you.” I grab it out of his hands. “I love it.”
And I do. Never have I had someone give me something they won. Even if he did it to beat his bosses, I’ll cherish it for the sweet gift it is.
19
Eric
As soon asI present the bear to Joan, I feel like an idiot. This isn’t something grown men do. At least, I don’t think they do. The new territory I’m wading into is terrifying, but worth it.
But seeing her happy with the prize, is enough to ease some of my anxiety over it. “The rides are still open for a little while longer, want to see what they have?”
“Sure.” She hugs the bear to her chest, and I pick up the bags from the ground. “Nothing that spins, though. I’m not a huge fan of those.”
“Got it.” I take a few steps and she works herself under my arm. “Would the ferris wheel be okay?”
“That’s actually perfect.” She looks down at the bags in my hands. “Where are we going to put our stuff?”
“I’m sure there’s someone I know that would be willing to keep an eye on it. Or I can see if the attendant will let me stash it behind the controls.”
“Wow. People really just do whatever you want?”
“What can I say?” I shrug my shoulders and pull her further into me. “I’ve got charm.”
“Wow, you think pretty highly of yourself.”
“It’s how I get through life. You should try it.”
I lead her over to the ferris wheel. The line is long. I’m pretty sure it’s because most people waited until the sun was down so they could get a ride while the lights were on. The view of our tiny town is a romantic backdrop for the evening. It’s one of the reasons I waited so long for us to do the rides. It’s the moment I’ve been waiting for.
We watch the people getting on and off the ride. Most are couples on a date. The ages vary from high school all the way up to those who have no doubt spent decades together.
Finally, we reach the front of the line. I bought tickets earlier, and hand them over to the person running the ride. “Can I set these back here until we’re back?”
The attendant nods, and I set them down. He points us to the open cart where another person waits to make sure we are fastened in. Holding my hand out to Joan, I help her into the seat before sitting beside her. We lift our hands to our chest so the attendant can close the latch. He gives it a tug to make sure it’s not going to open, and signals a thumbs up before moving out of the way.
Within a minute we’re moving forward. The sudden jolt is a bit frightening, but I know we’re okay. Her hand squeezes mine and she leans her head against my shoulder. “Thank you for today. I’ve had a lot of fun.”
“Really?” I could tell she did, but confirmation helps. “I didn’t know if the whole small town fair thing was your vibe since you’re from the city and used to grand events.”
“No, this is exactly my speed. It’s also nice seeing people we’ve served at the bar. It’s like a slice into their life when they aren’t dancing and hanging out.”
“Definitely a perk of living in a small town. The one I grew up in is about twenty minutes away. It’s slightly bigger than Asheville, but still has the same feeling.”
