This thing called love, I must get round to it
I ain't ready
Crazy little thing called love
I smiled. This was one of my favorite songs. I’ve never been a huge Queen fan, but always loved that song. “You’re going to make me run around all over this house, aren’t you?”
His grin was impish. “That’s the plan.”
We all headed to the basement where the family rec room was, a throwback to the seventies and eighties. Brian’s late father had an old turntable and an impressive collection of vinyl LPs. Brian and I had made out on the old flower print velvet couch quite a few times, and often listened to classic rock. His dad had raised him on the stuff, which I’m sure was the reason Brian grew to love music so much. In his younger days, Mr. Lombardi had been in a rock band too. Brian and I loved the Eagles, Steve Miller Band, the Rolling Stones and The Police.
Thankfully, Brian’s dad was as compulsive as I am when it came to his records — they were organized alphabetically, and Gina hadn’t touched them in years.
“Oh my, God. There are about ten Queen records here,” I pointed out. “This is going to take me forever.”
Brian laughed. “What can I say…I wanted to make you work.”
I sighed “Well, I better find my gift here.” I pulled out a colorful Andy Warhol-like album, and checked the back. The song wasn’t there.
Gina and Daniella were both grinning like idiots, enjoying my distress a little too much.
I proceeded to flip through multiple albums, all of which had very artistic covers. Freddy Mercury’s face teased me over and over again.
Finally, I fell upon a black and white cover of the band, this one not as creative and wild as the others.The Game, it read. When I flipped to the back eagerly and finally found the song I was looking for, I squealed. Squealing is not very me, but I was just so excited.
I eagerly fished the LP out the record sleeve. A small note fell out as I did, and my heart swelled. I wondered if my baby could feel my excitement; my beating heart, my increased pulse. Did he or she know something exciting was about to happen?
I picked up the small folded note from the floor and eagerly unfolded it.
It’s my favorite time of day…
Bubbles, bubbles, bubbles.
I laughed out loud. “Who came up with these?” I asked. “They’re not exactly challenging.”
Brian smiled. “Okay, so I didn’t spend too much time on the riddles. It’s not fun when it’s too hard.”
I didn’t waste a second and headed for the bathroom upstairs. I knew I’d find what I was looking for in the bathtub. Brian knows I love my baths. I can easily spend an hour in the bath; soaking and relaxing, listening to music, enjoying a body scrub or mask. And bubbles are always a must.
Gina, Daniella and Brian were still at my heels, as giddy as I was. We were all like children on the hunt for chocolate eggs on Easter morning. My heart was pounding when I pulled at the shower curtain. I didn’t see anything off the bat — the bathtub was a mess. I scrounged through all the bottles of shampoo, conditioner, face wash, and body wash. A bright orange bottle assaulted my eyes as another pink fuchsia bottle called out to me. This bath was a far cry from mine, which was always spotless, bottles arranged meticulously, soothing beiges and whites with tasteful logos. Crazy as I am, I won’t buy a shampoo if it’s packaged in an esthetically unpleasing loud color.
Daniella laughed. “Yeah, I’m kind of high maintenance.”
I was still sifting through all her crap. “I can see that.”
After gleaning through all her personal bath products, I was confused, left to wonder where the next clue might possibly lie.
Gina smiled wide, her grin impish. “There’s also a bath in my bedroom.”
I threw my arms up in the air. “Well, let’s go.”
She smiled and we all followed her to her bathroom.
This washroom was more to my liking; clean and organized like mine. Although the bright pink and blue bottles were still an eye-sore. I wasted no time in peeking behind them and all around, until I spotted a tiny box in the corner; very pretty, porcelain with gold accents, an old vintage shoe at the top. When I opened it, I finally found a note. I was beyond excited when I read it.
Plaid, stripes, plain black and even polka dots.
We’re often found inside shoes.
