Group Writing Project #3
The Swain
by Writer X
"This is the most exciting thing to happen to me since I played Juliet!" Diana Lynch declared. She’d just been cast in the community theater’s production of As You Like It.
Her seatmate on the bus grinned. "I see the bar has been raised, but I think I’m up to the challenge."
"Huh?" Diana stared blankly. "What are you talking about, Mart?"
"Never mind," he said, blushing.
"Well, I could use your help, if you don’t mind," Diana chattered on. "I need to start learning my lines. I’m so nervous!"
Mart gazed at the girl who sat beside him. Her cheeks were pink with excitement and her violet eyes were sparkling. He could get lost in her eyes, he thought.
"—so you’ll come over tonight?" Diana looked at him expectantly.
"Hmmm?" he murmured. "Oh. Yes. I’ll help you study your lines."
"Thanks, Mart. You’re the best."
He sighed. The best? He wondered if she knew how much her words meant to him.
Mart threw his backpack onto his bed. He sat down at his desk and booted up his computer. While he waited, he dreamed about the coming evening when he would be alone with Diana. She was so lovely, like a graceful swan. Sometimes he felt like such a clown around her. Of course, he liked to joke around and Di was a good sport, but he was worried that maybe she didn’t see him in a romantic way.
"Hey, my almost twin!"
Mart scowled. "Can’t you learn to knock, Beatrix?"
"So sorry." Trixie made a face at him. "Anyhow, Moms wants to know what flavor Jell-O you want for dessert tonight. The choices are strawberry-banana and orange."
"Blech," Mart said. "Does she need to ask? Strawberry-banana all the way. I don’t know why she even buys orange."
"Orange gelatin happens to be the favorite of a certain Belden," Trixie reminded him. "And that Belden tends to get his way."
"Bobby!" Mart said it almost like a curse. "Then why take a poll?"
Trixie shrugged. "Later." She disappeared, the door closing after her.
Mart turned back to his computer. Soon he was logged onto his favorite chat room. Mart reached into his desk drawer and pulled out a Snickers candy bar to snack on as he chatted.
Cosmo has joined chat
Cosmo> Hey!
Freaknik> Hey, Cosmo. Long time, no chat.
Cosmo> Been busy. School.
Freaknik> Raven was looking for you the other day.
Cosmo> Oh yeah?
Freaknik> Yeah. She seemed disappointed <wink>
Cosmo> Ha-ha. I’m sure she was. What’s up with you, Freak?
Freaknik> Not much. Just wrote a new story. Want me to send it?
Cosmo> Sure. You have my e-mail?
Freaknik> Cosmo@wc.net?
Cosmo> That’s right.
Freaknik> I’m sending it now.
Raven has joined chat
Raven> Hi, Cosmo! Hi, Freaknik!
Cosmo> Hey, Raven. How are you?
Raven> Just fine. I have a big date tonight. Wish me luck.
Cosmo> Lots of luck. <grin>
Raven> You have plans for tonight?
Cosmo> Not really. Helping a friend out.
Freaknik> Okay, it’s sent. Hi, Raven.
Raven> That’s all?
Raven> Hi, Freaknik.
Cosmo> Yeah. Nothing special.
Freaknik> I’m having enchiladas for dinner. And for dessert…ah, there’s a lady present.
Raven> Funny, Freak. <smile>
Cosmo> Dessert in this house is Jell-O. Yay.
Raven> Poor baby.
Freaknik> I gotta go, guys. G’night.
Raven> Bye, Freaknik.
Cosmo> bye
Freaknik logged off
Cosmo> I should go too, Raven.
Raven> Okay, TTYS, Cosmo.
Cosmo> So long. Oh, and good luck.
Raven> Thanks.
You logged off
Mart shut down his computer and went downstairs.
Trixie was in the family room, kicking the vacuum cleaner.
"Hey," Mart called. "Appliance abuse is a felony in this house."
Trixie moaned. "The darn thing is busted! Moms overworked both of us. The poor thing! It hardly ever got a day off!"
"Unlike you," Mart pointed out.
Trixie sighed. "I know, I exaggerate. I guess I’ll put this away and help Moms with dinner."
Mart went outside and found Brian washing his car.
"Brian," Mart said. "Can I ask you something?’
Brian threw a squeegee at Mart. "Help me and I’ll help you," he said.
Mart reluctantly agreed. "I’m going over to Diana’s tonight," Mart said as he worked.
"Oh?"
"Yeah, she wants me to help her rehearse As You Like It."
"Oh."
"I—I really like Diana, Brian."
"Oh?"
"Yeah. I can’t stop thinking about her, but I don’t think she feels the same way. I think I’m just a friend to her."
"Oh."
"Is that all you can say?" Mart said, frustrated with his older brother.
Brian grinned and threw down his chamois. "Look, Mart. What can I say? Tell Di how you feel and maybe you’ll be pleasantly surprised."
"Or bitterly disappointed," Mart mumbled.
"Just remember, dear brother," Brian said. " ‘Men have died from time to time and worms have eaten them, but not for love.’ "
"Thanks a bunch."
Mart smoothed his clothes and then rang the Lynches' doorbell. Diana opened the door.
"Hi, Mart."
"Hi."
"Come on in," she said.
They walked towards the den.
"I thought you might like to have dessert with me," Diana said, "so I waited for you. I hope you feel like pineapple sundaes."
"Oh, boy!" Mart exclaimed. "That sure beats Jell-O."
They ate their sundaes on trays in the den while watching Di’s favorite TV show, Sabrina, the Teenage Witch.
"I never miss it," Diana said about the show.
"I liked that girl when she was on Clarissa Explains it All," Mart said.
After they finished the sundaes and Harrison took away the dishes, Di handed Mart a copy of the play.
"I’m Rosalind," she said. "You read Orlando."
They began a scene, only to be interrupted by Larry and Terry, Di’s twin brothers. Each boy had a paddle with an attached ball on a string.
"We’re gonna be in the book of records," Larry bragged, bopping his ball.
"That’s great," Mart said.
"Would you boys leave us alone?" Di requested.
Terry stuck his tongue out at her. "We don’t have to!" He paddled his ball in Mart’s direction.
"Ouch!" Mart grimaced as the ball whacked him on the cheek.
"Larry, Terry," Diana admonished. "Take those paddles and go play somewhere else right now!"
Grudgingly, the twins obeyed their older sister.
"Sorry about that, Mart. Little brothers!"
"Yeah, I have one of those at home," Mart said.
"Imagine having two!" Di exhaled slowly, trying to regain her serenity. "Shall we attempt this again?"
Mart frowned. "You know, Di, it seems that you already know not only your lines, but mine as well."
"To tell you the truth, Mart," Diana said shyly, "I do know my lines already."
"But then why am I here?" Mart frowned.
"Well, I—I—" Diana blushed. "I like spending time with you."
"You do?" Mart’s eyes grew wide. "Really, Di?"
"Really, Cosmo." She gave him a sly smile.
"Cosmo?" It took Mart a moment to understand what she meant. "You! You’re Raven?"
Di nodded. "Yes. I told you to wish me luck." She took a deep breath. "I like you very much, Mart. How long am I supposed to keep waiting for you to say something to me? It’s already been forever! And then today, you said you were doing nothing special tonight…"
"I don’t spill my guts in chat rooms. I didn’t know you were Raven. Di, I thought you would laugh at me…"
"I thought you’d laugh at me."
Mart’s jaw dropped open. "Laugh at you? Diana, why would I?"
"Because you’re so smart and I’m…well, we’re different."
"I like what’s different," Mart said with a twinkle in his eyes.
"Oh, Mart!" Di laughed. "Anyhow, tomorrow is my birthday and I thought long and hard about what I wanted most and the answer was you."
"You’ve got me," he said.
They stared at each other, suddenly shy and uncertain. They’d known each other all their lives, but they were strangers now, meeting for the first time.
"What are you doing for your birthday?" Mart asked her, breaking the silence.
"My parents are taking me to the country club," Di said. "But I’d rather be with you."
"We can spend the morning together," Mart suggested. "I have a gift for you."
"Really?" Di was pleased. "I can’t wait!"
When Mart went home that night, he felt on top of the world.
Mart and Di went riding the next morning, just the two of them. Regan was happy to have someone exercise Strawberry, and Di rode her palomino, Sunny.
They trotted along in an easy-going silence. When they came to a clearing, Mart dismounted. He helped Di down, enjoying the feel of her in his arms.
"Thank you, kind sir," Di said coquettishly.
"You’re welcome, fair damsel." Mart bowed.
Di laughed and curtsied.
He reached into his jacket pocket and extracted a small wrapped box. "This is for you, Di. Happy Birthday. I hope you like it."
Di took the package and carefully removed the pretty paper. She opened the lid and gasped. "Oh, Mart! It’s so beautiful." She lifted from the box a small gold locket engraved with a rose. Di opened the locket. It was empty.
"You can put a picture in it," Mart said. "I’m glad you like it."
"I know just whose picture is going in it," Di said, batting her eyes. "Help me put it on, won’t you?"
She held her hair up. He could smell the sweet, light fragrance of her perfume. His fingers brushed against her skin as he fumbled to close the clasp.
"There," he said at last.
Di straightened the locket and smiled at him. "It’s really wonderful. Thank you, Mart." She hesitated a moment and then she reached up and kissed him softly on the cheek.
"Gosh," Mart said dumbly.
"That’s the only word you can come up with, my erudite inamorato?" Di teased.
"Huh?" Mart gaped at her.
"Didn’t think I had it in me, eh?"
Mart grinned. "I would never underestimate you, Diana Lynch." Suddenly, he pulled her towards him. "Actions speak louder than words, though." And with that, Mart kissed Diana firmly on the lips.
The End