Holding On To Goodbye

I hopped out of Donnie's car and landed in a patch of green grass. I remember looking down at the tuff thinking that it was odd that it was still green and living. Usually the grass is dead by now, I thought. Kitty jumped out of the backseat and landed in the hard dirt, making a ploom of dust encircle the two of us. "Kit," I said frantically. "Don't get dust all over our brand new dresses."

"Sorry," she said giggling and brushing the dirt off of herself. "I didn't mean to do that."

I touched the bottom of the fabric to my pale yellow dress and made sure that there was no dust spots sticking to me. I wanted to look perfectly well while at the fair. Donnie came from around the car and walked up to Kit and I; he took my hand in his and we all three made our way toward the ticket booth. A line of about twenty people was snaking through the desert floor--we made the tail end of it.

"Look at that Ferris wheel, baby," Donnie pointed to the grand circle standing tall beyond the entrance of the fair. "We'll be up at the top in no time," he said excitedly. I squeezed his hand and he squeezed mine in return. I was beginning to become a little anxious seeing how high the top of the Ferris wheel was, but I knew that nothing would happen, Donnie would keep me safe...and they lock you in to the carriage, right? There was nothing to be afraid of, or so I kept telling myself. "Oh, and once we're at the top, I'll have a question for ya," Donnie said quietly, making it seem like he didn't want Kit to hear.

"Alright," I whispered back. I tried to think of what the question might be and if I should contemplate what my answer to the question might come out as, but I didn't fret; Donnie would probably ask me a simple question like "how do you like the view?" or something along the lines of that anyway. I bet the view was amazing, I couldn't wait, and sharing something so special with Donnie would make it even better. But why didn't he want Kit to hear? I decided to let it roll off my shoulder, why let something bother you when it's such a small detail compared to the rest of life?

The line went by pretty fast and before we knew it, we were standing in front of the ticket booth. Donnie was a perfect gentleman and paid for both Kit and I, as well as himself. He bought the tickets and gave us each a stub; we both protested, but he insisted--as he always does. It's not that I expected him to pay my way wherever we went or buy me things just out of the kindness of his heart, but I did think it was very noble of him to always pay for me, and usually Kitty too. It just made my heart warm up and feel fuzzy when I thought about all of the things he'd done for me. He was a gentleman in every way, shape and form--he was my gentleman.

"Which ride will we go on first?" Kitty asked thrilled.

"I think we should go get some cotton candy," Donnie interjected. "And maybe an elephant ear."

I laughed. "You're hungry again? We just ate an hour ago at my house."

"And it was a wonderful lunch," Donnie concluded. "But now I want a snack. Have you forgotten, Ellen, that I love to eat?"

"I don't see where you put it either," Kit rang. "You're as skinny as a pole." It was true, Donnie could pack it away, but you could never see exactly where it all went....

We walked over to the bunch of food carts selling various items of greasy foods and overpowering, sugary candies. Donnie paid for his "snack" while Kit and I sat peacefully on a bench nearby, watching all of the people bustle around the fairgrounds. Kitty and I could hardly believe our eyes, there were hundreds of people walking, talking, laughing, and some even fighting. There were happy young couples out for a day at the fair, families playing and riding all of the rides, older ones looking at the art and model displays, even bums just looking for something to fill their time and give them a little joy. Kit and I had been admiring a mother with her little child, he looked to be about three or four and was absolutely enthralled with his bright red balloon. It was so cute how little ones could find such enjoyment in the most simplest things in life.