Snow Ball

by Kerry Sparks

  ***

  After brainstorming at lunch, we decided that we would pool both of our allowances together to get Mrs. Oaks some flowers and then we would sign the card with Mr. Freeze’s name.

  “But we could get our own chocolate with two allowances,” Lindy argued.

  “You’re right, but I think this is a better cause. Mrs. Oaks needs a man. Besides, isn’t this just so romantic?”

  Lindy sighed.

  “Yes, it sure is. I wish someone would buy me flowers,” she said, dreamily.

  “Let’s walk home after school. There’s a florist on the way home. We can pick something up there,” I suggested.

  “Works for me,” said Lindy.

  The flower shop was a lot more expensive than we thought. We had shared a lunch at lunchtime so that we could have a few extra dollars, but that didn’t seem to make much of a difference. After looking at pretty much every single price tag in the store, we decided on a small pot of three pink chrysanthemums. They looked a little sad, kind of like Charlie Brown’s skimpy little Christmas tree, but they just needed some love…and probably some water too.

  “This will work,” I said, “And it’s only $5.99,” I said.

  “We’ll take it!” said Lindy.

  “Who gets the flowers?” the florist asked us.

  “She does,” we both said in unison.

  We both laughed.

  The florist gave us both a strange look.

  “Um. She does. See. My friend here gets really depressed in the winter. She has this seasonal affective disorder. Ever heard of it?” I asked.

  “S.A.D? Yes, I’ve heard of it,” said the florist.

  “Oh. Well, she has that, and she needs flowers to cheer herself up,” I explained.

  “I see. That makes perfect sense to me,” said the florist, ringing up our purchase.

  I snatched up the flower pot, and we were on our way.

  “Seasonal affective disorder?” Lindy asked with a laugh.

  “I heard my mom talk about it before. I didn’t know what else to say. So where are we going to keep this thing?” I asked, changing the subject.

  “I’ll keep it in my fridge,” offered Lindy.

  “Good idea,” I said.

  The next day we went to school early. I told my mother that I had to work on a project for school, and Lindy told her mother the same thing. We had to get there early so that we could plant the flowers on Mrs. Oaks desk before she got there. We set the pot of flowers on her desk and tucked a note inside the dirt. Lindy and I grinned mischievously.

  “You think it will work?” she asked.

  “It’s got to. How could anyone be in a bad mood after they got flowers?” I asked.

  It was still too early to go to class so we went to the cafeteria. I took out the doughnuts I brought from home. Lindy and I eat our powdered sugar doughnuts the same way. We lick all of the powdered sugar off first then we eat the doughnut.

  “I’m nervous,” said Lindy.

  “We’re fine. Mrs. Oaks wasn’t there. We’re totally in the clear. She’ll probably be so happy that she’ll say we can have a Valentine’s Day party after all.”

  “I hope so. We don’t have much time left. Tomorrow’s Valentine’s Day,” reminded Lindy.

  The bell rang. It was time for homeroom. We flung our backpacks on our backs and made our way down the hall to homeroom. Mrs. Oaks smiled at us when we walked in. We both smiled back. Mrs. Oaks appeared to be in a good mood. So far so good.

  When everyone was seated, and the principal made his announcements, Mrs. Oaks said she had her own announcement to make.

  “I just wanted to say that I was wrong to call off the homeroom Valentine’s Day party. It’s back on. Feel free to bring a treat to share tomorrow,” she said.

  The classroom erupted into cheers and applause.

  Lindy gave me the thumbs up sign. I grinned from ear to ear. We pulled it off! I can’t believe we pulled it off!

  “Oh! And I want to thank Lindy Masters for the beautiful flowers she gave me. Thank you Lindy. Please see me after class,” said Mrs. Oaks.

  “Suck up,” coughed Roger.

  Lindy and I looked at each other. I mouthed “huh?” to her. She shrugged. She looked just as confused. What just happened here? Did Mrs. Oaks see Lindy put the flowers on her desk? But she wasn’t there! How did she know? Was there a broom closet in the room with a peephole that we didn’t know about?

  The bell rang. I waited for Lindy outside of the classroom. I paced, nervously, back and forth. It seemed like forever, but Lindy came out.

  “What happened? How did she know?” I asked.

  “My handwriting. She said she recognized my handwriting.”

  Doh! I slapped my forehead.

  “You mean you didn’t type it?” I asked.

  “I wasn’t thinking. I didn’t know she’d recognize my handwriting.”

  “You do have very distinct handwriting,” I said, “Well, no worries. We got what we wanted. Now we can have a Valentine’s Day party tomorrow!”

  We giggled with excitement, but our celebration was cut short…very short.

  “Hey Lindy!” a voice called, “I heard you like powdered sugar.”

  It was Scott Parker. He was carrying a large brown sack. I didn’t recognize what it was until he dumped the contents of the sack over Lindy’s head. Scott Parker had just dumped an entire sack of flour over Lindy’s head. I didn’t know whether to laugh or smack him across the face.

  “OMIGOD!” Lindy shrieked.

  Scott Parker kept his promise. He said he was going to get Lindy back. Lindy really did look just like a white powdered sugar doughnut. She was covered in flour and so was the floor. Mrs. Oaks would have a complete hissy for sure since it was outside of her classroom. I decided I would smack him right in the face for Lindy and for me.

  “Scott Parker!” I screamed.

  I started running after him.

  “Don’t! Stop!” Lindy pleaded.

  I stopped. I turned around. She was laughing hysterically. Then I started laughing.

  “I look like a ghost!” she hooted.

  “Yes you do! But why don’t you want me to go get him?” I asked.

  “Because we’re even now. I dumped hot chocolate on him. He got me with the flour. If we get him back, then he’ll have to get us again. It will be a never ending cycle! I’ll take the flour.”

  “Lindy, you’re so smart. I never would’ve thought of it like that. You’re also very dirty. Now go home and change,” I scolded.

  “I think I’m going to go home and stay home. That’s a long walk,” she said.

  “Lucky,” I said, “Ok. Well, bring something tasty to eat at the party tomorrow.”

  “How about powdered sugar doughnuts?” she joked.

  “Nooo!” I said.

  We both laughed.

  “Love ya girl!” I said.

  “I love you too Jen Logan,” she said.

  The End

  About the author

  Kerry Sparks was a substitute teacher and a nanny for the hotels on the Las Vegas strip. She currently resides in Houston, TX with her Siberian husky “Domino”.

  If you enjoyed this story, you can check out other Kerry Sparks books available at Amazon.com and BarnesandNoble.com.