(This is part one of two posts. All credit for this story goes to Abby, Gunnar, Constance, and, of course, me, the narrator. Credit for all song lyrics belongs to their respected creators.)

Of Flower, Fish, and Fille Française (Part I)

December 11th, 2011

"Roses are red, Gunnars are blue

Connie is sweet, this is all true!"

On a peaceful winters day, Miss Rose "Abby" Thorn was sleeping soundly in her bed. After all, this was her birthday, and she should be entitled to some comforts. She had nothing to do and nowhere to go. Today she was going to sleep in, and no one was going to interfere with her plans *Insert evil laugh*.  Abby was living in a moment of bliss. But that peaceful moment, when everything was perfect, was broken by the sound of a phone. Fate had another plan for Abby on that winters day.

♫ You tear me down and then you pick me up
You take it all and still it's not enough ♫
♫ You try to tell me you can heal me
But I'm still bleeding and you will be the death of me ♫

Abby startled out of her peaceful slumber. She gazed around confusedly for a few moments. Her room was still pitch black, except for the light pollution that came in from the street. She glanced at the clock and saw it was 5 o'clock. On normal days she would have popped out of bed and started the day. But she figured today she could have a few more hours of sleep. She waited a few minutes, only silence filled the room. Pulling her covers close, she turned over and began to drowse.

♫ Can't you hear my call?
Are you coming to get me now? ♫
♫ I've been waiting for
You to come rescue me. ♫
♫ I need you to hold
All of the sadness I cannot ♫
♫ Live with inside of me.

Her hand blindly fingered around on the top of her nightstand in search for the creator of this unwanted disturbance. She had almost grasped it, but one mistouch and the cellular phone fell beyond her reach.
Abby groaned and covered her head with a pillow. At first she was tense, but as the minutes passed, she slowly relaxed.

♫ What doesn't kill you makes you stronger
Stand a little taller ♫
♫ Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone.
What doesn't kill you makes a fighter ♫
♫ Footsteps even lighter
Doesn't mean I'm over cause you're gone ♫
♫ What doesn't kill you makes you stronger, stronger
Just me, myself, and I ♫
♫ What doesn't kill you makes you stronger,
Stand a little taller ♫
♫ Doesn't mean I'm lonely when I'm alone"

Her heart jumped a little as the racket started up again. "Oh, Cruck!" She waited through another chorus, realizing that each of her relatives must be trying to contact her. A strong urge to throw her phone out the window filled her, but she pacified it when she thought how expensive it was.

♫ I was lost in the night time.
How am I a stranger to you when we're friends? ♫
♫ I am young and I've made awful mistakes.
You are older and you'd do the same. ♫
♫ You'd do the same.

Finally she drowsily pulled herself out of the warm bed, and put the phone to her ear.  "Hello?"
Her ear was met with a chorus of voices singing a German Birthday song.

    It overwhelmed her, still, sleepy head. She couldn't quite keep track of all the voices and the million Birthday wishes that were given when they finished singing. The phone was passed from one relative to another, each told her of the Birthday festivities that they were doing in her honor, or what they had been doing since, well, years ago. She couldn't even recognize everyone, was it a cousin? cousin's cousin?  First cousin once removed? Why should she even care what they had been doing during the past few years? Funny they should finally call her after so long. Maybe they thought it was special enough to celebrate the quarter mark in her life.
Finally she was able to close her phone.  Her mouth dropped down slightly as she saw it was 7 o'clock. That definitely isn't going to make my phone bill very pleasant...

     The room held a chilly feeling in it and it was still very dark. She was tempted to get back in bed and sleep the whole morning away, but now she didn't think any of her plans would work out.
Out of bed she sprung. In but a few minutes she was on her way through the still sleepy dorm. The gym was deserted when she came. She liked it that way.

O-O-O

     Two hours later she returned to her room. She wasn't completely surprised to see a light beneath her door. She pasted a cheerful smile on her face, and entered.

   Constance Kitlyn had set her alarm clock a bit early that day. December 11th was her friend's birthday, and Connie was determined to make this birthday a special one. She had leapt out of bed, dressed, and fixed her hair all in the record time of an hour and a half. She had then raced over to Rose Thorn's dorm with the intentions of cooking breakfast for her dear friend. When Connie arrived at Rose's room, she silently slid through the doorway, flipped the thermostat up a notch, and then glided into the kitchen.
    
    The kitchen was very tidy, with the pots and pans just so and not a speck of dust to be found. Connie meandered over to the fridge to see what types of food her friend kept. Opening the door, Connie gazed onto the contents. There were some tasty looking foods, which Connie had never seen before in her life, and there were the foods which everyone would keep in his or her fridge. Giving a quick glance towards the exotic foods, Connie reached for some eggs and something which resembled sausage. After placing the foods on the counter, Connie took on the task of finding a frying pan.
   
     Connie opened a few cupboards before finding the pan. The frying pan was sturdy and cast-iron; just the type Rose liked. Although there were a few big dents in it, Connie decided that the pan would work just fine. Connie set it on the stove and placed a few eggs and the sausage-thing into the pan. She turned on the heat and then set off to make some pancakes.             
   
    At that moment, the door opened and Connie swung around to see Rose entering.
"Happy Birthday!" Connie greeted her friend with enthusiasm.

     It was just as Abby had expected. Connie's face beamed a sweet welcome. And there was a warmth now about her room. The smell that filled the room was actually pleasant.
"Thank you, Connie." Abby was about to envelop Connie in a hug when she noticed the pan in the kitchen.
"Oh my! Connie, your pancakes!" She dashed over and pulled the pan off the stove, momentarily forgetting that it was cast iron. She dropped it abruptly, pulling her hands back with a cry of pain. The pan fell with a loud clatter to the floor. Abby bit her lip. "I'm sorry about your pancakes, Connie."

    Connie rushed to the sink and turned the cold water on. "Oh, your poor hands. Quick, come rinse them in the water, and then we shall take a look at the damage"
    Glancing down at the pan, Connie shrugged. "Those were actually the eggs and... umm... sausage. The pancakes I'm still fixing" Connie picked up the pan and set it back on the stove. "The eggs look burnt, but the sausage still looks dandy".

    Abby viewed the remains with a passing glance of suspicion as she rushed towards the sink. This has not been a good day, she thought, already labeling it a failure. "Oh well, we can cook some more eggs without much trouble."
The cold water felt soothing and painful to her hands. "Where did you get the sausage?" She added, still eyeing the remains with curiosity.

    Connie looked down at the sausage. "I found it in fridge, on the top shelf", she answered, wondering now if it really was sausage.

    "Oh!" An amused expression formed on Abby's face. She removed her hands from under the cold water and retrieved a jug of sickly green liquid out of the fridge.  She poured herself a cup. "Would you like some?" She asked, more out of politeness than anything else.

    Connie gave the strange liquid a long look. She thought she saw chunks of... of something floating in it, and it even looked luminous in places. "No thank you, Rose" Connie said politely, making a squeamish face.

     Even fearless Abby squirmed a little as she doused the whole glass down. "Really good for the stomach." She smiled at Connie's horrified face.

    "Uh huh..." Connie agreed, but she looked as though she didn't really believe her friend.
   Connie walked over to the bowl which she was mixing the pancakes in. The batter looked about how it was supposed to; though she could have mixed in the baking powder better.
   "I think the pancakes are just about ready to cook", she informed Rose.

    Abby came and looked over Connie's shoulder. She took the bowl from the counter and beat  it a few times before plopping the batter in the pan. It immediately began to sizzle.  "Do you suppose Gunnar would like to come for breakfast?"

    "I'm sure he would. Guys always like to eat", Connie replied, looking at the clock. "Though he might not be awake this early. A lot of people are sleeping in since it's the holidays".

    "Of course." Abby pulled her cellular phone out and began to dial Gunnar. She hadn't gotten very far when there was a knock at the door. Thank God I didn't try to sleep in.

    Gunnar stood casually at the door with a navy blue duffel bag slung over his shoulder as he waited to be let in. All he wanted to do was tell her he would be gone for a few weeks. Then he would ask her if she would hold on to some of his personal things before he left the States.

    "Come in!" Abby called. She didn't turn her head to see the incoming visitor. Honestly, she really didn't want to have to restart breakfast over again.

     
    Gunnar found it odd that Abby would so quickly invite him in. He turned the knob and slowly cracked the door open just enough to stick his head inside. "Abby? Abby? Is it a good time for...?" He stopped when he saw Connie in the room and grinned nervously. "Forlåt mig. Hallo, Miss Constance."

     "Oh?" She turned and saw Gunnar looking awkward, as usual. "Gunnar, I was just calling you. Connie here made breakfast for me. I was wondering if you would like to join us."

     Gunnar was not sure if he had just been invited, so he remained in the doorway and tried to explain that he had only come by on a short errand. "Faktiskt, came I here only that to ask you something. I would not interrupt the breakfast."

    "You wouldn't hurry off before sharing my Birthday breakfast, would you?" She was quick in continuing as she remembered how Gunnar often didn't take teasing well. "I wouldn't want to keep you. I'm sure it must be something important to bring you down the hall to visit."
She turned back to flip the pancakes. "Please come in and shut the door, though."

    Gunnar checked. "Today...is your birthday?" He felt very badly for not knowing. "Happy birthday," he wished her.

    "Yes, it is. Though, there isn't anything to be particularly happy about growing a year older." Abby handed the pancake turner to Connie and made her way to the door. "So, what can I do for you, Gunnar?"

    He casually tried to push his bag behind himself so it would not draw her attention. "Ah, nothing. Nej, it is your birthday. I need nothing of you." He paused. "I should maybe celebrate with you, yeah? A party needs a Swede."

    "I didn't say there was a party. But no doubt, Swedes do make parties better. Come eat breakfast with us." She waved towards the table, which had been set by a beaming Connie. It was then that she couldn't help but notice the bag Gunnar held, or had been trying to conceal. "What's the bag?"

    Gunnar slipped into the room and gently closed the door behind himself. "The bag? Has nothing." He set the bag lightly on the floor by the doorway. "But I wanted to ask about that you could hold my bag safe while I am away."
He frowned. "I...have no gift for you."

    "Gift? I don't need anything." Abby glanced at the bag, then back at Gunnar. "Promise I won't get shot at for keeping that for you?"

    "Haha," Gunnar scoffed. "Visst, of course not so. The bag is important to only me." He sniffed the air and wrinkled his nose. It was quite a strange smell coming from the kitchen area.

    "Hmmm...My curiosity is piqued. But you have my word, I won't look in it." Abby took it from his hands. It felt bulky in her hands, though hardly heavy for its size. She put it in the corner. "Come, if it's not too much trouble, and eat breakfast with us."  She then took a seat beside Connie at the small table.

    Gunnar accepted with a nod and sat in the chair opposite Connie and Abby. He was a bit hungry, now that he thought about it.


    Abby was about to start piling up a plate of the hotcakes and sausage when she checked herself. "Connie, would you ask the blessing?"
It was more of tradition to Abby above anything else. When she was small they always asked the blessing before meals. Besides, Connie's family had always done the same.

    Constance lowered her head and gave a short and sweet prayer. Her uncle, who was a pastor, had always said that "It is never wise to keep a hungry man from his food by praying for longer than a minute", and Connie took this advice to heart. Gunnar didn't look hungry enough to do anything drastic if the prayer went very long, but Connie was a little afraid Rose might die from starvation if she meandered. Besides, Connie reasoned, God doesn't really mind how long a prayer is. He just likes to hear from you.

    Gunnar bowed his head with the other two at the table, if only to be polite. It had been a long time since he had been around anyone who had prayed before a meal. His father only did so on special occasions, such as Easter and Christmas dinners. He considered it more than just a ritual, but that was not habit otherwise in his family.
When Connie had finished, he gently smiled and observed his meal. It looked very well-prepared, and Gunnar would admit that he was anticipating trying something Connie had fixed. It was also refreshing to have a meal that he did not have to cook--or, as usually, a meal that he had not messed up.

    "Bother." Abby reached out for the salt shaker only to find it empty. "I guess I'll go fill this up."

    "Let me fill it, Rose. It is your birthday after all", Connie offered, as she snatched the shaker off the table and glided out the door calling, "I'll be back before you blink. Don't you all wait on me to eat".

Abby hungrily began to eat. Although it only had been twelve hours since she had last eaten, she felt starved. Looking up, she watched Gunnar gaze at his plate for a few moments before following her example.

    Gunnar took a large bite of a hot cake. He nearly choked on it and did his best to quickly swallow it before washing it down with his entire glass of milk. "Very hot," he said, trying to make an excuse for not eating any more for the moment.

     Abby eyed him suspiciously for a moment. His "cleverly" disguised choking could not fool her. She sent him a dark glare, and her fists tightened threateningly. If she put her gestures to words it would have been, "You say a word to Connie and I'll kill you."

     Gunnar was not afraid of Abby. Or, rather, he was not afraid of getting hit by her. But he knew not to cross the line if he wanted to ever talk to her again. He decided to move on to the sausage.

     Constance came swinging back into the room with the newly filled salt shaker in her hand. Plopping the shaker on the table, Connie perched herself into a chair and shot a quick glance at the others. They seemed a little quiet, and Connie wondered if Rose had been talking about something not suitable for breakfast conversation.

    "Gunnar", Connie broke the awkward silence, "Do you have time to go ice skating before you head off" Connie scooped up her glass of milk. "It would be perfectly wonderful! I have heard you are quite good, and I do so wish for something special on Rose's birthday" Connie looked Gunnar's way, anticipating his response.

    Gunnar quickly cut off a bit of a hot cake and ate it to try to convince Connie that he was actually enjoying her cooking. He smiled half-heartedly and gulped down his bite. "Ice skating... I am some bit good with that. But--" He looked at Connie's ecstatic eyes. He hated to let people down. "I can...maybe...ice skate."

    Connie turned toward Rose. "What do you think? It would be SO much fun!".

    Rose tried to brave a smile at the way things were going. "That sounds delightful! But I'm sure Gunnar needs to leave. We don't want to mess up his family plans."

     Gunnar sensed the uneasiness in Abby's tone, and he realized the mischievous desire within him to play on it. "I leave when the clock is eleven, in the night. It is plenty of time until then. We can go and ice skate." He smiled amiably at Connie, and then deviously at Abby.

   Constance hadn't been ice skating in a few months. Now she looked forward to the opportunity. Ice skating was one of her hobbies. She had competed in figure skating tournaments when attending high school, and this was a wonderful chance to relive the past while spending time with friends.

    Connie gave a beaming smile. "It's a date then!"

A poem that I found about a guy back in my hometown.

"Redwood National Park"

There was a man who never wore
Never wore a hat or cap
He never owned a cat or gnat
He never sang blues or rap

He never cut his hair, so rare
His beard was long; it wasn't fair!
He lifted cars without a blink
He never liked the color pink

He played his drums without any pity
He sang his songs which weren't very pretty
He produced music he never did like
He listened to songs he never would write

He loved God, This is all true
But his relationship with pastor wasn't on cue
The fights would always end in slaughter
But then Redwood fell in love.......with the pastor's daughter

-Anonymous-