Kings and Queens~Tod Belle

Kings and Queens

I sat on the ground laughing and looking at the sky. I could imagine that somewhere in heaven, Milly was looking down and laughing too. Maybe she was laughing in that cute high pitched giggle that she had whenever I made joke. As I laid on the ground, I let myself drift back to ATF 2007.

“Dad, what on earth are you doing?” I said. And other people thought their dad’s were embarrassing. My dad had just taken two sheets of aluminum foil and wrapped them into two silver ropes. He was in the middle of sticking them under the sides of his baseball cap to create pigtails, which he had curled up at the end to somewhat resemble the Wendy’s icon. I hung my head in feigned shame. Milly giggled at my joke.
“It’s okay,” She said. “My mom embarrasses me all the time.” She giggled again. “Just not like that. I can’t recall her ever doing anything even close to that.” Her giggle turned into a full on laugh.
“Exactly. Plus, what could your mom do that would embarrass you?” I asked. Her blush was a reply enough.
“She has her ways.” She replied mysteriously. I laughed.
“Fine.” I said. “She has her ways.” I recited. I gasped and began dancing in my seat. Milly burst out laughing.
“What in the world??” She said, in between laughter.
“I know where we’re staying. I know where we’re staying. I know where we’re staying!” I sang happily. I giggled at my own stupidity.
“Where are we staying, Mr. Know-it-all?” She said jokingly.
“We are staying at a church.” This announcement had been made weeks before. She laughed.
“Oh, I didn’t know that, captain obvious.” She said. I laughed.
“But I know which church we’re staying at.” I said, grinning manically.
“Don’t say the pretty one.” She said. She knew me so well.
“Fine. But I will tell you that we’re staying at my uncle’s church.” I said nonchalantly. She gasped.
“Now that was something you could have mentioned a little earlier. You didn’t tell me you had an uncle in Norfolk…” She pausesd. “Or that was a preacher.” She said. “You know this church leadership thing runs in your family.” She laughed.
“What are you laughing at?” I asked, trying not to giggle. Her laugh was contagious.
“You’re next.” I shook my head firmly.
“No. Nope. Uh-uh. Not me.” I tried to picture myself, grown up, teaching the new youth group. No matter how hard I tried, I could not make it come into my mind. It was as if the image was hiding somewhere in the back of my mind where no one would think to look for it.
“Why not?” She persisted. “You’d be a great youth group leader, I think.” She said. The room was dark, and I just barely saw her cheeks darken, but still they did.
“But I don’t want all the responsibility.” I said. “I’m lazy like that.”
“And you’d be like the king of the youth group.” she said. This argument actually appealed to me. I grinned unconsciously. This was my plotting face.
“Fine. I will become king of the youth group, if you will be my jester.” I wanted to say that it was because she could always make me laugh, but I was sure that if I had, my cheeks would have burned hot enough for her to feel the heat.
She laughed. “And why, Mighty King, might you want me for your jester?” She asked, giggling.
“Because I think it would be kinda funny to see you in the funny hat.” I said.
“Fine.” She said, laughing.
“It’s settled then.” Before she could stop me, I stood up in front of the youth group, distracting them from the girlish dance my father was now attempting. “Peasants,” I said. Milly turned pink beside me. “As your future king, I make this…” I looked down at Milly.
“Decree.” She said, still blushing.
“…this decree,” I continued. “from now on, Milly will be my jester.” I said. When I looked down at Milly, she was turning bright red, and tugging at my shirt for me to sit down. I would not sit down yet. First, I would see my favorite part of her blush. I continued with my speech. “She will be my jester, because I want to see her in the funny hat.” Everyone burst out laughing if they had not been laughing before. “Thank you.” I said. Milly gave one final tug on my shirt, and I sat down. Looking over, I recognized her unique blush at once. Her nose had turned bright pink.
“What did you do that for?” She asked. “Now everyone thinks you’re a lunatic.” She said.
“Well it’s about time they knew the truth don’t you think?” I said, smiling from ear to ear.
“Tod Jeremy Belle, you are without a doubt, the strangest boy I have ever met.” She smiled.
“I try.” I said, as the speaker came on the stage.

I sat back against a tree. I remembered every detail of that night. I was sure Milly did too. I don’t think either of us would ever forget it. I looked up at the sky. “Milly,” I started. “If I do ever become king,” I paused. “You’ll be my queen.”