boy crazy

February 2037 - Sandy Fairchild is 52; Ellie, Christian Andrews, and Meg Stanton are 13; Isaiah Gavigan is 12.

Most afternoons Meg has to babysit her younger sisters, but when she's free they meet at the Lowell  College student center after school.

Ellie and Meg spend hours eating at the snack bar and gossiping about boys.

Sometimes they browse in the bookstore, although there isn't a lot to buy besides Lowell College sweatshirts and mugs. There aren't a lot of places for teenagers to hang out in Providence, especially in the winter. Hanging out at the college may not be extremely exciting, but at least it gives them someplace to talk.

When they run out of their own gossip, they can always gossip about Ellie's dad.  "Is your dad still dating his maid?" asks Meg. "That seems kind of weird."

"She's old news," Ellie giggles. "Ricky has a new girlfriend every time I see him."

*****

Like most thirteen-year-old girls, Ellie is obsessed with boys.

She's been friends with Christian for a few years, and lately she's started noticing how cute he is.

He seems to think she's pretty cute too.

One afternoon after school, he gives Ellie her first kiss.

"So you're dating Christian?" her mother asks.

"Mom," Ellie rolls her eyes, "Christian and I are friends. You know. We hang out."

"Well he seems like a very nice boy. And his family is so well connected. Both of his parents come from money, and they're very involved in charity events."

"Mom," sighs Ellie.

*****

Sandy invites her friends the Gavigans over for dinner one night. Nathan and Mary live in a small coastal town called Capeside with their son, Isaiah, who's a year younger than Ellie. It's been a while since their families got together, and Ellie is pleasantly surprised by how much Isaiah has grown and how cute he looks.

They end up hanging out alone on the third floor while their parents talk politics. He has a school dance coming up, and he's nervous about it.

"I don't know how to dance," he says.

"I can show you," Ellie offers.

But when she tries to get closer, he freaks out.

"Uh, what are you doing?"

"I think we should go downstairs. It's probably time to go."

Ellie is pretty embarrassed. But a few days later there's a card in the mailbox for her from Isaiah. Maybe he isn't totally uninterested in her.