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Eight year old James “Jimmy” Ford paced back and forth on the worn carpet in front of the couch. He was waiting for his uncle to get back from the store, he wanted to go but he had to finish his stupid homework and his uncle wasn't going to wait for him. Jimmy just hoped he got the right candy. It had to be special, he knew everyone was going to be giving Juliet something good so his gift had to stand out. He heard the truck pull up and ran up to the window to peak out.
As his uncle stepped out he saw the yellow grocery bag and his face fell. The dollar store, he was supposed to go to Walmart or even the Piggly Wiggly. Nothing that came from the dollar store was good enough for Juliet.
When the trailer door opened he was right by it reaching for the bag.
“Hope I got the right ones kiddo.” Was said as his uncle made his way into the kitchen to grab a beer.
Inside the bag were the hot wheels valentines he wanted, but the only candy in it was nasty candy hearts and a fake rose. He couldn’t give Juliet gross candy and a fake flower.
“Charlene will be by later to help you fill out the cards and crap, ok.”
Jimmy went to place the bag on that table, “Yea, thanks unck.”
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Later that evening after a dinner of hotdogs and mac and cheese, Jimmy was at the table filling out the last card and putting a sticker on it to shut it.
“Hey” Charlene said holding out one card “how come you signed this one James?”
He blushed and ducked his head.
“To Juliet” she read out loud. “Must be pretty special for you write your given name.
His uncle called from the recliner in the living room not taking his eyes off the game. “Is that who I bought the candy and flower for?”
Before Jimmy could answer, Charlene asked “you got her flowers and candy?”
He walked back to the couch and grabbed the yellow bag and placed it on the table. She pulled the items out and he made a face.
“Well looks like we might have to spruce this up with a nice homemade card. Got any red and pink construction paper and maybe a glue stick?”
“Yea” Jimmy smiled and ran to his room.
“Don’t run in the house boy” was yelled after him.
“Sorry” he said as he walked back to the kitchen with the items.
“Ok, let's see what we can do.” She said as they both got to work.
About ten minutes later Jimmy had a nice card, it had all different sizes of pink hearts, inside in purple crayon ‘will you be my valentine’ was scrawled in eight year old handwriting and the box of candy and rose were taped at the bottom.
“You think she will like it?” Jimmy asked as Charlene threw the extra scraps away.
“She will love it.” was the answer he got in return
“And if she doesn't, forget her” was called from the living room once again. “Plenty of fish in the sea.”
“None like her” Jimmy said
“What makes her so special?” Charlene asked
Jimmy’s voice got soft as he ran a finger over ‘Juliet’ on the front of the card. “She was nice to me when I first came here, when no one else was.”
Charlene got a sad smile on her face and bent down to give the boy a kiss on his head. She handed him the bag with the other paper valentines.
“Go put both these in your backpack so you don't forget them in the morning. Then it's time to get ready for bed”
Jimmy did as he was told and took extra care when placing the card in, then headed off to brush his teeth.
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He was nervous he didn't know if he should give Juliet the card now or wait till the class party later after lunch. He placed his lunchbox in his cubby hole and was about to open his bag to take out the card when he heard lots of squeals behind him.
Turning he saw Jack Shephard at Juliet’s desk handing her a heart shaped box. The noise was from the other girls in class clearly impressed with the gift. Jimmy’s face fell as he saw Juliet put her arms around Jack and give him a hug. At this he shoved his backpack in the cubby not caring if he ruined the card inside.
When it was time for the party the teacher let all the kids go and get their valentines to hand out. Jimmy patiently sat at his desk waiting for his turn. He didn't want to give Juliet the card but he knew if he didn’t his uncle would be mad that he wasted money.
As he debated what to do he heard “Hi, James” and looked up at Juliet and smiled.
She placed the folded glitter paper in his shoebox and then seemed to wait for a minute. Before he could say anything she placed a small heart shaped box with a hot wheels car on it.
“I know you like cars, so I got this special for you.”
Just as she was about to go back to her desk he stood up and said “I got you something special too.”
“Really” Juliet’s face lit up
Jimmy pulled out the card, it wasn’t as beat up as he thought it might be and handed it over.
He watched as she read it silently and opened it.
“Candy hearts” she exclaimed “my favorite, and the rose is beautiful.”
She placed the card on his desk and walked around to give him a hug. When she pulled back she grabbed the card and carefully pulled the candy and flower off taking extra care not to rip anything.
“And yes James I will be your valentine.”
“Really” he smiled he couldn’t believe it.
Juliet just nodded her head as she opened the box of hearts and dumped out half on his desk. When she found two yellows that said the same thing she handed him one.
“Hold it like this” she said, closing her fingers around it word side out. It said ‘Kiss Me’
She moved her hand and made the candies ‘kiss’ each other and laughed, popping the candy in her mouth and chewing.
“Juliet,” the teacher called “if you are done handing out your valentines please go back to your desk so everyone else can have their turn.”
She quickly scooped the candy off the desk and back into the box. Holding it, the card and flower in one hand she waved bye to him with the other and made her way back to her desk.
He couldn’t believe it, she said she would be his valentine, Jimmy popped the candy in his mouth and slowly let it dissolve, he didn’t care that yesterday he thought it was nastiest candy ever, today it was the best.