Crumbs

A gentle breeze carried with it the sweet aroma of bogenvias as it scattered small crumbs off the café table.

“I don’t know Charlene…”

“C’mon. What’s holding you back?”

Cadence turned away and watched a small bird venture closer to inspect the newly opened crumb buffet. She quietly weighed her options as the bird played hopscotch along the sidewalk.

“I just… I’m an old fashion kinda girl. I don’t do things like that.”

Cadence leaned in closer and spoke in a whisper of secret things, even though they were the only two on the patio.

“You can’t tell me you haven’t thought about it. I know you have. I’ve seen that look in your eyes.”

With a sigh that was equal parts laugh, Cadence turned back to meet the blue gaze of her best friend that always reminded her of cotton candy. A smile was struggling to escape the right corner of her mouth.

“Well of course I’ve thought about it. But that doesn’t mean anything. Thoughts are locked inside the safety of the world inside our heads. No one will ever know about the things we do in that world.”

Only Charlene’s eyebrow moved in acknowledgment. She waited in a silent protest as if to say, “That’s not good enough.”

“Every girl has thought about it! That’s not a good enough reason to actually do it! It’s just not acceptable in today’s society.”

Charlene’s quiet disappeared along with her ability to keep the smile at bay.

“If you want to do it, then you should not let anything stop you. It doesn’t matter what people think.”

The small bird had inched closer and was now picking at the bits of muffin that were at the furthest edge of the crumb circle. Cadence noted the quick retreat at the smallest sign of movement and began to see herself in the diminutive creature’s fearful nature.

“Screw it. I’m gonna do it!”

An explosion of joy burst from Charlene scattering high-pitched giggles and clapping across the length of patio. Cadence laughed and shook her head. A thousand questions filled her mind. But there was only one in Charlene’s.

“I can’t wait! He is gonna freak out! There’s just one thing I have to know.”

“What?”

“Are you gonna get down on one knee?”