Free Paper Cranes by Nicole Hite Page A

aside? I’m scared it’s going to swallow me hole.”
    “That’s why I’m here,” he said reaching across the table taking my hand into his. “Yes, this sucks. There is no denying that, but fight to stay whole.”
    “It’s hard to fight sometimes when there is nothing that can be done, no medicines to help, Lee.”
    “Once I saw this amazing couple on You Tube with a spectacular view on ALS. If you take away anything from this, know that happiness cures what medicine can’t.”
    Letting the teardrops fall onto our interlocking hands, Lee lifted them and placed a simple kiss on the backside of my hand.
    We sat for a long time, chatting and not bringing up the disease, his friend or even AA. I felt normal. I felt wanted. I felt like an average girl going on a date with an average boy. But he was anything but normal. He was spectacular. Any other man wouldn’t know how to handle this or even say the right things to make me feel better. He was special – a once in a lifetime kind of special.
    “We need to create a bucket list of things we want to do and accomplish. Are you game?”
    “Bucket lists seem so final though,” I grimaced.
    “Of course they do when you have that kind of attitude.”
    “Fine, I’ll play your little bucket game.”
    “Awesome! This is your homework for the night. I want you to write at least 4 things you want to do during your lifetime…”
    “Why 4? Can we make it at least 5, 4 is just a bizarre number?”
    “I was getting to that part before I was so rudely interrupted,” he grinned.
    “Oh. Sorry. Please continue,” I grinned at his adorable scolding.
    “As I was saying, 4 for homework and I want you to write down at least one right now.”
    “Right now?” I looked at him with scrunched brows.
    “RIGHT. NOW!” he silent screamed.
    “Okay, you asked for it.”
    Scribbling on the back side of the napkin I wrote, 1. Try Gumbo, Jambalya, and Shrimp Creole.”
    Lee swiveled the napkin around as he stared at the tissue in horror.
    “You mean to tell me that you’ve lived in New Orleans for…”
    “Thirty-two years…”
    “And you’ve never had tried Gumbo, Jambalya, and Shrimp Creole?”
    “Never,” I sank in my chair, ashamed.
    “Well, you know what we have to do now, don’t you?”
    “No. What?”
    “You are forcing me take you out on a second date tomorrow night. Now, I know that’s a lot to ask, but I can’t let you go another day without trying the best of what N’Orleans has to offer, Petit Bebe.”
    “So this is a date we are having right now?”
    “Was that all you took away from that? Sheesh woman!”
    “I’d love to. Now, if it doesn’t settle well with my tummy, I need to know I can count on you to hold my hair back.”
    “Umm, hello. I happen to have a black belt in hair pulling,” he chuckled with a devilish grin.
    “I will take that as a yes,” I smiled with a wink.
    “It’s a date then,” he kissed my palm.
    “It’s a date.”

    Pacing my bedroom, the butterflies in my stomach were entertaining a WWE match the way they fluttered around. After our conversation yesterday, I had never been so excited to do homework. Since I had the day off, and my car was done so early, I decided to work on my list. I had never written down a wish list before, I had no clue where to even begin.
    Would Lee think my wishes were stupid?
    I tucked the list into my handbag and lifted my bag to throw it over my shoulder. As soon as I swung, the bag released from my hand obligatorily and flung backwards nearly hitting my laptop. Bringing my wrist in front of my face, my hand was shaking and felt weak. The toss was completely involuntary, but also snapped me back to reality.
    I reached down to pick up the contents; nevertheless, I was having problems grasping items to scoop them up to put back in my bag.
    Do no cry, Kat. Don’t give up, Kat. You can do this, Kat. Keep calm, Kat.
    I took several deep breaths as I concentrated on the actions and their