Free Untethered by Marcia Lynn McClure

quilt for Mr. Keel, and I don’t want us to accidentally damage the teapot somehow,” Vilma explained. “So is that all right with you, Cricket? If we deliver Mrs. Maloney’s teapot first?”
    “Of course,” Cricket affirmed. “Why wouldn’t it be?”
    “We thought maybe you’d want to deliver Mr. Thibodaux’s gift first,” Ann explained, “so that you wouldn’t have wait to—”
    “Oh! Oh, I’m fine with waitin’…truly,” Cricket interrupted. She was glad it was dark. Perhaps the other girls hadn’t noticed her radish-red blush or nervous agitation.
    “Then we’ll do Mrs. Maloney first,” Marie confirmed. “Then Ann will give Mr. Keel his quilt and—”
    “Then Ann will leave Mr. Keel’s quilt on his porch,” Ann interjected.
    Everyone giggled, and Cricket felt sorry for Ann. She knew that leaving the quilt on Mr. Keel’s porch was nearly as frightening for Ann as the idea of stealing a kiss from Mr. Thibodaux was to her—even if they were apples and onions.
    “Right,” Marie giggled. “Then Ann will leave Mr. Keel’s quilt on the porch, and then it will be Cricket’s turn…and last of all mine.” Marie moaned with anxiety, and Cricket felt the call to strength in her heart—as ever she did.
    She placed her hands firmly on Marie’s shoulders. “This is the night, Marie,” Cricket whispered as the delicious anticipation of adventure mingled with her own anxiety in her bosom. “This is the night you will win Hudson Oliver for you own!”
    “Yes, Marie,” Vilma said, taking Marie’s hand and offering a squeeze of encouragement. “After tonight, there will be no more wonderin’. After tonight, you’ll know how Hudson feels.”
    Ann took Marie’s free hand then, grasping it between both of her own. “ Hudson loves you, Marie. All of us know it. Even you know it! And now it’s time for the two of you to quit horsin’ around and get on with it.”
    “That’s right, Marie,” Cricket said. But when she saw the doubt beginning to darken Marie’s sapphire eyes, she knew her friend needed more. “And just think…by the end of tonight, you’ll know just what it feels like to have Hudson Oliver kiss you!”
    “Y-you mean, I’ll know what it feels like to kiss him ,” Marie stammered. “What if he—”
    “He won’t,” Cricket interrupted before Marie could swell her own doubt. “Once your lips touch his…I know Hudson Oliver will be like bread dough in your hands, Marie. There’s no way possible that boy won’t have you in his arms makin’ love to you right there for all the stars to see! I know it. I do.”
    “It’s true, Marie,” Ann said. “I know it too.”
    “And me,” Vilma added.
    Cricket wondered for a moment why it was everyone assumed that Marie’s challenge for the evening required so much more encouragement than hers did. In truth, wasn’t it far and away different for Marie to confess her heart and offer a kiss to the young man she’d loved nearly all her life than it was for Cricket to walk up to a nearly complete stranger and steal a kiss? But naturally the moment passed as Cricket reminded herself that only her pride was at risk, while Marie’s entire future was what teetered on the edge.
    “He loves you, Marie,” Cricket assured her friend once more. “I know he does.”
    Marie grinned, sighed, and nodded. “All right. All right. Then let’s get to Mrs. Maloney’s and spread some sunshine, shall we?”
    “Yes!” Cricket giggled, throwing her arms around Marie’s shoulders and hugging her tightly. Ann and Vilma joined the embrace, and the girls giggled with excitement.
    As they made their way toward Mrs. Maloney’s house, Cricket again took a moment to admire the beauty of the stars and moon in the night sky. All would be well, she thought to herself. Mrs. Maloney would cherish her teapot, Mr. Keel would be warm in not only the comfort of a new quilt but the knowledge that someone was looking out for him, and Hudson Oliver would