Free Serendipity and Me (9781101602805) by Judith Roth

want to storm
    the prince’s castle.
    Â 
    But I’ve already burned
    that drawbridge.
    Â 
    Serendipity leaps from nowhere and lands
    on the open pages of Love Songs
    pressing claw marks into the paper.
    I gasp and push her away             No!
    Â 
    She looks surprised and scared
    and I suddenly remember . . .
    Â 
    Tomorrow is my only day left
    to woo the prince
    Â 
    and he’s locked up in his room.
    Â 

 
    It occurs to me as I’m walking
    lonely to school . . .
    Â 
    if Dad doesn’t fall in love by tonight—
    by tomorrow morning
    Serendipity will be on her way
    to the shelter.
    Â 
    That was the deal.
    Well, Dad didn’t know about
    the falling in love part
    Â 
    but as far as he’s concerned
    today is my last chance
    to find her
    a home somewhere else.
    Â 
    I am past panicking about losing her
    and starting to realize
    Â 
    I could be responsible for
    letting her end up
    at the shelter.
    Â 
    She might die because
    I brushed off a phone call.
    Â 
    And it will be my turn
    to cry nonstop.
    Â 
    Â 

 
    Miss Conglin announces a special treat.
    We will watch a DVD this afternoon—
    our production of Peter Pan .
    She’s brought popcorn
    and pillows for us to sit upon
    on the floor.
    Â 
    This day just keeps getting worse.
    Serendipity is in peril
    and now I’ll have to sit through
    that whole painful performance.
    Â 
    I’m moaning to Taylor at recess
    and Kelli hears me.
    She swishes by and says
    Too bad you missed it, Sara.
    Â 
    Not too bad for you
    I throw back at her.
    It’s supposed to sound like a joke
    but I get my voice wrong.
    It sounds like an accusation
    like my words are pointing fingers.
    I can feel the just-kidding look
    fall off my face.
    So I say it instead:
    I’m just kidding.
    Really.
    Â 
    But I sound like a mean girl.
    Â 
    Â 

 
    Kelli flips back
    What’s wrong with you?
    You won anyway.
    Â 
    I have no idea what she’s talking about.
    Â 
    I turn to Taylor and she looks
    as confused as I do.
    Â 
    Taylor gets her Harriet-the-Spy look
    and says, I’m on it.
    She casually walks over to
    a group of Kelli’s friends.
    She’s back in no time.
    Remember that note you told me
    Garrett gave to Kelli?
    Â 
    I nod.
    Â 
    He was answering her do-you-like-me note.
    He checked “I like someone else.”
    Â 
    Hope flares.
    Â 
    He didn’t say,
    but they think it’s you.
    Â 
    Maybe this day isn’t so bad
    after all.
    Â 
    Â 

 
    Garrett sits in the second row of pillows
    and there is an empty pillow
    in front of him.
    Â 
    I don’t wait for someone else to sit there.
    I remember how my mom
    made things happen
    and I think maybe
    I can do that too.
    Â 
    I try to be casual.
    I sit in front of Garrett
    like I don’t notice he’s there.
    I can see his straggling foot
    out of the corner of my eye.
    Â 
    I put my hands behind me
    like I’m going to lean back
    and my fingers brush his shoe.
    Â 
    He jerks it back.
    Â 
    I look behind me             grin.
    Foot still ticklish?
    Â 
    And then I see that slow smile come
    like a sunrise on a lake.
    Â 
    Beautiful.
    Too bad I have to face forward.
    Â 
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    I decide the best way
    to get through this performance
    is to imagine myself
    in the role.
    Â 
    I manage it all the way to the end
    when Wendy is grown up
    and her daughter says of Peter
    He does so need a mother.
    Â 
    And Wendy says, Yes, I know.
    No one knows it so well as I.
    Â 
    Just then a piece of popcorn
    sails over my head
    and lands in my lap.
    Â 
    I look behind me at Garrett
    mock-studying the ceiling
    with a smile twitching
    at the edges of his lips.
    Â 
    He’s underlining the end.
    Â 
    Because there on the screen
    is the whole cast
    taking in applause and
    holding up a big sign that says
    For Sara!
    Â 
    Â 

 
    That image warms me
    as I’m walking home from