The Red Fox: A Romance (10 page)

How long they stayed there kissing, talking and laughing they didn't know. But when Jay noticed the sun would soon be setting he was shocked. He glanced at his watch to see what time it was.

“
Oh, wow, it's late—but we still have time.”

“
For what?”

He knelt down on one knee and looked up at Leaf, “Will you go to the Ball with me tonight?”

She laughed. “My very own Prince Charming—Yes, a thousand times, yes!”

He stood to his feet and grabbed her hand, “Then come on, we've got one more stop to make before we make our grand entrance tonight.” He pulled her in front of him. “You get us out of these woods and I'll lead from there.”

“
Lead us where?”

“
To Dacy's!” He wrapped his arms around her again, kissing her lips and declaring, “You need a new dress, new socks and new shoes.”

She grabbed him and held him close.

“
It's a beautiful idea, but we can't—I don't have the money to buy a new dress.”

“
You don't need money,” he said. “I've been saving all year for this moment.”

She stopped him from running off, and asked, “Have you seen how much a dress at Dacy's costs?”

“
No, but it can't be more than the price of an etch board.”

“
A
what?
”

“
Come on! I'll explain along the way.”

They raced out of the woods and down to where Jay lived. He raced up the stairs, into his room and pulled out his savings. He counted the notes quickly. $670. That was enough, he was sure. He raced back outside, grabbed Leaf's hand and together they walked quickly into town.

“
I've been saving all year for a new etch board for my art, but now I can see the real reason I was saving. I
know
it now. It was for you. For this very moment—and you're worth it. You're worth more than all the riches in the world.”

She clenched his hand tight and began to cry tears of joy. She felt like a little child again, full of hope and joy in her heart, with someone by her side who truly loved her.

They strolled up the street and stopped outside Dacy's.

“
I've never been inside,” Leaf said. “I walk past here all the time, just to remember my Nanna, but I've never gone inside myself.”

Jay pushed the door open, “There's a first time for everything.”

When they walked in they were met by a gray haired, elegantly dressed lady.

“
May I help you?” she asked.

“
Yes, Ma'am. I'd like to buy my friend a new dress, new socks and new shoes.”

The lady looked troubled. She stared at him a moment, then at Leaf.

“
Is everything all right?” Jay asked.

She turned to him and smiled. “Oh, yes. Please excuse me, it's just that I haven't heard that phrase in a long time. It brought back a very old memory.”

“
Of whom?” Leaf asked.

The lady smiled politely. “Just an old customer of mine. One of the most amazing customers I've ever had.”

“
My Nanna,” Leaf said, stepping forward, “always bought me a new dress, new socks and new shoes from your store. Every year for the first four years of my schooling. Is that who you're thinking of?”

“
Oh, my,” the lady said. “So you're Leaf.”

Football practice had just finished and the team was in the locker room getting changed. Berkley took off his training gear. He'd always waited until everyone was finished with their showers before he took his.

“
Make way,” he said. “I don't want to knock you over with my Beast.” He took off his towel and quickly showered. When he was finished he was quick to cover himself up.

As he was getting dressed Brick drifted over and began talking with him.

“
You got your suit ready for the Ball tonight?”

“
Yeah, same one as last year.” He flexed his biceps, “When you've got puppies like these,” and he pointed to his groin, “and a Beast like this, you don't need a new suit to pull the ladies.”

“
What are we going to do if New Guy shows up with Leaf? You going to squash him?” Brick smiled his goof ball smile.

“
If I beat him up,” Berkley said, “Leaf will just feel sorry for him. I don't want that. I want her to see him for what he really is. A coward. That way she'll turn back to me, looking for a hero.”

Brick looked rather relieved.

“
So no head cracking?”

“
No. We need to use some wisdom. Outsmart him. Make
him
look like a fool.”

“
What do you suggest we do?”

“
I suggest we intimidate him. Make him afraid, make him run—like he always does. Like the scared little weasel he is.”

Brick wiped the sweat beads off his forehead with his giant forearm and produced another goofy smile.

“
It's good that we don't beat him up. I don't want my brother getting pissed that I beat up one of his friends.”

Berkley turned to Brick with a confused look on his face.

“
New Guy and Brad are friends?”

“
Yeah, of course they are,” he lifted his hand and began to swirling it around his ear. “They're both from New York, dummy.”

“
Dude, there are 19 million people living in New York.”

“
I know that. What do you think, I'm stupid or something?”

The three stood in Dacy's and talked. It turned out the lady's name actually was Dacy. She had been selling clothing there for twenty years.

“
I remember the first day your grandmother walked in here,” she said. “To my shame, I wanted her out as soon as she entered. She walked in here, just like you did, and said she wanted to buy
'a new dress, new socks and new shoes.'
”
Dacy laughed. “I found it amusing because at the time I assumed anything anyone ever bought was
new,”
she smiled at her two customers, “but obviously that's not true for everyone. I realized that later.” She walked the counter. “I didn't know what to do. It was obvious to me she couldn't afford to shop here, and I'd never had to throw anyone out before, so I just let her browse. Finally, she came over to the counter and pulled out $400 cash, looked at me a second time and said,
'I want to buy my granddaughter a new dress, new socks and new shoes—and I want the very best you have!'”

She glanced over at Leaf, “And you got the best.”

Leaf smiled. So did Jay.

“
Well, one year later she walked in again. This time she just put her money on the counter and said the same line: a new dress, new socks, and new shoes. The following year, right on time, she came again, but this time we also talked briefly.”

She looked at Leaf and her own eyes began to moisten. “My, did she ever love you! When she started talking about you, her hard exterior melted away. She looked like a different person. I was touched by that meeting so much, I really looked forward to seeing her again each new year.

"The next year she came in she was quite withdrawn at first, but once she started talking she didn't want to stop. I was more than happy to listen to her beautiful stories about her wonderful granddaughter. She told me about your name, 'Leaf.' She told me she'd named you Leaf to remind her of the second chance at life you had given her. Like a long winter finally gone, the first glimpse of new life was alway a green leaf beginning to sprout. That was what you were to her. The end of a long winter, the beginning of a new life. A chance to love again.”

Dacy began to cry. She turned and searched for a tissue behind the counter. She dried her eyes and let out a small laugh. “My Lord, I had never heard anything so touching! She told me all about you. It felt like I was the first person she had opened up to in a long time, the poor dear. We talked for over an hour. She just talked and talked and talked. I realized she never got the chance, you know, to talk to others. She never got to share how proud she was of you with anyone else. That final year, after she had poured her heart out to me, she told me how she had saved every year, putting money away every Sunday, so she could buy you new clothes for school, the very best. She bought them here because she wanted you to know how valuable you were, that you were
worthy
of the very best.”

Dacy passed Leaf a tissue.

“
As she walked out of my shop that year, I promised myself the next time she came to buy a new dress, new socks, and new shoes for her granddaughter I'd give them to her for free.”

Dacy sighed. “But she never came back. I found out some time later that she had passed away. I felt so sorry for you. You lost a grandmother who was such a beautiful woman. She loved you so much, so very much.”

Leaf turned to Dacy and threw her hands around her. Both of them burst into tears again.

“
Thank you,” Leaf said, “No one has ever spoken of my Nanna the way she truly was. That she was a beautiful person, with a loving heart. That she was special—thank you.”

“
Oh, you poor thing,” Dacy said. “She was. I'm so sorry you've never heard anyone talk about her that way, but she was a lovely woman, that's how I remember her; she was a kind hearted woman.” She leaned back and looked into Leaf's eyes, “She loved you dearly.”

Suddenly, Dacy snapped out of her sentimental state, spun around and began looking frantically through the dress rack. “Now,” she said, “I never thought I'd have to keep my promise, but I'm certainly not going to go against my word now. Come on, girl—let's find you a new dress!” She turned to Jay, “And you keep your money. This is one promise I'm determined to fulfill.”

After 45 minutes had passed Leaf had her dress, her socks, and her shoes. She stood before Jay wearing her new outfit. She looked stunning. She looked divine.

“
What do you think?”

Jay stood there, amazed. “A masterpiece. You're a masterpiece.”

“
Now!” Dacy declared, snapping her fingers at Jay, “I certainly hope you have an outfit to match our little masterpiece over here.”

“
Oh,” Jay said. “I don't think it's so important what I wear.”

“
No, no, no!” Dacy said. “If we're going to do this, let's do it right. Come here!” she grabbed him with one hand and grabbed a suit from the rack with her other. “Go, try this on,” she said. “I'll bring you some new socks and new shoes.”

By the time they arrived at the school hall the Ball was already well underway. They could hear the music blaring inside.

“
How do you feel?” Leaf asked.

“
By your side, I feel like the luckiest man in the world.”

“
When we enter, Berkley is going to be watching.”

Jay took a deep breath and nodded.

“
Just keep your eyes on me,” Leaf said.

“
No,” Jay replied. Smiling at Leaf, he said, “Sometimes the only way to overcome your fears is by looking them in the face. I'm not afraid of him. No matter what he says or does.”

They held each other's hand tight and walked in.

Brick nudged Berkley as soon as they entered.

“
Look who just showed up.”

Berkley turned and saw Jay staring directly at him.

“
He's a dead man,” he said to Brick. He plowed his way over to them, walking right up to Jay.

“
Get out. Now.”

“
Get lost,” Jay replied. “Now!”

“
Oh, tough guy all of a sudden, are we?” Berkley glanced over to the door and saw one of the teachers eyeballing him. He turned back to Jay. “You got 30 seconds to run. If you're still here, I'm going to crack your head open. Understood?”

“
Do it now. Save yourself the 30 seconds,” Jay replied. “I'm not going anywhere.”

Berkley took a few steps back, grinning like a oversized circus monkey.

“
OK, tough guy, have it your way.”

He walked back over to where his date was sitting. Before he reached her Lucy jumped in front of him. “Forget about Leaf already,” she said. She looked at him seductively as she reached out and grabbed his hand. “There's better fish in Jacksonville—and trust me, I can give you more than she can.”

“More?” Berkley said bitterly. “You've given me nothing but blue balls!” He pulled his hand free then looked into her eyes. With a great deal of meanness in his voice, he whispered: “I'll have Leaf again, be sure of that—but I'll never have you, because
I
don't want you. I've never wanted you.”