A pre-teen boy experiences many uneasy and awkward moments as new feelings for a special girl begin to arise, but they’re at odds with his embarrassing predisposition to avoid revealing his secret…
Four hours and a useless wristband. That’s all Conor had. Along with a bit of cash saved up from the weekly commissions his parents paid him for doing household chores, he still had just four short hours and a stupid wristband. It was all he could fit into his schedule. This regardless of how quickly new feelings grew deep inside. Conor hid the change from everyone he didn’t quite understand himself.
What’s more, he wished he had a different venue to make an impression rather than amongst a sea of excited kids seeking out thrilling carnival rides and tasty treats. Unfortunately, he had to make that very important impression without actually using the wristband his parents paid good money for.
Conor counted his cash once again and looked over to his phone on his desk as he sat at the end of his bed, hoping for a notification to pop up any moment. Just one text is all he wanted to see from Abby, new the girl in school. She was smart, pretty, and had a cute little laugh. Better yet, she stood up for him when other freshman classmates teased him.
Now, it was only a short time until the fair started. How could he make it for an entire four hours without giving away his two most embarrassing secrets? Moreover, how would he make an unforgivable connection and still end the day genuinely appearing to be uninterested?
It seems that mom and dad were right after all. One day, out of nowhere, he would change his mind about girls and there was nothing he could do about it. But, why so soon and how could he deal with something that he couldn’t grasp himself?
Those questions became too much to contemplate as time was ticking away. Conor went through his closet, trying to find the right shirt — the one Abby complimented him on just days ago. Then he suddenly remembered, throwing it in the hamper. It must be in the laundry, and hopefully, it had already been washed and dried.
Conor quickly ran into the laundry room. He saw a load of clothes in the dryer and ask his mom if they were done. She said, “Yes, but we need to fluff them up, so pick out something else to wear.”
“How about this? I’ll get a quick shower and help you with the laundry when I get out.” Conor bargained, a very unusual request from a teenager who absolutely hated folding and putting away laundry.
Fortunately, the subterfuge worked. His mother agreed and Conor was in and out of the bathroom in record time. He helped his mom fold and sort some of the household laundry, cleverly stacking only his clothes in a neat pile explaining, “I’ll put them away.” His mom smiled, pleased not to have to do it for him.
Conor took the clean clothes to his room and put up a few items until he found the shirt he wanted to wear. The remaining stuff would stay messily spread across his bed until someone else refolded it and properly put it away.
“Beep, beep,” his phone suddenly sounded, Conor eagerly reaching for it as he put his shirt on. There it was, the new message icon; hopefully, a reply text from Abby. Instead, it was spam. Dreadful, annoying car warranty spam. Conor wasn’t even old enough to drive, let alone own a car. As he deleted the message and blocked the number, he thought if he was able to drive how much easier this whole day could be. Visions of delight followed.
Conor snapped out of his daydream shortly thereafter as his dad announced it was time to go to the carnival, running out of his room and into the driveway, where he encountered a locked car door. “Really, Dad? We’ve got to get going! The fair is starting soon!”
His dad tossed him the key fob and let him open and start the car. Conor then jumped into the back seat, anxious to get to the carnival. On the way, he kept his phone in his lap, refraining from playing games because he didn’t want to miss Abby’s reply. A reply that was now forty-three minutes overdue — that’s how long ago he last sent a message to her.
But, no notifications for the entire ride to the fair. This meant Conor would have to guess where he could find her even if she was already at the carnival at the same time. Not to mention the fact that he hadn’t worked all the expenses out. With less than forty bucks, it was going to be very difficult to treat someone else to a few midway games, some snacks, a scrumptious meal, and a decadent dessert.
The moment the family arrived, Conor quickly unbuckled his seat belt and jumped out of the car, while his mom insisted he slow down and give her a hug and kiss before he was off on his own.
Conor obliged his mother, gave his parents a few hasty parting gestures, and anxiously disappeared into the midway, heading straight for the food trucks. If he planned the day just right, it would all come out to about twenty-seven to thirty-two dollars, leaving him with just a little to spare.
As he furiously ran over the figures again in his head, a sudden jolt came from behind — one of his friends playfully tugging on his shirt, trying to get his attention. Conor spun around, gave his friend a fist bump, and said hello. They spoke for a few moments, remarking on the rides they planned to go on when Conor’s phone vibrated in his pocket.
It was the text notification he had been waiting for, for nearly an hour now. Abby replied, explaining she had been busy with some last-minute chores around her house, but she was on her way to the fair. She told Conor to look for her near the midway, at the booth where the tickets and wristbands were sold.
Conor did not hesitate and told his friend he had to go and that he would see them around later. Walking as fast as he could, he weaved through the crowd furiously to get over to his rendezvous. But, she wasn’t there. He looked left to right, right to left, in all directions again, only to realize she wasn’t there.
Momentarily disappointed, he sat down on a nearby bench anxiously awaiting her arrival, checking the clock on his phone repeatedly, as the minutes slowly ticked tediously by, each subsequent one seemingly longer than the last. Conor nervously fiddled with his wristband, repositioning it several times in an effort to distract himself. But it just wasn’t enough to truly preoccupy his mind. His brain’s thoughts exclusively ran along a one-way track named Abby.
Three minutes turned into five, which turned into ten — long enough to watch one of his favorite videos by one of his favorite creators. That was the perfect diversion for the moment. So he quickly looked and found a short form that ran for just under six minutes, half-watching the content. It had to be enough time for her to show up. Though, sadly it wasn’t. Over fifteen minutes and she still hadn’t shown. Conor took one more long look around him and decided to walk through the carnival to pass some more time.
But, he didn’t get far before he felt a tap on his shoulder. Abby apologized profusely, telling him that her parents held her up, going over their rules for being out on her own. “They are super protective and I can understand that, given what’s in the news every day. But I told them that I would be with friends and I’d be okay.”
“Sounds a lot like my parents, too. It’s like they want us to grow up but don’t want us to be independent either. It’s very weird,” Conor replied. “So, what do you want to do first? How about grabbing a snack and checking out what kinds of rides there are this year?”
It was the perfect excuse. Conor could stay off the rides for at least a half-hour or longer. He definitely didn’t want her to know that he was scared to go on them and even if he did, would face the real possibility of getting sick right on the spot.
“Sure thing. Just let me get a wristband and we can grab something.” Abby stepped up to the ticket booth, “I’d like a wristband,” she said, not expecting an elaborate answer.
“Sure, dear. Would you like a 1-day, 2-day, or 4-day? The 1-day white wristband is $25, the 2-day blue wristband is $40, and the 4-day green wristband is $50.”
Abby didn’t know there were so many choices, she glanced over at Conor, seeing he was wearing a green wristband. “Okay, 4-day, green, please!” She put it on, turned to Conor, and said, “Look, we match!”
“Oh, yeah,” Conor replied timidly, carefully looking up at the price chart. He suddenly realized the wristband his parents bought for him was green — four days?!?! He planned for just one day and only four hours at that. What if she asked him to meet up again tomorrow, or the next day, or the next? It was already hard enough trying to get through four hours on one day, but four whole days?
“Come on, let’s get a snack; then we can go on some rides!” Abby said excitedly, pointing to the Gravitron while walking toward the food trucks. “What do you say? Cotton candy? Popcorn? Candy apples? Maybe something fried? I’m up for anything, anything without taffy, that is; taffy is gross. But, I do like caramel, isn’t that weird? What tempts your sweet tooth? Or are you one of those strange people who don’t like sweets?”
Conor could barely keep up. He waited for what seemed like an eternity for this chance but now he couldn’t even pay attention, because he was so worried about getting talked into going on one of those nauseating rides. After all, he had a green, 4-day wristband so that must mean that he really likes going on these types of rides. What would happen if he actually went on one or even two? There’s no way he’d be able to hold his composure together being so easily dizzy and nauseated.
“So which one? I say cotton candy because it won’t ruin my appetite and I’m eyeing that taco truck for later on!” Abby said enthusiastically. “Or, maybe something a bit lighter, like a funnel cake? I mean really, who needs a belly full of greasy tacos when they are going on carnival rides? Plus, I don’t really care much for spicy foods, or heartburn, for that matter.”
Greasy, spicy, heartburn. Three words that caused Conor to feel simultaneously anxious and relieved. Stomach-turning because of the potential disgusting embarrassment it could trigger, yet reassuring because she decided against them right away. Although, he still had his work cut out for him.
Luckily, the next forty-five minutes were pure bliss for Conor. He shared cotton candy with Abby. They talked and even played a couple of midway games together, winning a stuffed teddy bear for her at one of those nearly impossible skill challenges. It was all going so very well until Abby turned her attention to the rides. At that very moment, one of her new girlfriends approached and asked Abby if she’d like to go on the pirate ship.
Back and forth it swang. Higher and higher each time. Hovering longer and longer at the end of every swing, which grew more intense from one side to the other. The laughter of the riders gradually turned to howls and finally, outright screams. Conor’s trepidation grew more overwhelming by the moment, he was terrified about what might happen next.
But, he felt a total sense of relief when Abby’s friend grabbed her by the hand and led her away to the pirate ship, telling him that she would bring Abby back to him in a few minutes. Conor jumped at the opportunity, saying that he would get a video of Abby and her friend on the ride. And, that’s precisely what he did. It was a perfect way out, as long as Abby’s friend was around, he could skip the rides and avoid the potential humiliation.
The circumstances didn’t last long, though. After Abby got off the Gravitron, the second ride, she fell into an inconsolable panic. Somehow, somewhere, her $50 wristband came off. She diligently retraced her steps, looking in vain trying to find it on the ground, on the entrance or exit of one of the two rides, anywhere. But it was gone, gone for good. Abby ran back to the ticket booth where she bought it, asking for a replacement. By this time, there was another person inside who didn’t sell her the wristband, and Abby didn’t have her receipt.
“Oh my gosh! My parents will be absolutely furious! I just lost a $50 wristband and that’s not something they are going to understand! What can I do? What should I do? How can I get out of this? I can’t believe this is happening. This just can’t be happening! Please, help me look!” Abby pleaded with Conor.
They both combed over the areas they had walked around during the last thirty or so minutes, but could not find Abby’s lost wristband. It spelled big trouble and Conor felt so very bad for her. None of their peers would willingly want to be in such a precarious, unenviable position. Being their age, and always arguing for autonomy from their parents, this type of mistake would certainly prove they were not ready for this level of responsibility.
Conor stopped to think about Abby’s predicament for a brief moment. Suddenly, he wasn’t concerned with himself. Instead, he could only think about Abby and what terrible consequences she might face as the result of a completely innocent mistake or, at worst, unintentional negligence.
Looking at the crowd of cheerful, carefree faces, he was struck by the amazing juxtaposition. Everyone around them was enjoying a wonderful time while they just sulked, overcome by angst. Conor became so nervous that he again started fidgeting with his wristband. As he fiddled restlessly, Conor came upon a delightful solution.
“Here, take my wristband, Abby. This way, you won’t have to tell your parents a thing. They’ll never know you lost yours and you won’t get into any trouble.” Abby rebuffed his offer at first, saying that she could not accept such an expensive gift. But Conor insisted, though she refused time and again. Frustrated, he abruptly blurted out, visibly shaking, “You’ve got to take it! Please.”
“Oh yeah, and why?” Abby demanded to know. “I mean, I really appreciate the gesture, but why would you do this for me? It’s not like I’m your girlfriend or anything. We only met a couple of months ago and you’ve barely spoken two words since that time. Are you trying to tell me something without actually saying it?” Abby inquired.
“I suppose,” Conor begrudgingly responded. “Truth is, I didn’t even realize this was a 4-day wristband. Heck, I would have not even gotten a one-day wristband if it were up to me because those rides cause me to get really motion sick. And I didn’t want you or anyone else to know that; it’s embarrassing.”
“You want to know what is even more embarrassing? Being around a new group of friends and going all drama queen like on the verge of a big, ugly cry!” Abby confessed, then timidly continued, “Now that we’ve had a genuine ‘Breakfast Club’ moment, how about getting a few tickets for you and we go through the funhouse together?” Abby said, slipping the wristband over her hand, giving Conor a kiss on his cheek, and putting his arm over her shoulders.
