Unforgettable memory II

　　Then I flashed to a scene from less than a week ago —me sitting on my bed, curled up in a little ball, talk ing to my best friend Terry, telling her about how Paul had dumped me for Karen O'Shea, a cheerleader. It was s tupid to cry so much, I realized later. Paul was very n ice about the whole thing, but at the time I felt angry and hurt.

　　I must have been daydreaming for only a second, bec ause when I came back, the man was still looking at me expectantly, waiting for an answer.

　　"No, not today," I said.

　　I knew right away that it was a good answer, one th at he hadn't heard before, because he smiled his alliga tortooth smile at me and had to think for a moment.

　　"Maybe tomorrow you will be in love?" he teased.

　　Slight pause. "Maybe."

　　The man smiled again, searching my face, having met his match. When I turned away to continue cleaning, he finally left. I thought about him for a while, and then I thought about his silly question. I don't know what m ade me say 'maybe' but it sure seemed right. The world is full of wonderful possibilities, even for a temporar ily boyfriendless, noncheerleader like me.

　　Alice Reagan, from Bishop Fenwick High School, Peab ody, Massachusetts