By Misti Velvet Rainwater
Date: 3 December 1999

Excerpt from An Unfinished Novel

   The sky was a lovely shade of rose. Dew was on the grass
and birds were chirping shrilly. Daisy ran up and down the
bleachers and then collapsed at the top. She lay in a 
heaving heap, her heart wildly pounding.
   "So we meet again."
 Daisy looked up into Davey's smiling eyes. He was holding a
white bag from the bakery and a pint of milk.
  "Can't a girl sweat alone in peace?" Daisy grumbled, closing
her eyes.
  "Come on, be congenial. You love me, remember?"
 Daisy opened her eyes and sat up, avoiding Davey's gaze.
  "I meant on a universal level," she said.
  "Love is love. Here, have a donut."
  "I don't eat sweets, but thanks."
  "You are just too weird for this town, Daisy. Everyone in
Woodland loves these donuts, even Emerald."
   "Who is Emerald?"
   "A rich shallow person who had a thing for me there for
awhile."
    "What kind of thing?"
    "You know...she wanted to copulate with me. That kind of
thing."
    Davey sat in the same spot he'd sat in the first time
Daisy had encountered him. He sat eating a glazed donut,
his eyes focused on the rosy sky.
     Daisy wiped the sweat out of her eyes and sat down
beside Davey.
     "I do drink milk," she hinted sweetly.
     "Here, have a swig."
     Davey handed Daisy the unopened carton.
     "Thanks."
    Daisy gulped the milk thirstily. When she handed the carton
back to Davey, he discovered that it was half-full.
     "You drink like a fish," Davey said.
     "So you and Casey are seeing each other, huh?" Daisy asked
suddenly, looking into Davey's eyes.
      "Yeah, kind of. How'd you meet Casey?"
      "Through her dad. I work at Bob's Burger Barn,
and Casey comes in there a lot. She's a really talented
writer."
      "Yeah, I know. Where are you from?"
      "Haven't you asked me that before?"
      "You didn't ever answer me."
      "Oh. Hmmm. Well, I'm from Watts. L.A. I moved
here about a month ago. I guess I just really needed
a change of pace."
       "Floyd's from L.A. He was that black guy at the
party last night."
       "He's crazy. I saw him messing around with about
three girls in the hot tub."
       "Yeah, he's crazy, alright. He's been my best
friend since junior high."
        "Crazier than I thought."
        "Why, thank you."
      Daisy stood up slowly, entranced by the rising sun. Davey
looked at Daisy and thought she was the most radiant woman he
had ever laid eyes on. At that moment, he knew he was in love.
     "Ever been to Six Flags?" Davey asked.
     Daisy smiled and peered down at Davey.
     "Six Flags? What's that?"
     "It's a theme park in Arlington. I haven't been there
since I was a kid."
      "Let's go."
      "This is great. You're really up for it?"
      "Yeah, I'm hyped. I miss Disneyland."
      "I've never been."
      "I'll have to take you there someday."
             Daisy reached for Davey's hand. He stood,
feeling a certain magical tranquility and fragile happiness.
He'd felt it before. This time he hoped it was for keeps.