The entertainer have substance

It is quite an interesting ending to the great day I had with Ash before we parted at the front door. Skye, answering in an unintelligible manner to Ash's suggestion of a movie and dinner on Friday afternoon, leaves us all in such a state of merriment. Skye innocently entertained us, and gave us an evening amusement. After we sorted out and agreed what's happening on Friday, we all said goodbye.

Skye and I went in and Ash left with parting words that left me empty, sad, alone and confused as to why I am.

I greeted David and Hazel and made polite conversations over dinner. Hazel cooked roast pork with apple sauce, mashed potatoes and roasted vegetables. She can cook. The crackling on the pork is top notch, the meat, so tender. The mash potatoes taste creamy, soft and fluffy. The vegetables are all half cooked and the apple sauce brings me back to my childhood food. It was scrumptious! Skye and I offered to clean up after we finish dinner. Then we went to our shared bedroom.

After I shut the door, she is already sitting down on the edge of her bed looking at me, expectantly. Like a patient dog waiting for his master to throw him a bone!

Whatever she's expecting, I ignored or tried and pretended that I have got no idea whatsoever!

When I didn't say anything, she looked at me with unblinking eyes and pursed lips. Her hands upturned, gesturing an encouragement that I'm expected to say something or do something.

"What?" I asked, my eyes round and innocent, or so I thought. I sat down the edge of my bed.

"You can't expect me to take your unknowing look and asking "what" an excuse for your silence! You know what I want! Don't pretend you don't know, Wynter! Spill!" she said in an annoyed voice.

I'm found out, "Ok.. ok, I'll tell you," I pacified her.

Then I relayed to her all the happenings, in detail, starting from this morning until Ash and I came home this afternoon, standing in the front door when she opened it.

"Do you think, he might... like... me?" I stammered to Skye, naive to see all the signs Ash was showing.

"Girl, that boy is so into you, even a blind person can see" she exaggerates, "If someone's making eyes at you, it means he's interested in you in some way. If you see a longer pattern of eye contact like staring, gazing at you, then there's a chance that he fancies you. When he tries to hold hands with you, means he likes to get closer to you, then asking you to go out with him again, definitely means, he's really attracted to you and wants to see how it takes on the next date. Asking your friend to go out with the two of you is a confirmation of his conscious decision that it might be you! Dang girl! Open your eyes!" she criticized.

"This is the first date I've ever been in my entire life, so don't judge me!" is all the retort I could muster, but I was clearly annoyed with my lack of experience, wisdom or judgement. "and where did you get all this knowledge anyway? Are you an expert now, Ms. Google?" I mocked her.

Skye just folded her arms in front of her chest and rolled her eyes on me.

But after Skye recalled to me in detail, what Ash has been doing all along, I have come to realise that he does like me a lot. Then comes to a mind boggling realisation that I, also like him, a lot! I wouldn't be smiling at him like a fool, walking hand in hand the whole time, if I didn't like him that much, did I? Then worry crept in my mind, and then spilled out.

"Skye, I'm only here for three months, what will happen after that? What will happen to us? What will happen to me? This can't continue. I mean, I can't.. I don't.. it is not possible.." I mumbled, so confused.

Skye stood up, walked over and sat down next to me. Then she did the impossible and consoled my weary mind.

"What happens in the future is unknown to us, but you can't say you can't or you don't or it's not possible, everything is doable and possible, you can, and you do. Just stay focus and feel the moment, treasure it, cherish it, remember it, learn from it. Maybe you and Ash are for each other or maybe not, you'll never know until you tried. And if you tried, then you wouldn't regret it one day, that you will never know, and you wouldn't say I should have done something at that time, then he won't be the one who got away." she said in a very mature way.

When I look at Skye, she looks a bit older than her years and after that intelligent speech, I wouldn't believe it was her, who was foolishly mumbling and bumbling earlier.

I knew why I stayed friends with her all this time. She's only nineteen, a year older than me, but she's acting like an older sister to me. She has been acting like an older sister to me since I was introduced to her at six. Even on that first day we met.

She can be humble, intelligent, dependable and mature when she wants and needs to be. She always answered to my call. A big sister is what I needed at the moment and she wore the big sister pants. She is always there for me, like she always did before.

"Thank you, Skye." I said with emotion, looking directly at her so she would see that my gratefulness is genuine.

"I'm glad I could soothe your weary soul! But you know me, I'm remarkably, talented and gifted like this!" she boasted, and I know that she's back to her high and mighty self!

I am so grateful for Skye, Sally, and Nan. My sister from another mother, my surrogate mother and the grandmother who mothered me. I know in my heart that I will not be me if not for them.

I need to ring Nan, just to hear her voice is assurance enough.

I also got two messages from Ash, when I check my phone, I read it after I spoke to Nan.

One reads, (I hope you enjoyed yourself today, I know I did. 😀), then the second one reads, (I think I like you, Wynter. Have a good night! 😘) I read the messages before I went to sleep and somehow it made me decide to give this a go, whatever, THIS is.

I answered back, (I did enjoy your company and the beautiful scenery! Thank you, Ash! I'm looking forward to seeing you again. 😊)