Flash Fiction: The Apple of Her Eye

In third grade, Melanie’s friends taught her to twist her apple stem and call off letters alphabetically. The first time she tried, the stem broke at “D.”

“Melanie’s going to marry Drew!” they teased, naming the only boy in class whose name started with that letter.

“Ew, gross. No, I’m not! He probably has cooties!”

But the girls didn’t listen and began chanting, “Melanie and Drew, sitting in a tree, k-i-s-s-i-n-g.”

Melanie got off the school bus crying. She ran into her mother’s arms and sobbed. “I never want to eat another apple for the rest of my life!”

Years later, the lunchtime talk was of clothes, boys, and school. Melanie started bringing apples for lunch again.

The first day she brought an apple, she sat next to Jennifer, whom she had known since kindergarten.

Jennifer grinned. “Remember when you had that apple in, what, third grade? And you got the letter ‘D?'”

Melanie arched her eyes. “Yeah, and you all told me I was going to marry Drew Green.”

“Yeah. Lucky you, I don’t think you’re really his type.” She nodded over to where Drew was cuddled up with his boyfriend.

Melanie had just taken a sip of water and snorted, then flung her hand to her nose. “Hey, warn me next time!”

“Try it again!”

“Try what?”

“Twist the stem.”

Melanie shrugged and twisted. The stem came off at the letter “D” again.

“No way!” Jennifer said. “Maybe it’s meant to be!”

The girls laughed and spent the rest of lunch talking about which D-named boys might be eligible.

After that, whenever Melanie brought an apple, it always twisted off at “D.”

Throughout high school, Melanie had a series of boyfriends: Jackson, Peter, Sean, and Zach – none of them worked out. Cheaters, gamers, liars, and just plain disinterested.

The same thing happened through college: Mark, Chad, and Travis – more mature, eys, but also none with a future.

College ended without Melanie being in a serious relationship.

“You can’t give up,” Jennifer said over drinks one Friday afternoon.

“why not?”

“There’s someone out there who’s right for you.” Her eyes twinkled. “Maybe his name starts with the letter ‘D.'”

Melanie smiled. “Sounds like a plan, Jen. No more dates unless he’s a Dean, Derald, or David.”

Jennifer dropped her smile. “Mel, I was kidding.: She paused and ran her finger along the edge of her cup. “Actually, I was thinking of setting you up with my co-worker Andrew.”

“Ugh, not another one.” Melanie rolled her eyes.

“Look, just give him a chance. For me?” Jennifer batted her eyelashes.

“Fine.”

The date was set for the following weekend. Andrew picked Melanie up, and they headed to the local Italian restaurant. They stood outside in the cold, listening to names being called. “Daniel, party of two.”

Andrew stood, and Melanie frowned. “I thought your name was Andrew.”

“Andrew is my middle name. Daniel is my first.”

Melanie tilted her head and looked at him in a whole new light.