Kite Wars

They were in Walmart on a rainy Saturday morning in March. They had stopped to buy him a pair of socks and her a dress. It took longer than he expected. After finding the right size and color of dress. He wanted one sexy and light. One fit for summer days and nights. She must have tried on six or seven. After they settled on one, he led her to the toy aisle. He held her hand gently, her fingers in his. As he had from the first day they met, he marveled at her fingers. His little finger was as big as her thumb. He had brought her a diamond necklace for her birthday last week. She wore it today. They were celebrating 6 months of marriage.
“I’m going to buy a kite.” He said, smiling.
“And what are you going to do with it?”
“Fly it.” He said, pulling her down the aisle. They found a clerk. “Where do I find the kites?”
The clerk, named Oliver, looked into their bright shining eyes. “Right next to the toy tractors.” He said cheerfully. They were newlyweds. He would just bet on it. “If you can’t find them, let me know.”
“We will. Thanks.” He said, smiling. They were right where Oliver said they would be.
“I want this one.” She said, picking up a bright pink one with bunnies on it.
“And I want one with jets on it.” He said, picking up one blue with an image of a jet.
“Bunnies beat jets every time.” She said, holding her kite above her head.
“We’ll see about that.” He said. They took their purchases to the cashier.
After they left Walmart, they dined at McDonald’s on hamburgers and fries. They teased each other about flying kites until they were almost an embarrassment to the restaurant.
That night they put their kites together. He helped her bend the wooden struts. Finally, they assembled the kites. They set them in a corner of the living room, touching each other.
“My kite likes your kite.” She said, kissing him.
“And my kite loves your kite,” he said, smiling.
They made hot chocolate and watched a movie, then went to bed.
They were almost asleep when she suddenly sat up in bed and laughed. He looked at her sleepily.” What?”
“We don’t have any string.” She said, laughing.
He chuckled. “I was so focused on the kites I forgot the string. “
“Ok. Tomorrow operation string.” She said. She curled in his arms and went to sleep.
The next day after church they bought two 50 feet rolls of twine. In the afternoon they flew their kites, laughing and teasing each other like children.
26 years later, she was looking in their scrapbook at the photos of them flying their kites. Coming into the living room, he kissed the top of her head. “What are you looking at?” She held up the book so he could see.
“That was fun. Let’s do that again.” He said, smiling.
“Ok,” she said, laughing. “But this time you keep your kite far enough away so our strings don’t get tangled.”