THE CRUSH

Reveal, Pretend & LOVE were the words miss Purdy, a second-grade teacher chalks on the
board and tell the whole class to learn and practice the words, to be able to spell them on
Monday, which earns her the very usual & unhappy “awwww” from the students. Amid a
grumpy class was the only boy - sitting, observing, and listening to his centre of attention
who was smiling with cute dimples on her cheeks while she gave the assignment to everyone.
Noticing the peevish mood of the class miss Purdy throws the surprise that instantly
brightened up the mood of the children who were going to spend a nice weekend with a
promise to be shown a DVD video if everyone performs well, leaving them with smiling
faces.
Now, while everyone leaves, The Boy was waiting for His moment, when the class would be
empty, leaving Miss Purdy & him alone. Watching the boy still sitting on his bench, Miss
Purdy asked him “you okay Ardal?” only to see the boy taking something out of his pencil
pouch and coming towards her while keeping the hands behind his back. On reaching near his
teacher’s table Ardal brings out a beautiful gold coloured ring crowned with a red gem & gift
it to his only crush. Seeing the attentive 8-year-old boy gifting her, Miss Purdy gives him the
genuine smile and said, it’s a lovely gift. Ardal was waiting for her to get surprised and he
reveals that he’d bought it using a week’s pocket money to which Miss Purdy said he didn’t
had to do that. But all the small gentlemen wanted was her to know how important she’s to
him and what he feels about her, so he said the exact to his Miss Purdy. Seeing his earnest
expressions and feelings Miss Purdy said his gift is very special and she’ll always treasure it,
all while wearing his ring on her ring finger and then asks him with a humours smile whether
they’re engaged, now that he’s gifted her a ring. The sudden question left him a little flustered
and with his eyes roaming in every direction Ardal answers maybe they’re, if she wants, as he
hadn’t given it a thought. Miss Purdy answers back with a playful-serious smile and said it’s
a sweet gift and she’ll certainly think about their engagement. She wishes him a good
weekend to which he replied he certainly will and went back home with a satisfied smile on
his face, as he accomplished a little more of his young crush.
At home, Ardal was sitting with parents on the dining table having his dinner with them and
enjoying his family time, while his father asked in a hoarse voice, how was everyone’s day?
Noticing the change in his voice Ardal’s mother pointed it out, to which he responded that
today he came across a kid with a crossbow to which she exclaimed and said NO! Then he
explained the whole story about how that kid was high & was trying to rob a news agent and
how he handled it all by screaming and shooting to scare him. The whole story reminded
Ardal of the cowboys whom he always watches on television and he said to his father, that’s
so cool and asked him whether he shot him. Listening his question his mother reprimanded
him and said its not cool at all. Later his father answered his boy that he didn’t shot anyone as
the kid backdown otherwise he’d sitting with an arrow in his head on the dining table. And
while Ardal’s mother was asking her husband more questions, Ardal suddenly asked her at
what age a person can get married. She stopped and then answered at 16 and questioned why
he wanted to know and whether he has someone to reveal? Ardal, with all seriousness
answers back no, NOT YET but he will keep her posted if he got someone and the family of
three smiles while seeing each other and enjoying their family time.
Retiring back to his room Ardal opens his ten year planning diary and notes down the first
thing, that has been on his mind for the whole day, to marry his crush, Miss Purdy…
Next day on the weekend Ardal went on shopping with his mother happily roaming and
shooting with his 2 fingers in air when his mother called him for home and said he’s
dawdling. Ardal started to walk towards his teacher miss Purdy greeted him and asked
whether he bought anything. He showed her his newly bought shoes to which she appraised
him saying they’re lovely looks smart with them. Ardal tells her that they are special cowboy
shoes. Miss Purdy again told him, that’s very cool and that she herself got something special
and shows him his ring finger adorned with a new engagement ring. Ardal’s mother
congratulated her & as if on a cue, a guy walked towards Miss Purdy and she introduced him
as her fiancé Pierce and told him that Ardal is her second-grade student. Ardal’s mom
congratulated them again to which the fiancé sarcostyle said yeah cheers! and hastily asked
his fiancé whether they’re done as the match was to start in 10 minutes and didn’t want to
miss it. Surprised by the question Catherine, who’s Miss Purdy asked back that they were
going to have a celebratory lunch for the engagement. Pierce tauntingly replied back that
she’s pleased him enough and he wants to go back and watch the match, he can’t miss it, In
hurry Catherine said goodbye to the mother- son pair and got pulled by her fiancé towards the
car, leaving a furry of emotions in Ardal’s chest.
At night Ardal tear off that precious page of his diary and crumbled it with his cowboy shoes
that reflected his current emotions. Being the curious and sneaky kid, he went to his parent’s
room to find his father holding a gun and safekeeping it in the closet with a serious face.
After going back to his room, he picked the crumpled paper & opened it with a determined
expression and a power that matched the cowboy’s figure printed on the wall poster near his
desk.
The next day in the school ended as usual where Miss Purdy was telling the students to learn
the spellings properly but an expression of gloom was marred on Ardal’s face, which did not
go unnoticed by her, as he was going back home without saying a single word to her for the
whole day in the class. Noticing his strange behaviour, Miss Purdy tested him by saying Bye,
which didn’t earned her any reaction from him, so she told him come near her desk & asked
him what’s up with a frown on her face. Coming near to her desk, Ardal’s eyes first went to
her ring finger and much to his 8-year-old voice, he asked her about wearing her fiancé’s ring
instead of his, with all seriousness. Hearing his startling question, Miss Purdy became
speechless for 2 seconds and replied that it’s a little complicated and someday you’ll, only get
interrupted by Ardal who asked back, how its complicated when her fiancé is not good for
her. Observing his serious reaction, Miss Purdy asked him to go on and speak his mind freely
as a small laugh erupted through her lips. Seeing her casual reaction Ardal told her its fine,
that she’ll see it later anyways. Miss Purdy asked him what he meant to which he replied that
she’ll see, he is the one who loves her the most. Miss Purdy said, she knows he do and that
he’s very special to her too but sometimes grownups have to, only to get interjected by Ardal
who said, he has to go back home and after grabbing his bag and pencil pouch he’s ready for
going back home, when he decides to stop near the class entrance and suddenly said to Miss
Purdy that he would’ve taken her to lunch. For few seconds Miss Purdy didn’t catch the
meaning of his sentence and asked what he meant. Ardal replied with the earnest expression
on his face that he would’ve missed a football match and taken her to the lunch, as she’s that
special to him that showed her the mirror of her engagement.
Outside the school, Piere, Miss Purdy’s fiancé was restlessly waiting for her in his car,
annoyed that she’s always the last person to come out of the school, when suddenly he heard
someone knocking on his car window and saw Ardal wearing a striped cap and jacket as it
was winter. Piere lowered down the window and greeted him hello and asked what can he do
for him and with a pinpointed expression Ardal told him to not marry Miss Purdy. The answer
from a second-grade boy left Piere baffled and he asked Ardal to speak again. Ardal spoke
with the same determination and an order alike to not marry Miss Purdy as she’s his. The
answer left Piere laughing while he was chewing gum and said, that’s a dilemma. Ardal told
him not to laugh as he was very serious about the context but for Piere he was just a kiddo, so
he said that all is fair in love and war and taunted him by saying, she said you are too short.
Ardal didn’t believed him but Piere retorted back that as a kid he’s not financially stable
enough to cater her high maintenance needs. Not understanding the sentence Ardal asked him
what he meant but Piere only answered, you’ll understand it later as if sympathising and
disregarding him at the same time for his future. Ardal told him to not speak stupid and asked
him meet in a draw that surprised Piere as he asked a what? Ardal again asked him for a draw
in the Humboldt court after the school tomorrow, exclusive between him and Piere that left
him giggling. Watching him laugh, Ardal spoke that they’ll fight to the death, that only made
Piere laugh more and he asked Ardal what they’ll be fighting with, swords, pistols or
conkers? And with all determined ferocity in his eyes Ardal answered Pistols. Surprised Piere
said okay! It’s a date then, may the best man or a boy wins! Piere was still giggling when
Ardal left without shaking the hand and Catalina arrived in his car asking him what’s tickled
him and Piere recalled the whole fiasco to her.
After going back home with resolution, Ardal was sitting on his parents bed, starring at the
closet where his father has kept the gun safely and thinking about tomorrow.
Finally, the tomorrow arrives. Piere was, as usual, waiting for Catalina while drumming on
his steer wheels, when she arrived near the car & sat inside it, giving Piere a smooch on lips
which didn’t go unnoticed by the 8-year-old boy who was standing just across the car
watching and waiting. When Piere’s landed on him he informed Catalina, he’ll have to go.
Having no clue about what he was saying, she asked him and he reminded her of his
appointment with death causing her to see Ardal standing across the road. She told Piere to
not be mean with the boy and he responded that he just want to see what’ll happen and left to
the ground after saying that she can stay in the car itself, if she want leaving her with a heavy
air.
Arriving on the Humboldt, Piere found the ground empty when he felt a presence behind his
back, only to find Ardal standing on the door way with a bag and a firm calculative face.
Piere broke the tension by saying, he was beginning to think he would not show up. Ardal
had different thoughts in his mind, so he cut the chase by asking Piere, where is your gun?
Piere did the gesture of checking out his pockets and said he has forgotten to bring one, silly
isn’t it, while chewing a gum in his mouth. Seeing his lacklustre response, Ardal responded,
that’s not his problem while keeping the bag on the ground. Piere was asking him about his
gun when he saw Ardal taking out the very same thing out of his school bag and laughed
nervously, saying that’s not real and with all the resolve, Ardal answered back yes, it is. In the
middle of their talk arrived Miss Purdy, having no clue about what’s happening, when she
saw Ardal with a gin in his hand and asked him what is he doing? She cannot believe Ardal
was carrying a gun in his hand that was pointed towards her fiancé. Things were slowly
becoming very, very real. Seeing the gun pointed towards him, Piere told Ardal to point it
down and asked him again with regained seriousness that, it’s not a real gun, it’s a toy, isn’t it
son? And much to his disappointment Ardal answered him, its not a toy. Trying to lighten up
the things, Catalina said in a serious yet soft voice to put the gun down when Piere asked
Ardal, from where did he get the gun, as he cannot believe, an 8-year-old boy holding a very
much real gun in his hand, that’s pointed towards him for last 5 minutes now. And to his
disappointment Ardal provided him the answer that made him believe, it’s a real gun and he’s
done for. Ardal said his father is a guard in the state police force and the emergency response
unit are armed with guns. Slowly the fear of death started to arise in Pierce’s body when
Catalina nodded her head and he asked her in a strangled voice, why she didn’t inform him
about it before. Noticing the menace in his voice towards his Miss Purdy, Ardal told him to
not marry his teacher and again pointed the gun. Ardal tried to convince him, telling him to
put the gun down, that they can talk about it but Ardal again spoke in his hell bent voice, to
tell him not to marry her as he doesn’t deserve her. Piere could not understand his unlikeness
towards himself, so he asked why? you don’t even know me. Ardal answers back that he
knows, he’s not good enough for her and also that he’s a “dickhead”. Hearing the bad word
coming out of his mouth shocked Miss Purdy and she reprimanded him by taking his name,
Ardal Travis! Instantly Ardal said sorry to her, being the disciplined student, he was. Seeing
the lack of reaction for himself, Piere asked Catalina, whether she was going to do something
or just stand watching, one of her second classers blowing his head off. Shakingly, Catalina
said, he won’t do it when Piere shouted at her to get a cop or something to save his life. Ardal
interjected for her, to not go anywhere, stay right there. Now afraid, Catalina again told Ardal
to put the gun down or she’ll reveal it on his reports and his parents. Ardal retorted back, that
he'll show her, why this man is not good for her. Piere again tried to convince him, to listen to
his teacher, but the resolute Ardal just wanted him say that he won’t marry his teacher and
Piere was not willing to say that, just yet. Ardal screamed at him by pointing the gun, saying
tell her! Piere was still to mend the things when he heard the clicking sound from the gun,
indicating the bullet can be out now, anytime. Frightened by the same 8-year-old kid, Piere
cried out loud, okay, okay you can have her! And that he never wanted to marry anyway.
Catalina was shocked by his sudden declaration, but Piere continued about how she moaned
constantly for the marriage, so he thought of getting engaged to stop her constant blabber
about it. He kept repeating that he doesn’t want to marry her and to not shoot him. when he
thought Ardal is not going to listen, he called Catalina to get someone and also disrespected
her calling her a stupid bitch, which undid Ardal, as well as the gun in his hands, that shot off
just like his bottled emotions.
Everything blacks out after the loud bang of the gun and Piere was lying on the ground, as his
eyeballs follows a small ball that rolled in front of him. Only then did Catalina and Piere
understood what had happened. Ardal called Catalina for her attention and showed her what
he ahs promised. Catalina walks towards Piere only to throw away their engagement rig on
his face and called him a dickhead. Understanding slowly dawned upon him when he saw a
smile gracing the kid’s lips and he shouted at Ardal, calling him a bastard. He was going to
attack on Ardal when Catalina shielded him and warned him saying, if he came anywhere
near Ardal, then she’ll tell everyone that he’s a child molester. After that she brought Ardal
out of the ground with herself, as quickly as possible, as she didn’t want to stand a mere
second in Piere’s presence leaving him alone with his ring on the ground.
After coming out, Ardal asked her whether she’ll report on him, to which she said, they can
keep this secret between themselves and asked Ardal to give her the gun for safekeeping as it
looked very realistic. She asked him, from where did he get it? And he answered that his dad
was keeping it in his wardrobe for his birthday and asked her its very nice, isn’t it? Miss
Purdy replied yes with a contradictory expression on her face and popped the gun inside her
bag when she found the ring gifted by Ardal and wears it on her ring finger. Watching her
doing so, Ardal tells her, its alright, she doesn’t need to wear it as he has decided to not marry
her. Miss Purdy asked why? to which he answered, that he’s not financially stable to take care
of all her needs and someone as nice as her should have everything she wants. Catalina
laughs and regards his understanding with her own appraised expression for him and foretold
him, that someday some girl is going to be very lucky to which he instantly replied, nah, girls
are stupid. Miss Catalina understood him and said, yes they can be, then she patted Ardal,
saying come Romeo I’ll get you home.