Sweet and Sour by Debbi Michiko Florence

Author:Debbi Michiko Florence
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Scholastic Inc.

SEVEN SUMMERS AGO

“Close your eyes and put out your hand,” Zach said.

I did as he said. Then something small and feather light tickled my palm.

“Open your eyes.”

In the center of my hand was a tiny ring made from a single blade of grass. I lifted it to my face. “Did you make this?”

“Yes! It’s for good luck when you go back to school,” he said. I was starting first grade in the fall.

“It’s cute,” I said.

“Here.” Zach took it back and then slid it onto my ring finger, tightening the loop. Then he chortled. “Ha! Now you have to marry me!”

“What?” I cringed. “Nooooo!”

“Yes! If you wear my ring on that finger, it means you have to marry me!”

Our parents laughed in the way they did when they thought one of us was being cute.

“I’m taking it off,” I said, reaching for the ring.

“It doesn’t matter. You already put it on. It’s like a promise, and you have to marry me.” Zach danced around the room.

I looked at my parents, my eyes filling with tears. Mom tugged me over to her and gave me a hug. “Why so sad?” she asked. “That just means Zach loves you. Don’t you love Zach?”

I nodded into her shoulder.

She whispered in my ear. “It’s just a nice gift. You don’t have to marry him if you don’t want to.”

I peeked over Mom’s shoulder. Zach had settled down to make another ring from a pile of grass in front of him. Was he making one for someone else? I didn’t like that at all! I pulled away from Mom and ran over to Zach. I put my hand over the small pile of grass. “You don’t have to make any more. I’ll keep this one.”

Zach grinned up at me. “And marry me?”

The truth was Zach made me happy. I wanted to spend every summer with him for the rest of my life, like Holly and Mom. I glanced at both sets of parents, grinning at us like we were the sweetest things ever. Mom had married Dad. Holly had married Wes. They got to spend all their time together. That was even better than only summers.

I blew out a breath. “Yes, fine. I’ll marry you.”

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