The Moment

The Moment

“Oh, thank you!!” Jeannie gushed catching up with Ted.

“For what?” Ted asked.

“You can’t fool me! Who else would know the colors I wanted? Where to leave it so I would find it this morning, just when I needed it! I know you did it.”

“Ah...”

“I love it!” and with a kiss, off she ran.

Ted stood watching her go. He wracked his brain for any clue as to what she was talking about, no luck.

“Was that Jean?” a voice came from behind him. He turned, finding Frank standing there.

“Yeah,” he said, he didn’t know Frank well. Frank was a nerd, but seemed nice.

“Did she find the flag I made for her?”

The “ah ha” hit. Frank made the flag for Jeannie to carry in the parade.

Looking at Frank he could tell this was more than a crush. Jeannie was a friend, but to Frank she was more.

This one of those character building moments, he thought to himself. What kind of a person was he? Let Jeannie continue to give him credit, which felt nice, though it was a lie. Or turn the light on Frank and see what happens?

Little did he know that this was The Moment when he would make a decision about the rest of his life.

Above him the spirits awaited. Was good going to get another soldier, or was evil about to win. One little lie leading to another, just a tad sneakier. Each one only slightly worse than the last, until one day, when it couldn’t be fixed anymore. When evil wins.

The spirits awaited. Finally, Ted called Jeannie, “Hey, I gotta tell you something.”

“What?”

“The parade starts at two.”

Come on, did you think I was going for a Hallmark moment here?