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“Again, Uncle Sidney! Again!” Sidney Parker smiled down at his exuberant nephew, Henry, who was hopping up and down, clapping his hands excitedly.
Sidney lifted the boy and gave him a squeeze. “Alright, lad. Once more. Then we’ve got to meet up with your sisters.” They joined the queue for the “Frog Hopper” ride. It was the first day of summer holidays. Back in December, Sidney had promised his nieces and nephew a day at the amusement park as soon as the term ended. The children hadn’t let him forget. In fact, they’d even somehow managed to talk their doting uncle into an extended weekend full of activities. Today: Amusement Park and pizza. Tomorrow: Beach. The next day: trampoline park, ice cream, and a movie. Sidney had been impressed with their negotiating; but at the end of the day, he would’ve done anything they’d asked regardless of their bargaining prowess.
Sidney and Henry wound their way patiently through the queue, taking a step or two forward at a time as others moved ahead. As Henry chattered on about the superiority of his favorite dinosaur, the plesiosaur, Sidney’s gaze wandered ahead of them in line and landed quite abruptly on the face of the most beautiful creature he’d ever beheld. Her sunglasses sat on her head, holding back a sea of wild brown curls. Her mouth curved up in a brilliant smile, as she laughed at something her companion said. She turned her head, as if she sensed someone watching her, and their eyes caught for a long moment. She smiled softly at him, and he felt his lips turn up into a similar smile, returning her gaze. He lifted his hand and waved, awkwardly. Her smile widened and a bright pink blush traveled up her neck and across her cheeks. Sidney saw her gently bite her lip before she turned back to her friend.
Henry put his hands on either side of Sidney’s face, pulling his attention away from the beautiful stranger, “Uncle Sidney, did you hear what I said?”
Sidney ducked his head in embarrassment, “Sorry mate, what did you say?”
Henry raised his voice and pointed toward the woman, as if it would help his uncle better comprehend, “I SAID DO YOU LOVE THAT PRETTY LADY?!”
Mortified, Sidney felt his face redden as he swatted at Henry’s finger and whispered, “Henry, it isn’t polite to point.” Out of the corner of his eye, Sidney caught the brown-haired beauty looking at him with thinly veiled amusement, realizing she’d heard every word.
The queue continued to move along, and he lost sight of the stranger. Sidney was relieved when it was finally their turn. Henry squealed with delight as the ride jolted them up quickly and then sent them into a short free fall. As they exited the ride, Henry pulled on his uncle’s hand. “C’mon Uncle Sidney! I see Jenny and Alicia at whack-a-mole!”
Sidney followed Henry quickly, meeting his nieces at the old favorite arcade game. After minimal prodding from the children, Sidney found a spot and lifted his giant mallet, waiting for the bell to ring to signal the start of the game. At the last moment, the beauty from the queue took the last available spot next to him. He gazed at her curiously, causing that blessed pink color to return to her cheeks.
The game attendant called everyone to attention, “Everyone ready? 3…2…1…” The shrill sound of a bell set the group of 10 contestants into motion, each of them intensely focused on bashing their mallets over the head of the infamous cartoon looking creature that popped up at random.
Sidney’s nieces and nephew cheered him on to the win. When another bell rang signaling the end of the contest, he was ahead by several points. The game attendant thrust the giant obnoxiously sized teddy bear at Sidney, who accepted it with a nod. The brown-haired beauty next to him tucked a wayward curl behind her ear as she smiled up at him and gestured toward the giant bear, “Well done!” Sidney grinned sheepishly and studied her, “Thank you…although it’s not the prize I was after.”
His fascinated gaze lingered on her as she quickly quipped laughingly, “Ah…yes, you seem more the giant glittery unicorn type.”
Sidney chuckled in response. She offered him her hand, “Charlotte.”
He grasped her hand in his, “Sidney.”
Charlotte smiled and gestured toward the children as they laughed and hopped around excitedly, dancing with the gigantic bear, “You’ve made your kids’ day.”
Sidney coughed into his fist, clearing his throat, “Oh, no they’re not my kids…they’re my brother’s children. I’m their uncle…although perhaps this has earned me the title of ‘favorite uncle.’” He crossed his fingers in a playful, hopeful gesture. “My other brother, Arthur, and I are forever in competition for the title.”
Charlotte raised her eyebrows in understanding, “Ah, yes…as are my sister Alison and I.”
“Any children of your own?”
“No.”
Sidney nodded slowly as he leaned his back against a post, watching the children, too shy to meet her gaze. “Do you have a...?”
She put her hands in her back pockets and smiled softly as he trailed off, “No.”
They continued to watch the gleeful children. Sidney gazed at her out of the corner of his eye, “Do you have dinner plans?”
Charlotte turned her head to look at him, “What did you have in mind?”
He tilted his head toward the children, “I promised them pizza.”
A smile lit up her face, “Sounds perfect.”
***
Later that evening, the five found themselves squeezed into a booth at a loud kid themed arcade that happened to serve pizza. The children had taken quite quickly to Charlotte and pushed both she and Sidney into the back of the booth, trapping them together on either side. As the children chattered away, Charlotte leaned toward Sidney and whispered, “So, what was the prize you were really after today?”
Sidney’s hand accidentally brushed the outside of her thigh as he rubbed his palms down his jean clad thighs nervously. The minor touch sent a jolt through them both and their eyes locked. He breathed, “A chance with you.” His gaze darkened and he swallowed hard as her lips parted. A small gasp, “Oh” escaped her mouth.
Sidney’s eyes roamed over her face, to her eyes, then to her lips, which suddenly curved upward in an amused smile. The smile caught him off guard and he looked up at her eyes again. Her eyes sparkled with mirth as she looked at something over his shoulder. Confused, he followed her gaze. A giant costumed mouse character stood over them, leaning close as if trying to eavesdrop.
Sidney dropped his face into his hands in mortification.
When the fit of giggles finally died off around the table, Charlotte whispered close to Sidney’s ear, “You win” as she reached over and gave his hand a squeeze.
Sidney turned his hand, threading their fingers together and flashed her a brilliant smile, “Lucky me.”