Thinking Inside the Box

Glad you could join us for the next proposed episode of Elliot’s Adventures. If you’re new here, you can catch up by returning to the beginning, and reading really fast…

“Spike’s dead?” Waiting behind bars, Elliot tried to take in everything Cassandra had been through since her abduction.

“Yep,” Cassandra confirmed, “drowned to be slowly digested. Can you imagine? I had no idea plants could do that.”

Her sense of wonder amazed Elliot. “But it was almost you! You must have been terrified.” He hung his head. “I’m sorry I wasn’t there to save you.”

Arturo, nervously awaiting the wasps’ judgment, confessed, “I don’t blame either of you if you hate me for what I did when I knocked you out and kidnapped Cassandra. Spike’s thugs followed me everywhere to make sure I did what he wanted. I’m not proud of anything I did for him, and I’m ashamed I was such a coward. Please forgive me.”

Cassandra smiled. “You were trying to save your sister. That took courage.”

Arturo bowed his gratitude.

“In the meadow,” she told Elliot, “Arturo became an even greater hero. That’s when he got his life back. If you had been there to save us, my darling, he might never have stood up to Spike.”

Comforted by her kindness, Elliot’s heart swelled and he kissed her cheek.

Looking shyly into his eyes, she whispered, “Did you call me your fiancee?”

His cheeks pinkened. “Yes.”

“You know, try as I might, I don’t remember you asking me to marry you.”

Her arched eyebrow gave him pause. “Well,” he stammered, “we’ve talked about our future together. Naturally, I assumed—“ His assumptions died as she slowly shook her head.

“That isn’t how it’s done, Elliot.”

He stopped to take charge of his confusion. “You’re right.” Bowing low, he said, “Cassandra, I have loved you from the moment I saw you across the river. I have come to love your bravery, your gentle spirit, and your steadiness. I love your sense of humor, your brilliance, and the way your inner beauty shines in your face. I love the way you always know what to say to lift people up. I love the way you make me want to be the best I can to earn your love. You are the sun, the moon, and all the stars in my Universe. I will love you for the rest of my life. Will you marry me?”

A loud pounding shook the air. The large wasp leader with the rock bellowed, “Come to order! Silence in the Arena!”

Seeping sweat misted Arturo’s brow.

To be continued. . .

Previously, on Elliot’s Adventures ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ Next time . . .