Bobbie looks at Carly. She was blown away by the question, quite frankly. She looked away from Carly and began her story. Carly saw the side of Bobbie’s face illuminated by the moonlight.

“ When I was young? I had some boyfriends that I didn’t see when I was working, but, they knew what I did. But, they weren’t anything to write home about. If you mean someone that didn’t know what I did, there was only one.

I was working this fair one summer weekend. It was one of those State Fairs, and you could find a lot of prospects. It wasn’t really time for me to start working, so I was just going around, looking at the different exhibits. They had one of artists and their paintings. There were also some sketch artists..

[[[[FLASHBACK]]]]]

A young Bobbie is looking at a seascape.

“ What do you like about it?”
Bobbie turns and sees a young man standing there.

” Pardon?”

” Why does it capture your attention?”

“ I think it’s the water. It seems so alive. Ready to fight. That boat looks like it doesn’t stand a chance against the water.”

“ It’s the type of stroke that the artist used. The raised paint makes the ocean seem larger than it is. He used it just for that effect. To evoke the emotion from you.”

” Are you the artist?”

“ No. But, I am an artist. “

” You paint? “

“ Paint. Sketch. I have begun to experiment with sculpture, but, with very little success.”

” Is your work here?”

” No. I am on vacation here, and saw the announcement in the paper . I had never had the fortune of attending a state fair, and thought I would take advantage of the opportunity.”

“ Oh. Well, I love the Fair. It’s a great place to find...interesting things to do.”

” Such as?”

” Well, there’s the pie baking contest. The pie eating contest. The animal competitions. The great stuff that gets made. They have some homemade quilts over there. One in particular. “

“ What is a quilt?”

” You’re kiddin’ me, right?” The young man shakes his head no. “ Well, a quilt is like a blanket. But, it’s made with old scraps of material.”

“ You like something made from people’s garbage?”

” It’s not garbage. Plus, what makes a quilt special is the time and care put into it.”

” I just don’t see how you could like something that other felt disposable.”

“ Gee, I don’t know how I could be so low as to like handmedowns. See ya.”

Bobbie begins to walk away. The gentleman grabs her by the arm.

” I apologize if I’ve upset you. I certainly did not mean to offend you. In any way. Let us begin again with proper introductions. I’m..”

Bobbie places her fingers on his lips. “ Let’s not do any introductions. Let’s just be together. What’s in a name anyway? They’re overrated. You didn’t offend me. I guess I can get a little testy.”

“ I see.”

“ You want to go over and look at the fair.”

“ If you would be my escort.”

“ I’d like that.”

Bobbie and the guy go from booth to booth. They watch a pig hollering contest. Watch the comparisons of the animals, the home grown vegetables. They look at the crafts and eventually make their way over to the quilts. Bobbie sees one, in particular, that she loves.

“ You like this quilt?”

” It’s very nice.”

“ Then, why don’t I buy it for you?”

” I didn’t ask you to. “

” I know. But, you have been such a wonderful hostess that it is already too small a gesture. I am quite famished. Why don’t I give you some money, and you find us something to eat. I will meet you under that tree, in thirty minutes?” Bobbie looks over to the location and nods in agreement. Bobbie takes the bills, what she would make in  a couple of days, and goes to get them some food. She buys a picnic basket full of chicken, sandwiches, home made preserves , biscuits and pie. She is sitting underneath the tree when she sees the gentleman approach with two full shopping bags.

” What’s all of THIS?”, Bobbie asks.

“ I began to shop for you, and, I could not stop. I hope that you will accept my overindulgences.” Bobbie looked at the bags, and in there, were the three quits that she liked the most, and a homemade croched shawl. She picked up the shawl.

“ I didn’t think you noticed it.”

” I notice everything about you.” He looked at Bobbie with such intensity that she began to blush. Bobbie looked away and dug deeper into the bag. She pulled out a pad and a box. “ What’s this?”

” I went by the artists’ section and bought some charcoal and paper from one of the vendors.”

” What for?”

“ Because, I wanted you to do me the honor of allowing me to sketch you.”

“ Sketch me? I think that you would have better things to sketch.”

” Why do you do that?”

“ Do what?”

” Minimize the contributions that you make. Downgrade the importance of your participation. Believe that no one could be interested in what you are thinking.”

“ Because no one usually is.”

” I am.”

“ You are clearly an exception to every rule I know. I don’t know about you, but I’m starving. “

” I’m famished myself. We should eat.”

They spread out one of the quits on the ground. Bobbie unpacked the picnic basket and they enjoyed all the food in it. By the time they finished, both of them look up at one another with suprise.

” I guess we WERE hungry.” Bobbie says while smiling. “ It’s been a long time since I’ve eaten that much.”

” For me also.”

“ Well, while we’re sitting here, what do you think we should do?”

He puts his arms around Bobbie. ” I think we should sit and watch the sunset. I can’t believe thet we can see the water from here.”

” Yeah. This is a great spot. On land, but near the water. Most people go straight from the Fair to the beach. I love the beach.”

“ As do I.”

” You know, sunset is my favorite time of day.”

“ Why do you like the twilght?”

“ I guess, because it’s the only constant thing I know. The days....they are all different. Everyday is something new. And the night...” There is a long pause for Bobbie, “ Who knows what the night brings. But, the sunset, it’s almost like time stops for a bit, and you have a place for peace.”

” Peace. What could such a young woman like yourself, know about wanting peace?”

“ Nothing. I’m just blabbering. Forget everything I’ve said.”

“ I don’t want to forget anything that you’ve said. In fact, I want to know more about you. I want to know everything about you.”

“ There’s nothing much to tell. Not really.”

“ I can’t believe that. I bet you have an interesing life.”

“ No. I just live in a house with..my mother and father, and my older brother. My mother’s a housewife and my dad works in the auto plant. My brother is this big jock at school. He goes to the University of Florida on athletic scholarship. See. My life is boring. I’m just the typical American girl.”

“ I’ve seen other American girls, and they’re nothing like you.”

” Why? What do you mean? What’s wrong with me?”

” Nothing is wrong with you. You’re beautiful and smart, and charming. I haven’t met many other girls, but, you’re not ordinary.”

Bobbie looks at the ground, blushing. “ Thank you.”

“ So, what would you like to do? I know what I would like to do.”

” What is that?”

” I would like to sketch you.”

“ Draw me? Really?”

“ Yes. “

“ OK. What should I do?”

” Just sit there and look at something over my shoulder.”

Bobbie poses for him. She sits for awhile, while he sketches her. After almost an hour,

” I’m finished.”

“ You are? May I see?”

“ Of course.”

He hands the sketch to Bobbie. Bobbie looks at that pad with a puzzled expression.

“ What is the matter? Do you not like the sketch?”

“ The girl in this sketch is beautiful.”

” I know. It is you. At least, how I see you.”

“ You really see me this way?”

“ Yes.”

“ Well, then, I thank you.”

“ It’s getting late. May I escort you home?”

” Actually, my parents are on vacation. My brother came home for the weekend, to babysit. But, if I call, then, I know he’ll say it’s OK. We aren’t doing anything wild.”

“ No, we’re not.”

” I’ll go make the call.”

Bobbie gets up and finds a phone. The young man is watching her. She pretends to call a number and fakes the entire conversation. She smiles as she walks back to him.

” Your brother approved of you staying with me?”

” He told me to use my defense training if you got out of control.”

” I won’t be. I assure you.”

“ Relax. I know you don’t mean me harm. Why don’t we go to the beach?” They head towards the beach. Spreading out a blanket, he leaves Bobbie and returns with some hot chocolate for the both of them.

“ I’ve told you about my life.Why don’t you tell me about yours?”

” Well. I, too, have parents. My father is a businessman, and my mother runs his house. “

” You’re not from America, are you?”

” No. I’m from Europe. I am here studying. I study business because it’s what is expected of me. But, my passion is my art. I hope someday, to be able to study it more formally. I attend classes presently, but, my parents completely disapprove.”

“ Why? You’re really talented.”

“ My parents do not believe that it is a proper vocation for a young man of my station. I have other responsibilities. Although, I do not see why I should do business. It is not like I will ever oversee my father’s interests.”

“ If you won’t, then who?”

” I have an older brother. He will get everything.”

“ Well, if they have him, then why do they need you?”

“ Because, everyone in power needs someone that does their unseemly tasks. That responsibility has fallen upon me.”

” But, you could live your own life.”

“ Do you really believe that? That everyone can live their own lives?”

“ Can’t they?”

“ I am not so certain.”

“ Do you miss home?”

“ No. I know that I will return soon enough. I do not need to hasten the process through homesickness.”

“ Oh. “ They were quiet for a few minutes. “ What’s your home like?”

“ I live on the beach. I love the water. I would spend endless hours sailing in it, as a child.”

“ With your brother?”

” No. With a cousin. She and I had these little dingys and we used to sail them. She’s an excellent sailor. I would teach her how to sail every boat I received. She wound up besting me. To the point, where I almost regretted the instruction.”

” Don’t you miss the island for her sake?”

” She’s continuing her education. She has left home, and is now making her way in the world. But, I do miss her.”

“ Oh.”

“ We would ride our horses, up and down the beach, in races all the time.”

” So, your favorite place was the beach.”

” No. Actually, my favorite place was up, on bluff, overlooking the ocean. When, I was up there, I could see forever. I could see the possibilities of life. I could see hopes and even dreams. Do you have any dreams?”

“ Everyone has dreams. Without them, your heart would surely grow cold. Dreams are the only thing that keep someone sane, in an insane world.” He looks at Bobbie, who doesn’t seem to be talking to him. She seems as if she’s talking to herself.

” Why do I get the impression that you are not talking to me, and that I need not have even been here?”

” I don’t know. Well, what kind of fun do you want to have. It’s late, and the pier ‘s shops are all closed.”

He smiles. “ Well....”

“ Well, what?”

“ Why don’t we go swimming?”

” Swimming?”

” The ocean lit up by moonlight. It is an invigorating swim.”

“ But, we have no swimsuits.”

“ This is the one thing that puzzles me about Americans. You use sex to sell everything in this country, yet, the human body is something that must be covered. I routinely swim with no outfit.”

Bobbie smiles and teases, “ With your cousin?”

” Yes. There is nothing wrong with the human body.”

“ You’re right.” Bobbie proceeds to strip down .

” You want to?”

” The clothes are coming off. I’ll race you.”

They both get naked go for a swim in the ocean. They play around in the water, having races and just enjoying themselves. Eventually, Bobbie gets out, and he rushes after her.

” Is there anything wrong?”

“ No. I was just about to get a cramp, and I didn’t want to risk it.”, Bobbie says, as she puts her clothes on.

“ Oh. Fine. Well, I can take you home.”

“ Where are you staying?”

“ Me. In that hotel over there.” He points to a hotel on the pier.

” We could go there, unless you don’t want me too.”

“ No. We can go there.”

Bobbie and the artist go back to his hotel room.

” I am sorry that the accomodations are not better.”

” I’ve seen worse. Believe me. This isn’t bad at all.”

“ Are you cold?”

“ Just a little. “

He goes over to the bathroom. He comes out with his robe and a pajama top.

” Put these on.”, he says as he hands them to Bobbie.

Bobbie takes them and goes into the bathroom to change. When she returns, he’s in the pajama bottoms to the top, and sitting in bed reading. Bobbie is about to join him, when she notices that the other bed had been turned down for her. When he didn’t motion for her to join him, Bobbie goes over to the other bed, and gets in it. She looks over to him with a puzzled face.

” Is something the matter? Is something wrong with the bed?”

“ No. I was just wondering what you were reading?”

” It’s a magazine called ‘The Economist’. Each time I call home, either my brother or father quiz me on the happenings of the week’s issue.”

“ You get quizzed ?”

“ Yes....Did you enjoy today? I did. I cannot remember when I have had such an enjoyable time.”

” I’m glad you like my company.”

” I do. What will we do tomorrow?”

” I don’t know. But, let’s have fun. Goodnight.”

“ Goodnight.”