Caitlyn was bummed out over the news of Jason leaving for the summer. She sat on her bed writing Jason’s name over and over on the newspaper as she browsed the help wanted ads looking for a part-time summer job. Sami, Caitlyn’s good friend since the fifth grade propped herself up on her stomach as she swirled her feet in the air thumbing through Caitlyn’s yearbook on the floor.
Sami was a gossip-girl. She enjoyed stirring up trouble and being a social butterfly. She and Caitlyn grew up together in the same neighborhood just a few blocks apart. They were very close friends over the years and were both very popular in school. Sami was quite opposite of Caitlyn but they balanced each other out. She had a wild streak and loved to coerce Caitlyn into risky business at any chance. Sami poignantly read through all of Caitlyn’s personal yearbook salutations, good wishes and notes. Growing bored of the glowing remarks for Caitlyn, she abruptly closed the yearbook with a thump, and quickly jumped up onto the end of the bed, grabbing the newspaper from Caitlyn’s hands, browsing over it vigilantly, blurting out, “Oh, enough job searching, let me see that paper! You’ll certainly find something to keep yourself occupied this summer…but, why a job? Why not just find you a hobby or something? Let me take a look here... oh, I love the funnies!” Sami giggled and naturally began a deeper browse of the paper’s calendar of events section.
“Hey, how about this!” She shouted out loud. “The Coast Guard is having the Miss Coast Guard Pagent this month! That might be fun!”
“Oh brother, Sami, I don’t know about that.” Caitlyn sighed. She wished Jason was still in town. “It’s the summer of our senior year! This is supposed to be one of the best summers of our lives, filled with fun times, parties, boyfriends, you know!”
Caitlyn started to see the prospect as having some merit. She thought, I suppose it would be a good way to put to use all of those piano lessons… and, it would at least make my parents proud and happy to see me perform the piano again? And, I suppose scholarship money would be nice for both college and resume credit… hmmm…”
“Yes Cait!!! Oh goody!!! I can’t wait to go shopping for our outfits! Please don’t say no… please, please, please!!!” Sami always provided a very convincing argument on almost anything she wanted others to participate in with her.
“Okay, fine Sami,” Caitlyn hesitantly agreed… but, I’m going to have to practice my butt off this week on the piano for the talent part… but, for you… I’ll do it. Why not? But, this is your idea, and because of that, you’ve got to help me get ready… and there is no if – and – or buts about it… you have to sign up too!!!”
“Alright, can do! Not a problem!” Sami laughed and immediately began planning, “Step one, let’s go shopping! This will be fun!”
“Thanks Sami, you’re right, this will be fun.” Caitlyn smiled at her friend. She dubiously picked herself up off the bed and grabbed her purse, “Ready or not, let’s cruise girl that Coast Guard boat isn’t going to dock forever!”
Caitlyn graciously accepted the honor of being awarded the title of Miss Coast Guard U.S.A. She enjoyed the pageant experience, but now came the hard part. For a month she and Sami worked on interviewing, walking, performances and finding the perfect outfits for the pageant, but now after achieving the title, it was show time. She had a schedule a mile long for the next two weeks of activities she was responsible of attending at the national annual U.S. Coast Guard Festival. Appearances, dinner invitations, tours, performances, you name it… she was invited and expected to be a participant at them all. She was nervous about all of these requirements at first, but by the end of the week, she could not believe how fast the time flew by and how much fun she was actually having. The Coast Guard Festival’s events all proved to be a real joy and blessing for Caitlyn. Beside taking her mind off Jason; she was glad for the opportunity to meet so many people in the community, reunite with friends and families and meet others visiting from all around the country. The young girls, smiled and pointed at her as she passed by, often whispering to each other, “Look at her, she’s a princess!” followed with giggles and sweet laughter. Caitlyn was glad that she could bring a smile to peoples’ faces.
One of the highlight activities of the festival included the famous Coast Guard Parade. It was a two hour long parade filled with floats, Coast Guardsmen, Politicians, clowns and candy. As the Miss Coast Guard Festival float pulled into the finishing parking lot as the finale float of the Coast Guard Festival Parade, Caitlyn stepped down and made an immediate dash for the closest lemonade stand. She was parched, and was getting dizzy after sitting long hours in the heat of the afternoon sun. She immediately stepped up to the lemonade stand window and ordered up an extra large lemonade to go. Then in a panic, she realized she did not have any money with her. “Opps,” she shyly whispered and gave the clerk a squeamish shrug, “Sorry, I didn’t…” She smiled smugly and began to turn away in embarrassment.
“No worries,” someone said abruptly from behind, “I’ll get that! And I’ll have one too please.” It was Steven standing handsomely tall and formal in his Coast Guard Uniform.
Caitlyn turned around and was immediately taken back. He glowed in the sunlight. She’d never seen someone so beautiful. Then he smiled at her, and she was toast! She thought, “Oh my gosh! Who is that guy?” She was at a complete loss for words. For a moment she stopped breathing. “Oh my, perhaps it’s just the heat,” she looked away quickly thinking, “What an idiot I must look like to him.” She hesitantly turned back toward him and looked up again. “Hi, my … thank you, yes, thank you for the lemonade…so much...really.” She smiled shyly and sweetly at him.
He chuckled under his breath, “Well, it doesn’t appear as though that dress has many pockets?” She looked down thinking something was wrong with the dress. “Oh no, is it see through?” she thought in panic. Then she looked back up realizing he was making a joke. “Oh, yeah…she smiled at him. Um, I have to go…” she muffled as she starred at him. Their eyes didn’t move a twitch, and in what felt an hour, they smiled again at each other, turned, and parted ways. He looked back around hoping to catch another glimpse of her, but only saw the faint outline of her red dress flowing in the breeze of the crowd. He was smitten. He knew immediately that he had just met the love of his life.
As Caitlyn progressed down the midway back to the float, she recalled the young girls comments from earlier that day, and thought to herself how she now “really” did feel like a princess. And, much to her surprise, she hoped the fairytale wasn’t about to end anytime soon.
As Caitlyn progressed down the midway back to the float, she recalled the young girls comments from earlier that day, and thought to herself how she now “really” did feel like a princess. And, much to her surprise, she hoped the fairytale wasn’t about to end anytime soon.
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