Annabel,

Today Lucy and I agreed to meet at the park. I greeted her with a hug. She probably thinks I hug people all the time, because a normal boy wouldn't hug a girl so early in a relationship. But, I don't hug people often. I just really like hugging Lucy.

"How are you feeling?" she asked.

"I'm feeling better."

I told her about my conversation with Mariah. Lucy looked sympathetic and put her hand on my shoulder.

"You sure you're okay?" she asked.

"Yes. You've helped a lot. More than you can imagine."

Lucy smiled. "I'm glad."

Lucy really is pretty. Did I mention that? I didn't really notice at first because you, Annabel, were my definition of pretty, with your blue eyes and long blonde hair. Lucy is pretty in her own way, with short brown hair and lightly tanned skin. Her eyes are really big and brown. She's like the opposite of you, and I still like her. I guess types of people don't matter, do they?

Lucy and I talked for a really long time. I found out she has an older brother who is married with kids. I told her how I have no siblings, and I sometimes feel like I'm growing up alone. I didn't hold anything back from her, just like I never held anything back from you, Annabel. I think Lucy appreciates it more than you ever did.

Lucy and I wandered over to the duck pond and she taught me to skip rocks. She told me she used to live near a lake, and she learned how to skip rocks from her grandpa.

She helped me to pick out the best stones, the flat ones. She placed one in my hand and showed me how to hold it. She adjusted my fingers and the angle of my hand and then guided my arm back.

"Okay, now you're just going to guide your arm forward, quickly, and let the rock go. Like this." She demonstrated a perfect toss, and her rock skipped seven times.

"Wow," I said. I tried mimicking her, but my rock only made a plopping sound and sank to the bottom.

Lucy laughed. "It takes practice."

I think we were there, skipping rocks, for hours. At one point she hopped onto a rock sticking out of the pond, and I was sure she'd fall in. But she didn't. I think Lucy has a bit of a wild side.

All the while we talked, and I forgot about you a little more, Annabel.

Ian