"Darling, I'm sure you will! You are a very beautiful young woman. You're also very intellegent, and quite considerate. I think that practically all of the young men of New York would die just to court you, or even just to meet you!" Her mother tried to console her daughter.

"But Mother, I don't care how many of them want me! I just want to find one man that I want. Just one! And I haven't met anybody like that yet." Callie's heart ached as she spoke.

"What about Dereck McFields? I thought you had a small crush on him?"

"I did. I don't anymore. He's just another rich goon. He only cares about money and power. I don't think he even knows what the word 'love' means." She sighed aloud.

"Don't worry, honey. You'll find somebody sooner or later."

"But what if I don't? You'll have an old maid for a daughter! I'll join a convent, that's what I'll do. If I am not married by the time I turn twenty, I'm going to become a nun! That's at least more respectable than being an old maid." Callie felt a tear trickle down her cheek, and she didn't try to brush it away.

"Honey, you don't need to do that! Your father and I will love you no matter who you are, or what you do! You know that! Now wipe away your tears, and we can walk home. I'm sure Missy has dinner all ready for us by now." Callie nodded and obeyed.

"Race, ya cleaned me out! I gotta quit." Mush stated, grumbling at his loss.

"Yah, me too. I only got five cents left for t'morrow mornin', an' I can't get too many papes fer dat, now can I?" Jack said.

"I'm out, too." Kid Blink sighed. He didn't really like playing poker, he never won, but he played it because he didn't have anything else to do.

"C'mom guys! Givin' up so oyly?" Race was still gloating as he counted up the money each person owed him.

Mush and Jack left the table, and went to do other things. Blink just sat in his chair, thinking about how sad his life was.

"Race, have you ever wondered what's gonna happen to ya when ya gotta stop bein' a newsie? I mean, are you gonna settle down? Have kids?" Blink seemed especially despondent as he attempted to talk with one of his best friends.

"Yah, showah I do. Dat's why I'm gonna ask Julia to marry me." Racetrack grinned as he mentioned Julia's name.

"What? Not you, too! Foyst we lost Specs, on account a him marryin' Kellie, an' now you's gonna propose ta Julia?" Kid Blink was surprised at the new information.

"Yah. I mean, we love eachudda, an' I know dat we'll be happy togetha, so I'm gonna ask her on Saturday. I even got 'er a ring, an' ev'ryt'ing!¡± Race's face was glowing.

"Well, good luck den, buddy. But I sure is gonna miss ya 'round 'ere!" Blink meant it.

"T'anks, Blink. But now, I gotta get down ta da tracks. I need ta be able ta pay back da loan on da ring! I gotta hot tip, an' I know I ain't gonna lose dis time!" Blink rolled his eyes. Race's "hot tips" usually turned out to be pretty cold.

As Blink watched Racetrack leave Tibby's, he couldn't help but think to himself. Dat's what I want for myself. Love. I'm practically da only newsie dat don't got a goyl right now. An' I'm already twenty! I betcha that Les will get hitched b'fore I do.

Blink had no sooner thought that thought, than a fourteen-year-old Les entered with a girl holding hands. Blink sighed, and left Tibby's in search of better things. Or at least in search of something besides sitting in a restaraunt alone, sighing over lack of a love life.

Missy, the Monroe's young head cook, and a very good friend of the family, complied.

"Alright, I suppose that I don't have a choice, now do I? Well, you know the man I've been seeing for quite some time, Albert. Well, he proposed to me this morning, and I accepted!" Missy was expecting a squeal of delight from her friend, but instead, Callie ran away from the table and upstairs into her room, tears streaming down her face.

"What is that all about, Marie?" The Mayor asked, questioning his daughter's odd behavior.

"Oh, she probably just will miss Missy quite a bit. I'll go talk to her. Excuse me." Marie knew why her daughter was really upset, but she didn't want to reveal that to her husband, or to Missy.

"Honey, I know that Missy's news upsets you. You know that these things are going to happen. It'll be your turn soon enough. For now, just try to act happy for her." Marie pleaded.

"I know, I'm sorry. It's just that, well, I am really beginning to get sick of weddings and engagements, because they are not for me! Plus, I don't want Missy to leave. She's a really good friend to me, and if she leaves, I don't think I could stand it!" Another tear dripped down Callie's cheek.

"Wipe that away. Let's go down to dinner now. At least pretend to be happy, for Missy's sake.¡± Callie nodded, and the two of them walked down to the dinner table, where an anxious mayor and cook awaited.

"Stupid can! I bet you neva had ta worry about anyt'ing!" He yelled at the inanimate can, which obviously didn't answer back.

"Woah, woah, woah! What d'ya mean it neva had ta worry 'bout nuttin'? It's just a dang can! What's up wid you?" The familiar voice of Jack Kelly spoke behind Blink's back.

Blink promptly turned around.

"Nuttin's da matta wid me! I's just a little steamed, dat's all." He tried to shrugg it off.

"No, you ain't gonna yell at a..a...well, somethin' dat ain't alive, unless you's real ticked." Jack was persistant.

"I ain't really ticked off dat bad. I jus' was gettin' my frustration out. No big deal!" Blink spit on the sidewalk.

"Okay, if yer sure........"

"Uh, Jack, didja hear dat Race is gonna pop da question ta Julia? He tol' me at Tibby's." Blink tried to sound as cheerful as possible.

"Dat's great! She'll say yes. I'm showah of it. Looks like he ain't gonna be da last ta marry like we t'ought!¡± Jack grinned.

"Nah, dat'll be me!" Blink mumbled, mostly to himself.

"Whaddya mean? All da goyls love ya! Dey t'ink dat you's got da best smile dat dey'd eva seen." Blink wondered how Jack knew all of this.

"Who said dat?" He asked, a little too eagerly.

"Me goyl. Katie said dat you've gotta nice smile, an' dat all a her friends t'ink dat you is real hot! Dey saw a pichur of all a us." He answered frankly.

"Wow. Well, I still say I'll be da last ta marry. I ain't even got a goyl right now! I'm practically da only one!" He sighed, remembering his singleness.

"No ya ain't, Les ain't got a goyl yet." Jack offered little help.

"Ya he does. I saw him walk in wid dat goyl, Amanda, on his arm at Tibby's."

"Neva t'ought dat our little Les could grow up so fast!" Jack pretended to cry.

"I know. He'll even be married before me!" Blink's mind could not change the subject.

"Yah, well, what is it?" Callie wasn't the most patient person in the world.

"Your father has wanted to find a way he can raise money for his campaign fund. You are trying to find a suitor that you like. I can kill two birds with one stone!" Marie had a mischevious twinkle in her eye.

"Come on, tell me how!" Callie was about ready to die of suspense.

"Okay, well, we can hold a raffle! You will be the prize! One winner each week. They can go out with you on a Saturday. You can end the contest if you find somebody that you really like."

"I'm not sure. What if the person is a real weirdo? I don't want anything to happen to me......." Callie was cut off by her mother.

"There can be a designated place where you have to go for your date. All expenses will be paid by us with the raffle money. We can have our coach be driven by Gerald, and he can take you both to and from the designated area. That way you will be near somebody who you can turn to if your date is a wreck."

"But will Father go along with this? I mean, I'm his only daughter, and he is strict about who I can court." She wasn't sure if she wanted to go along with it.

"I already talked with him. All we need is your consent."

"I suppose that I'm desperate. I might as well say yes." Callie smiled when her mother clasped her hands together in delight.

"Than it's settled. I can call the newspaper and have them print an ad. We can set up a booth to sell them at in Central Park. People will be buying tickets by the hundreds! We can sell them for a nickel a piece. You can start this Saturday."

"Whew! I'd showa like ta win dat! I can jus' picha' it now...." Mush's mind wandered off, as it did frequently when girls were involved.

"Aw, c'mon Mush, it ain't fer real. Any contest dat's too good ta be true, usually is." Blink firmly stated.

"What's da matta wid you? Your glasses are always half-empty, ain't dey? Can't a guy dream?" Mush's tone angered a little.

"Huh? I don't wea' glasses! You need some help, buddy!" Blink had absolutely no idea what Mush was talking about.

"You don't know nuttin'!" Mush said as he playfully slapped Blink upside the head. "I didn¡¯t mean glasses like Dutchy an' Specs wea', but glasses like ya drink from. If a glass was half way filled, to you it'd be half empty. To anotha guy, it might be half full. So what I'm sayin' is dat you is real pesa..pesse, pesta...you is real glum all da time!" Mush finished his statement trying to look really intellegent.

"No, I ain't! I'm just sayin' dat it's too good ta be true, dat's all!" It was Blink this time who slapped Mush backside the head.

"Whateva' ya say. I t'ink I'm gonna buy a ticket anyway." Mush snorted.

"It'll jus' be a wasta a nickel, dat's all I'm sayin'. But you can find dat out da hard way." Blink dropped the subject.

"Hey, hey, hey! World employees this side of the gate only!" Weasel smugly bellowed out.

"Aw, shut up!" Said a chorus of boys in unison, as they all marched out of the area.

"Mayors daughter bein' sold off!" Blink improved the truth, but not much.

Five men bought papers, and Blink continued to do his selling.

When he had sold his last one, a thought crossed his mind.

Maybe I should go buy a raffle ticket. I mean, it's only a nickel, an' if I won......

"Mum, when are we going to draw the winner of the raffle? I'm getting a strange anxiety over this whole thing." Callie's stomache was, in fact, churning inside of her.

"Friday, which is tomorrow. We'll announce it in Saturday's paper. It'll give the man, whoever he is, some time time to prepare." Marie smiled at her daughter's apprehension.

"I'm not sure if I can wait that long!" She felt as if she was going to bust open at the seams from the suspense.

"Darling, it is just a date. You needn't worry about it so much!"

"I know, but what if this is the one? I mean, my soulmate could have bought one of those tickets. What if he isn't chosen? I may end up with the wrong person!" She sighed out of desperation.

"If your soulmate is in the bin of ticket buyers, well, then I'm sure that the Good Lord will guide your father's hand to pick him out." She tried to sooth her daughter¡¯s worried heart.

"I suppose so." She wasn't so sure.

"Ya won't. An' even if ya did, what would Cassie say? I mean, I don't t'ink dat yer goyl is goin' ta be too happy if she finds out dat you has got a date wid da prettiest goyl in town!" Blink remained in his "nobody will ever win this thing" mode.

"Aw, she would know it was just in good fun. B'sides, I've seen her look at udda boys b'fore." Mush didn't really think he was going to win, but it was fun getting Blink all defensive.

"Showah she would...I betcha she's even give ya a bottle a champagne for yer date!" Jack added, laughing heartily. Just then, Racetrack entered the scene, his face radiant.

"Hey fellas, what are ya doin' in two months?" He asked, to their odd expressions.

"How should we know?" Snitch spoke up.

"Well, jus' don't plan on anyt'ing, okay?" He commanded, to their even more confused expressions.

"Cause me an' Julia is gettin' hitched!" He added boastfully. That got him a bunch of "way ta go's" and pats on the back.

"An' you, Blink, is gonna be me best man. Ya still remember you, me, an' Mush's deal we made when we was younga', dontcha?"

Blink did. They were probably about fourteen when the three best best friends had made a pact about who would be the best man at each wedding.

Blink was to be the best man for Racetrack, Mush was to be for Blink¡¯s, and Racetrack was to be for Mush. He had forgotten all about the pact until Race had just mentioned it.

"Showah do, bud. But, Mush, ya might neva' get da chance ta be a best man if my love life keeps on headin' in da direction it's goin'!" Blink smiled.

"Aw, dat ain't true." He routinely smacked Blink upside the head.

"Hey guys, we had betta be gettin' our papes while we still can!" Snitch broke up the "party". Everybody soon had bought their papers from Mr. Weisel.

It wasn't too long before somebody blurted out the good news.

"Hey Blink, I t'ought you said dat nobody would win da raffle!" Mush grinned deviously as he slapped Blink on the back.

"I did." He stated matter-of-factly.

"Well ya proved yaself wrong. Look on da next page." He demanded.

Blink had no idea what Mush was gloating about, but he turned to the next page anyway. He nearly passed out when he read the announcement that was printed in bold type.

"Wow. Looks like I got meself a date t'night!" He exclaimed proudly.

"Maybe I'll get to be best man soona den we t'ought." Mush chuckled.

"Uh oh!" Blink suddenly declared.

"What?" Several newsies queried, wondering what he could think to be wrong when he had a date with the most beautiful woman in New York.

"I ain't got nuttin' ta wear!" He said with a look of melodramatic horror.

"Shut up, man!" Mush blurted out, as he whacked Blink on the chest.

"Darling, you'll be fine. Who knows, he could be a nice boy." Her mother wasn't sure whether she was trying to convince her daughter, or herself.

"That's just it, what if he is just a boy? I mean, for all I know, he could be sixteen or seventy-six! I'll end up an old maid just yet! You'll see!" Her stomach was in knots, and the butterflies that filled it seemed to be having multiple seizures.

"It said in the advertisement that the person who entered must be at minimum eighteen years old. And he can't be more than forty..." Callie inturrupted.

"Forty?! Forty?! That's like Papa's age for God's sake!"

"Callie, watch your language. You shouldn't say the Lord's name in vain."

'I'm sorry. I'm just really nervous about this, I guess. I just hope this will all work out." She sighed heavily, trying to let some of the tension escape.

'I'm sure it will, sweetheart, I'm sure it will."

"I dunno, I mean, you don't want to spend too much money. A tux costs a lotta dough ta rent per night."

"Dis one is five bucks a night. I'm only rentin' it fer one night. I have some money saved up fer a special occasion, which I t'ink dis qualifies fer. Besides, dis is da maya's daughta¡¯! I gotta look sharp, er it's all ova fer me." He winked at himself in the mirror and grinned.

"Yer a little cocky fer a street guy dat's goin' out wid a rich goyl!" He joked as he slugged Blink lightly on the chest.

"No I ain't. I'm jus', well, makin' showah I look okay. I mean, if dis goes well, who knows? I could be da next...uh.....well, da next maya's daughta's husband!"

"Yer bein' a little too expectin'. Besides, what made ya go from 'nobody's eva gonna win' ta 'I'm gonna marry da maya's daugta'?" Race asked, lighting a cigar.

"Winnin' dat contest did. I figure, if I can win an impossible contest, den maybe I can marry 'er!" He examined himself in the mirror again.

"Ya know, I t'ink I'm gonna rent dis one. It's makes me look saphistocated." He said the last word slowly, making sure he got it right.

"Suit yer self!" Race chuckled, realizing his pun.

"Real funny, Race! Now let's get outta hea'. I got a date ta go on!"

"Uh, sir, I believe that they are waiting for you to get out and escort the young lady in." The driver spoke up. Blink was glad, because he had no clue what to do in such a different situation than he was used to.

"Thanks mista'."

He opened the door and stepped out. He was expecting some big time crowds to be surrounding the lovely lady he was to escort. But there was nobody on the dark street in front of the large house.

He advanced towards the front door, bouquet of flowers in hand. He knocked three times on the gold-plated door knocker.

"Yes?" A woman wearing a black dress opened the door.

"I am hea' ta pick up da maya's daughta' fer a date." He took a deep breath.

"Oh. Well, come in, then. She's still in the process of preparing herself." The kind woman explained, looking warily at Blink's patched eye.

"Oh, ya wanna know about dis? Well, I can't see outta it, so I cova it up, so dat eye don't wanda an' people won't stare." He had no idea why he was telling the stranger all of this.

"Oh." Was all that left the woman's lips.

After an akward moment of silence, a young woman elegantly strolled down the stairs and into the area where Blink and the woman were waiting. She looked startedly at the young man.

"Oh, hello." She said, a look of both pleasure and apprehension crossed her face.

"Hi. Yer Callie, right?" She nodded.

"Well, I'm yer date fer da night. So, dese are fer you." He handed her the flowers, she crinkled her nose.

"What's da madda? Ya don't like dem?" He asked, worriedly.

"No, it's just that I'm, a-a-a-CHO!" She sneezed the loudest sneeze Blink had ever heard.

"Oh, sorry. I wasn't thinkin'. I assumed dat ya wouldn't be alloigic." He apologized.

"Dat's okay. Missy, will you pleash take dese and put dem in a vash somewhere?" She said in a stuffed up voice. The woman nodded and took the flowers away.

"Okay, well, I guess dis is da part where I escort ya out inta da carriage." Blink smiled akwardly.

"Yes, I guess it is."

He walked over and linked arms with her. He led her out to the carriage and opened the door for her to get in.

"You're a real gentleman!" She exclaimed, with a startled expression.

"You were expectin' odderwise?"

"Well, I wasn't sure what to expect!" She admitted.

"Oh. Well, I hope dat I am betta den whatcha expected, den!" He honestly stated. She just smiled.

"Es..ess...es cargo? What da heck is dat?" He asked with a confused expression.

"Umm...why don't you order it and find out?" She giggled.

"Not when ya get dat look on yer face! Don't dey have hot dogs hea'?"

"No. They do have an excellent steak here, though."

"Are steaks French?"

"Not really, but they're sauted in a French sauce. You know, you are acting as if you have never been to a restaurant besides a bar!" She observed aloud.

"Uh, well, I really haven't. I mean, I go ta Tibby's mostly. An' dat isn't a real fancy restaurant er anyt'ing. I also eat at da lodgin' house. But I won't be able ta eat dere much longa, 'cause I'm gettin' too old ta be a newsie. I'm twenty, an' mostly everybody else dere is younga den me. Except fer Race an' Jack an' Mush. But Race is gettin' married, so he can't be one no more." He frowned at the last part.

"So you're a newsboy?" She asked, a little disgusted.

"Yep. You were expectin' maybe, some rich guy?" He asked, hurt in his voice.

"No. Although, that would have been nice." She didn't realize she said that out loud.

"I hope you realize dis suit cost five bucks ta rent! Dose flowers cost fifty cents! I'm spendin' a lot on dis date, so you had betta at least deal wid it!" He spat the words out. His pride had been crushed.

"Well, I can't leave the date. After all, you did spend a whole five cents on the raffle ticket!"

"Fine."

"Fine." She called a waiter to take the orders.

"I'll have da es cargo." He said angrily.

"And I'll have the steak au gratin. Rare, please. Merce, monsiour." She equaled his anger.

"Merce, madmoiselle." The waiter bowed and left to wait on other people.

"Well, I see you took my advice, and ordered the snails!" She laughed devilishly at his expression.

"I ordad da snails because I wanted ta. A poor orphan shouldn't take such a wealthy woman's advice." He mocked.

"Fine."

"Fine."

"And I assume dat you are goin' ta have dis contest next week, too?"

"Maybe I won't. If all of the entrants are like you, then why should I bother?" She gave him a dirty look.

"Don't den. I cointenly won't enta again!" He shot her an angry glance.

"Good! Maybe I will have it next week, then!"

"Ya know, I now know why such a pretty goyl as you ain't married yet. It's because yer a selfish, mean, snobby, little joyk!" He yelled loud enough for the entire restaurant to hear.

"And now I know why a handsome guy like you sunk so far down as to enter a stupid contest to win a date! Because you couldn't get one on your own! Your too, well, you're just a jerk!" She had the entire restaurant staring at them by this point.

"Oh, dat's real original!"

"Oh, so now you're the smart one!"

"Smarta' dan you!"

"You don't even have a real name!"

"Yes I do! And it's a lot better of a name dan Callie!"

"Oh, what is it? Jerky?"

"No! Why should I tell you what my real name is?!"

"Don't! You probably don't have one anyway!"

"I do too!"

"Don't!"

"Do too!"

"Don't too!"

"Awww, SHUT UP YOU IDIOTS!" A big man across the room walked over to the pair.

"No, we have every right to yell!" Callie screamed.

"There are a lot of other people in here, that don't want to hear you two imbeciles yelling at eachother!" He screamed back.

"And what are you doing?!¡± Blink yelled.

¡°That¡¯s it!" Thr man bellowed and lifted his fist. He brought it down hard, right into Blink's stomach, who doubled over in pain.

"Don't you hurt him!" Callie shrieked. She lifted her fist and weakly punched the man in the jaw.

"And what are you going to do about it, little lady?!" He laughed deviously, and shoved her into the table. She fell down in a heap.

"Hey! Don¡¯t hurt her! Don't you know who she is!" Blink was getting up, and seemed very angered.

"According to you, she's a selfish, mean, snobby little jerk!" The man mocked.

Blink mustered up all of his strength, and kicked the man in the, well, in a very painful place. Then he punched the groaning man in the stomache, knocking him out. The entire restaurant became silent as the two young people stood bleeding and bruised looking at the unconscious man.

"Take that, mista. Nobody hoyts a perdy lady an' gets away wid it!" He spat on the man's head.

"And nobody beats on Blink, even if he isn't rich!" Callie declared, and spat on the man, too.

"Thank you, Blink, for kicking his rear for me." Callie softly said, a blush creeping up on her face.

"Aww, it was nuttin'!" He boasted. Then he softened. "Thanks fer standin' up fer me." This time it was his face that turned a little reddish.

"Aww, it was nuttin'!" She laughed as she imitated his accent.

It was then that Blink looked around the room. The entire restaurant was gazing at them. Some with angry expressions, some with sappy expressions, and some with no expressions at all.

"I t'ink we have an audience, Callie." He whispered to her.

"Well, what are they waiting for? The show is over!" She whispered back.

"I t'ink dat dey wanna see a happy endin'." He smiled.

"Oh. And what would that happy ending be?"

"I t'ink dat dey want ta see us, um, maybe, uh, kiss and make up." He blushed as he mentioned this.

"Well, maybe, for show purposes only, we should give them a happy ending." It was her turn to turn a little crimson.

"Okay. On the count of three. One, two three!" They locked their lips together, and the entire room burst into hoots and cheers.

"I think that satisfied them!" Callie grinned.

"Yah, but, I t'ink dey want more."

"Well, then, let's give it to them!" They kissed again. More cheers.

At that moment, their waiter came out with their food.

"Pardon Moi, but would it be too much of an odd question if I asked what happened out here?" The waiter asked peculiarly.

"Nothing, there was just a little brawl. Nothing to worry about. Everybody is okay. It had a happy ending." Callie smiled.

"Here is your es cargo, monsiour. And here is your steak au gratin, madmoiselle." He bowed again, as the two stared at eachother.

"Well, enjoy your snails, 'monsiour'." Callie giggled.

"I will, but only if you eat one foyst!" She crinkled her nose.

"Alright. But only if you feed it to me."

"It's a deal. But one question, do ya take da little bodies outta da snails?"

"I think so. To be honest, I've never had them before."

"Looks like I'm not the only uncultchad one, den!"

"Very funny! Now hurry up with that snail, because I don't think that I can stand thinking about eating any longer!" She made a disgusted look, and Blink promptly stuck the snail in her open mouth.

She chewed it a little, and then her face broke out into a grin.

"You know what, it's not that bad!" He laughed at her comment, and kissed her on the cheek.

"I t'ink dat enterin' dat raffle was da best t'ing dat eva' happened ta me."

"Really? I thought winning it was!" She leaned over and kissed his forehead.

"Whateva'!"

"So Race, how's married life suitin' ya?" Blink asked Race while visiting him at his and Julia's apartment.

"Jus' fine. Betta' den fine. I love it. I love Julia. I really love it." He leaned back in his chair.

"Really? Dontcha miss us guys?" Blink pretended to be deeply hurt.

"Miss you? I see ya ev'ry day! An' Mush an' I always are visitin'! On account a his wife, Cassie, is goin' ta have a baby, an' I t'ink dat he is gettin' a little noyvous about it." He laughed. Mush as a father was a difficult thing to picture.

"Oh. Well, are you an' Julia goin' ta have any kids?"

"I dunno. It depends."

"Well, so ya really like bein' married?"

"Really." Race grinned.

"Well, 'cause I t'ink dat I'm goin' ta propose ta Callie." Blink said casually, raising his eyebrow as if expecting a comment.

"Hey, great buddy! Who woulda t'ought dat you'd have a chance ta propose ta da maya's daughta!"

"I wouldn't have. I'm jus' real noyvous. I mean, what if she says no? Our relationship would be ova! What if her pa says she can't? I mean, I ain't all dat well off." He admitted.

"No, but her pa's a nice guy. If she says yes, I'm showah he'll say yes, too."

"Okay. Well, I s'pose I'm meetin' her t'night at Central Park. I can ask her den." His voice had a nervous quiver to it.

At that moment, Julia opened the apartment door and entered. Her face was radiantly shining.

"Race! Race!" She yelled.

"What honey, what's wrong?" He asked, never having seen his wife like that before.

"Nothing's wrong, honey! Nothing at all! I couldn't be happier." She exclaimed.

Blink laughed. "I t'ink I know what's comin'."

"Julia? Are you...."

"I am! You, Race, are going to be a father!" She smiled widely.

"That's, that's, that's, I'm speechless!"

Race ran over to his wife and kissed her happily.

"I love you Race."

"I love you, Julia."

"And I love both of you. Would you consider adding a thoyd spouse to da family?" Blink burst out laughing.

Suddenly feeling very good about marriage, he decided he had better leave the two lovebirds to themselves.

"Well, I hate ta disappoint youse two, but I have ta go now. Wish me luck!"

"What? Why?" Julia asked.

¡°I'll tell ya lata, hon." Race ended any further questions that Julia might ask about Blink with a quick kiss.

"Of course, silly! I'm right here!"

"No, I mean, uh, somewheres, um, ya know, alone?" He asked.

"I guess..." Before she could finish her sentence, Blink grabbed her arm and pulled her away from the crowd.

"What's the hurry?" She asked, a little worried.

"Jus' come wid me. I'll tell ya when we get somewheres alone ta tawk." His voice was still shaking nervously.

"Nothing's wrong, is it? Cassie didn't lose her baby, did she?" She asked, concern seeping through her words.

"No, nothin's wrong. Jus' come wid me!" He instructed. He led her to a spot where he thought nobody would see them.

"Callie, before I start tawkin', I gotta tell ya dat I love you."

"Blink, I love you too..."She began, but was inturrupted.

"Um, well, then, wouldja, wouldja...wait, I'm not doin' dis right." He said frustrated with himself. He repositioned himself on one knee. Callie let out a little gasp.

"Callie, I love you wid all of my heart. An' I can't imagine my life widdout you in it. An' I know I ain't rich or nuttin', an' I know I ain't ezactly da smatest poyson ya've eva' known, but, well, I guess what I'm tryin' ta say is, Callie, will ya consida' bein' me wife?" He finished and closed his eyes, why, he wasn't sure.

"Blink?!" Callie cried out, surprised. Blink opened his eyes slowly.

"What? I didn't do it right, did I? I knew I wouldn't. Well, if ya neva' eva' wanna see me again, I undastand poifectly." He rambled on, but was quickly hushed by Callie throwing her arms around him.

"I can think of nobody else that I'd rather be married to. Yes, Blink, I'll marry you!" Tears of happiness were streaming down her face. Blink looked dazed.

"I love you, Callie."

"I love you, too."

They kissed eachother happily. But their kiss was inturrupted by loud noise coming from behind a tree nearby.

"Callie, what is dat?" Blink asked, still dazed.

"I don't know. Why don't we go see." She bravely suggested.

They advanced towards the tree, not knowing what to expect. Before they reached it, however, two filthy figures emerged from behind the large tree, guilt in their eyes.

"Les? Amanda?" Blink exclaimed, astonished.

"What are you doing here?" Callie asked.

"Um, well, I, uh, well, someone told me dat you was goin' ta be proposin' ta Callie tonight, an'..um...." Les stammered.

"Well, what he's trying to say is that we came because we wanted to see it. And then for some odd reason, he kissed me, and I kissed him back, but we fell down because I tripped on a rock." Amanda explained, glancing at the older couple, who were both at this point, trying to cover up their laughs.

"Um...I'm real sorry." Les sheepishly apologized.

"Yah, we didn't mean no harm." Amanda agreed.

"Jus' don't do it again." Blink ordered, still chuckling a little bit. He then put his arm around Callie's shoulder, and walked passed the two teens, who were staring akwardly at eachother. Neither of the females noticed Blink slap Les on the back approvingly.

Deer Race,

How are you doing? Me and Callie are jest fin. It is to bad that you and yore family had to moov away to Maine. How is little Joey? And how is Julia? When is the new baby supossed to be born?

Mush and Cassie miss you alot, to. Rachel is geting to be real big! And thare little baby Henry is real cute. He already has alot of curly hare like Mush!

I really like being marreed to Callie. And guess what? She is going to haf a baby! I can¡¯t beleev it! I just can¡¯t pichure me being a dad! I sorta hope it is a boy, but it don¡¯t really madder.

I like my job, too. Being the mayor¡¯s assistant is actcully perdy fun! Well, I miss you! You shoud come and visit us soon!