Chapter 2
The sky was gloomy, typical of a foggy London afternoon. A solitary figure strolled along the sidewalk. Bert hummed to himself as he ambled toward the park with nothing particular on his mind. Today he was a juggler, and he fancied there were more customers to entertain at the park. Though, it wasn't exactly the kind of day to have an outing at the park. No, everyone should be indoors, cozy and warm before a blazing fire. But he was warm, he was thinking of her….
Her laugh, the warmth of her voice, her beautiful smile; everything about her was practically perfect. No, it was perfect. Too perfect. Bert sighed, of course she would never think of him in that way, she was much too pure, and he was a dirty street bum. Even if they had known each other since age ten. He suddenly smiled as he remembered their first meeting. It was on the rooftops, he went up to see the sunset and found a little girl in his favorite rooftop spot. She seemed so frightened when she saw him, but soon began chattering away about the strangest things, flying and magic and ridiculous things like that. He didn't believe a word of it, until she took him on a wonderful trip around the rooftops of London. Bert turned a corner into the park; it was probably then, he thought, that I fell in love with her. Oh but only from a distance, you see, for Bert was the most honorable of gentlemen. He respected the differences between them, for there were many. But those times they spent together were so happy. He felt so carefree and elated with her.
Like that outing in the chalk painting. She seemed different too, somehow. As they spun lazily together beneath that willow tree, it almost seemed to Bert that they were about to kiss. But no, it must have been wishful thinking on his part. For once again they said goodbye, and she went down her path and he down his.