Daisy

McClellan was jogging down the street to the university the next morning. I was walking out to my car. I smiled at him.

"Hello Mr. McClellan." I called and waved. "How's everything."

He stopped. Looked a little surprised. Smiled politely.

"Oh, ah, everything's ah,...fine. Just...just fine..." He began to walk quickly, nervously down the street again.

"Uh, Mr. McClellan?"

"Yes?"

"I was...wondering. A little worried about, well..."

"What?" He said quickly, urgently.

"Oh, just. Well, you see, this van came up to your house. I mean it's always coming and-"

"Plant delivery." He said quickly, then smiled. It looked like a rather forced smile.

"Oh." I said, really quite impressed at his dedication to his flowers. I was also a little puzzled.

He smiled, nodded, and turned to go when I said. "I, ah...uh...noticed your greenhouse!" I squeaked, intensely curious.

He stopped dead in his tracks. He turned slowly.

He looked fearfully at me a little. That look...it was a look of terror, almost a warning look...

It frightened the daylights out of me, whatever it was...

He smiled, nodded slowly. "Y-yes...my...greenhouse...I like plants, you see...it's a sort of a...hobby for me..."

I smiled. "That's wonderful. Ahm... what...kind of plants are they?"

He laughed a little, akwardly.

"I-I mean, um...are they...for the university? Or...you know...like...Some kind of experiment, maybe?"

He smiled, genuinely this time, as if a little amused. "No...they are...merely for me."

I smiled, nodded. "Well...that's...nice." I said softly.

He grinned. "Thank you." He nodded to me as he said it. "Ah, have a nice day Miss ah..."

"Daisy." I finished for him. I put my hand forward. "Daisy Andrews."

He smiled, and slowly took my hand. He gently, but strongly shook it. "Nice to meet you Miss Andrews."

"Please, Daisy!"

"Daisy." He nodded and smiled, and with that, turned and began to walk away.

"Goodbye Mr. McClellan!" I called after him.

"Ah, Gaf-...Henry!" He called back.

"Henry!..." I stared, now even more curious and more puzzled. "Have a nice day Henry!"

He waved back, and then continued walking, strolling along.

I stared after him a while.

He had been about to say something else...

But what?