Shoot That Poison Arrow

I had a Large crush on Billy Viner when we were seniors. When he worked Friday nights at Revco, I would make Michelle and Spreaf ride with me to make a purchase there, usually Tic Tacs (the white or green kind: the orange ones are gross). I admitted this story to his wife, Barbara, when I met Billy's entire family for the first time last summer. She didn't beat me up because not only is she a lovely woman, but she is smart and charming too. And possibly nonviolent.

I am happy for Billy REALLY I AM AND I AM NOT JUST SAYING THAT.

Billy and Barb have five friendly and smart children. From left to right, they are Will, Brylee, Nani, Mykaylie, and Kaigan. We spent the afternoon at the Rainforest Cafe, and I got to sit next to Mykaylie on the end of the table closest to the tree-shaking gorillas. Brylee and I both ate pizza for lunch, and everyone shared a giant brownie sundae for dessert. I think I let the waiter refill Will's soda too many times (shhhh).

Nani and Kaigan sat at the other end of the table, but I got to talk to them both after the meal. In the gift shop, I pretended to bite Nani's fingers with a plastic animal head on a stick. Out in the sunshine, I asked Kaigan about the latest Harry Potter book. He was nearly done reading it even though it had been out only a few days.

I can't remember ever talking about books with Billy, even though we had English class together.