On a morning like any other, I got my freshly brewed coffee and walked outside to the porch where the newspaper delivery boy had just delivered the daily paper. I picked it up, the warmth of the freshly printed paper was warming to the heart, I sat down on the old porch swing and as I began to drink, a headline caught my eye. “Man, Theodor Peet is claimed as the ‘strangest man alive’. Why will shock you.” The newspaper read, now I am the only Theodor Peet in this little town, so why is my name in the paper? As I read more it only made less sense, “Man, Theodor J. Peet aged 68 has been named the strangest man alive because he talks to animals.” “Talk to animals?” Chuckling, I sat my coffee down on the side table, “He has been seen talking to rabbits, cats, dogs, and yes, even squirrels!” The paper read, talk to squirrels? I thought laughing.

The next day the paper sat on the porch in its usual spot. As I picked it up, I was excited to see if another headline about me showed up, and there it was ok the front page, “Man, Theodore J. Peet talks to animals at the Zoo!” The newspaper read, I began wheezing, been to the zoo? I thought, never in my life had I been there. As I read on it only got better: “Seen talk to the elephant ‘Josh’ and to the lion ‘Alex’!” “Wow, the paper says a lot of crazy stuff,” I muttered as I read,

The next day after that was Saturday, I got my paper and yet again, there was another headline about me. “Man, Theodore J. Peet, talks to a baby cat!” Now this one was interesting, I didn’t even own a cat. “Now this may seem like an adorable story, but the cat got mad at whatever he may have said and walked away.” What is this, I though laughing. “Truly hilarious” I said wheezing.

Now today is Sunday, and today my friends came and visited me, so I sat down and excitedly read the paper, but there was no headlines about me. “Strange,” I muttered, but shrugged it off, at least I got a few days of being in the spotlight. “Theo!” Kat yelled from the bottom of the porch, “Hey Theo!” Alex and Josh said in unison. “Oh hello, would you guys like to have a picnic today?” I said, they all nodded, I got the picnic supplies and walked away with them. As we approached the park we got strange looks, as we ate our lunch a little boy came up to us and just stared for a moment, “Sir?” He asked, “ why do you have a cat, lion, and a elephant?” He asked. “Huh? What do you mean?”

Wow, laying in the middle of a street, crying, waiting for something to end me. Why? Just because of a boy? As I laid there waiting, all my thoughts of him came to my brain. The good, the bad, the up’s, the down’s. All of it. I just want it to end. “Well nothings happening… so I might as well look at the place where my final breaths will be.” A sigh escaped me, and I looked around a little bit. When something catches my eye, a utility pole with a… flyer on it. I stand up and walk over to the flyer, almost as if I was spellbound by it. “Down on your luck? Call us for a free fortune!” The flyer read. “A free fortune?” I muttered, “I might as well as I wait..” I looked back, still no cars… sighing I typed the number into my phone and waiting while it rang, and rang, and rang. “Welcome, darling, something tells me your calling for the free fortune, no?” Well anyone could’ve guessed that, I thought. “Yes,” The woman on the phone went silent for a moment, “What is your name son?” A shiver went down my spine, “Alex Thorn.” “Alex…” She said ominously, “Do you like sweet or spicy?” “Um. Sweet, I guess… What does that have to do with this?” “Just making small talk.” She said gleefully. She went silent for a minute and something told me I should be silent too. Nearing the end of the minute my ears began to ring and my head began to throb. But that’s normal. “Alex. Listen to me closely. You are in a lot of danger. You should be safe as long as your never on Maple Street at night alone.” She said, I looked up at to where the street sign is, “Maple Street…” I muttered, all I could hear was heavy breathing. From me? From the woman? No…… Slowly I turned my head, not knowing what would be behind me… “Aahhhhhhhhhh!” I screamed, “Oh, just a chipmunk…” I muttered, “Alex are you alright, dear?” Suddenly, something from the darkness covered my mouth. My eyes widened from fear and shock, clearly this couldn’t be the chipmunk again… The throbbing came back and so did the ringing too, then all went black. All I could hear was the woman on the phone, laughing.

I think I just met the happiest person in the world. Thats something you hear everyday I know, but let me explain. In the mid of summer break on a particularly hot day, I was enjoying a delicious ice cream on a bench near my school. Admiring how it was closed from summer break, when a man walked over and sat himself down beside me. “Sir?” I asked him, “are you okay?” A soft smile appeared on his face, staring at something in the distance. I followed his eyes to a single rose sitting, being scorched by the heat. “I’m doing lovely,” Is all he said as he continued to focus his attention on the rose. “My, oh my, it is a beautiful day.” He turned to face me, “Y-yeah..” Wow he seems really happy.. I thought. “Sir, what has gotten you so happy?” Almost immediately I regretted asking him that, his smile widened and he studied my face for a few moments. “Why wouldn’t I be happy? I am married to the love of my life, we have a beautiful child and another on the way.“ He looked back at the rose, that’s all he is happy about? Really? I thought. “Is that all why your happy?” I asked, he looked back at me and smiled, “Well I met you, didn’t I young man? And I got to enjoy this beautiful day.” He looked up and stared at the sky, “I love the sky.” Is all he said. He looked over at my confused face and chuckled, “I mean, the sky is so beautiful, all of nature, with every look, angle, new piece of information, all of that makes you see something differently.” Glancing at the sky for a moment, I saw all the clouds every second changing, becoming more beautiful as time went on. Wow, this man has an effect on people. “It really is beautiful,” I smiled. The man’s phone went off and a text message from “love of my life” flashed on the screen, now that must be a clear indication it’s from his wife. Smiling at his phone, he said, “I’m sorry I have to go, my wife misses me.” He chuckled. He stood up and walked over to the rose he had stared at for a long time, pulled out a water bottle and watered the rose. The man looked back at me once more and smiled, “Have a good day young man!” He yelled as he walked off, grinning happily. And I sat there feeling as though I had just met the happiest person in the world.

I talked to you not even five minutes ago I can never stop thinking of you And I know each day my love will continue to grow Everywhere I look I see you. When I heard read this prompt I immediately thought of you, I didn’t need a moment to think of what would be if you never walked through my life, Because I never want to think of that is why I think of it too much. I am writing this not for the ones who read this, Not for me, I’d never want to mislead you on this, So I’ll say it flat out, Life without you, wouldn’t be life, because you are my life. My one, my only, my entire everything.

A dash of hope A whisker of despair A pinch of happiness A drop of care Bitter tears from an old soul Love from a love so pure Hardships from one who’s been through much Childishness from one immature Now repeat after me; Hope, despair, happiness, and care, Bitter tears, pure love, hardships of one, and an too immature. In this cauldron I create A love potion