"Happy Ending"

I've only recently realized that not all people have conversations with strangers on a regular basis. I end up in conversations with people I don't know all the time. Maybe not every day, but it's usually multiple times a week.

Every once in a while I find myself in a weird situation that I'm dying to get out of... like the day the the strange man on the bus tilted his container of red vines towards me and said, "Want some candy, little girl?" Ummmm, no thank you. Number one-- I like real Twizzlers and am a little insulted by your knock-offs. Number two-- that's creepy as hell, mister.

But normally, my random interactions are great. I really love meeting new people and getting a glimpse of someone else's story-- even if it's only for 5 minutes. I don't know what causes these impromptu exchanges of mine, but I hope they never stop.

I had one of my all-time favorites about 3o minutes ago (well, I anticipate that it will be an all-time favorite). I'm housesitting this week and took the dog on a walk. A ten-year old boy was outside of his house and said to me, "Nice poodle." I said thanks, and then he just kept chattin it up. He was awesome. First, he started asking me all about poodles and the possibility of a pink poodle. Then he showed me what was on the piece of paper in his hand: the first song he's ever written. Adorable.

The song was typed, and he pointed out that he had used Times New Roman font (because it's the easiest to read, he explained). He even had guy/girl parts distinguished. It was called "Happy Ending" and was about him rescuing his princess. I made it about 3/4 of the way through reading the lyrics before he took the paper and started singing it for me so I could get the full effect. I felt a little uncomfortable (read: illegal) to have a 10 year-old boy singing me a love song he had written, but I went with it anyway.

The gist of the song was him falling in love with a girl who was his "princess." Then she gets taken away (tragic!), so he weeps. Then he takes up his weapons to fight for her (somebody call John and Stasi Eldridge... this number has Wild at Heart written all over it). Finally, he rescues her and they have their "Happy Ending." (Are you tearing up yet?) What a little romantic!

I hope this kid is famous someday so I can say, "Oh yeah, I knew about him long before he made it big," (because that's what cool people say). I love strange stranger conversations!