Jane was finally able to get a moment alone with Joey. 'I have to tell you something really important Joey....When I fart, I think of you. Not just that. There's more really. Like last week when you didn't see me in school. The night before we went to El Loco Grande and I had the spicy burrito meal. Well I was sick all night and the next day. I was in the bathroom the whole time. It was horrible and very painful. My tummy was killing me. And….I…thought of you the whole time. Not just part of the time. All of the time. Even when I was wiping. I think I love you and want to have your babies. I want to become old people with you and have our teeth fall out together. I'm sure of it.' Joey looked at Jane with a hollow-gazed stare but said absolutely nothing. How could he respond to something like that? He'd heard of crushes before, but nothing like this. He wasn't prepared. So he did the only thing he could do: take four steps back and run like hell. Could you blame him? After all, that's a lot to drop on a third grader. email: [email protected] web: www.michaeloster.com