Still humming “Valley Winter Song,” Paul dropped his bookbag on the table and puttered around the kitchen looking for a snack. I didn’t pack near enough in my lunch this morning, he reflected while pawing about the pantry looking for crackers or cookies or something of the like. I have to remember to change the battery in my alarm clock. “Ah-hah!” he said out loud, taking hold of a package of chocolate chip cookies. “This is what I need,” he said smiling, pulling out three cookies. He took a bite out of one, chewed, paused, and took out another one, smiling appreciatively.

For a few moments, the only noise in the house was Paul eating his cookies. But the peaceful near-silence was broken by the ringing of the kitchen phone. Paul swallowed the remnants of his third cookie and answered the phone.

“Hello?”

“Paul?” a girl asked.

“Oui, c’est moi.”

“Not the French again, Paul, you know I don’t speak it.”

“You must know enough of it to know it’s French,” Paul said, with a small smile starting to blossom on his face. It was her. “Besides, Nina dear, French is a Romance language.”

“Cool your shorts, Lesison. You aren’t that gorgeous.”

“But that means I’m gorgeous, right?”

“Men are pigs,” Nina said. He could hear her sighing.

“So you’re passionately in love with a gorgeous pig?”

Nina laughed. He thought to himself, It’s like the stars singing when she so much as chuckles. Then he slapped himself. “Yes, Paul. I’m passionately in love with a gorgeous pig.”

“Glad to hear it.”

“I thought you would be.”

They paused. Saying that always made the conversation die. “Did that freshman keep trying to touch your butt again on the bus?”

“No. I slapped him before he got the chance.”

It was Paul’s turn to laugh. “That’s my girl.”

“I’m not yours, you--”

“Gorgeous pig?” Paul suggested. She giggled again. “I could be yours if you wanted me to.”

“I thought you already were.”

“I guess you’re right,” Paul gave in. “You can have me if you want.”

“Or I could sell you.”

“You wouldn’t make much of a profit, love.”

Nina sighed again. “Oh Paul, I don’t know why I put up with you. Well, yes I do. But you need to stop saying that kind of thing. It doesn’t endear you to anyone.”

“Nina, if I had tried being endearing, you probably would have noticed.”

“Relax, man,” Nina said. “I don’t want to fight…please? I’m making my adorable puppy face.” She whimpered.

“Oh fine,” Paul said, smiling again. “If that’s what you really want…”

“Oh Paul, you know it’s what I want.” He could almost see her winking and stifling another laugh.

“I think you should cool your shorts now, Nina love.”

“Ha,” she said humorlessly. “I have to go write that English paper.”

“The one that was due two days ago?”

“Was it really?”

“Yes, actually.”

“Oh well. That’s just as well. Talk to you later, kay? Mwah.”

“Bye, dearest,” Paul said, and hung up the phone. He picked up his last cookie, bit off half of it, and then opened the fridge and poured himself a glass of milk. You can’t have milk without cookies, he thought. Just like you can’t have Paul without Nina.