In honor of Valentine’s Day, which was 5 days ago, I know.

My Bitter Valentine

Jamie sat down on the school picnic table next to her friend Paige and asked the one question that started it all: “So what are you doing for Valentine’s Day?”

Paige scowled and gripped the pencil she was holding. “Screw Valentine’s Day!”

Jamie blushed. “Oh. Um, you see…”

Paige slammed her pencil down on her notebook. “I mean really, could there be a stupider holiday?”

Jamie twiddled her thumbs. “Well…”

Paige continued. “Come on, James, it’s the fakest thing ever! It’s the one day a year where candy companies take advantage of dumb couples who are willing to spend hundreds of dollars on cheap crap!”

“Well, not all—“

“Let’s look at the commercialism of it all.” At this point, Paige raised her voice. “I mean, really. All these department stores just have to decorate their aisles with fluffy pink and red decorations and aisle of ginormous teddy bears, and hang stupid signs that say something stupid along the lines of, ‘Oh, cherish your lover with a beautiful diamond necklace and Hallmark card!’ Puh-lease!”

Jamie silently sat and listened to her friend, feeling rather regretful for bringing up the topic at all. Oh, how she should have known better than to bring up such a "controversial" topic. Paige is always deadset on her beliefs. Nevertheless, Jamie listened to the ongoing rant.

“Oh, and don’t get me started on the inferiority of it all!” Paige breathed irritably. Jamie was about say something to that remark, but Paige got started on it anyway. “I mean, these couples feel the need to walk around the world showing off their teddy bears and their heart-shaped candy boxes, and smooching and snuggling while the rest of us ‘lonely people’ have to sit and watch their happy asses go by without us. I’m almost sure this so-called ‘holiday’ should be renamed Singletons Awareness Day! Because basically that’s all it is: ‘Hey, Mommy, look at that bitter single lady!’”

Jamie stared at her feet, nodding from time to time.

Paige took a deep breath, and proceeded.

“Even if I did have a boyfriend, it’s still a dumb holiday. I mean, why wait one day a year to show the person you love how much you care about them? It should be a year-round thing!”

Jamie lifted her eyes from her feet and looked at Paige straight in the eye. Her face was blank. Paige took no notice and continued.

“Oh, right, I can tell you I love you on one day of the year and the rest of the year I can just forget about it. Bull. Love should be shared all the time! Whoever thought otherwise should be shot!“

Finally, Paige inhaled some fresh air and exhaled the unclean air of her remaining hostility. This signaled that her complaint was finally complete and Jamie could speak her turn if she wanted to.

Jamie clicked her tongue, and almost hesitated to speak. After a few awkward minutes of silence, she said softly, “You’re right. Love should be a year-round thing.”

“Exactly,” said Paige.

Jamie stared off into the horizon, although at nothing in particular. At last, she calmly found the courage to say what was reeling in her mind.

“So why do we wait only one day a year to show love to our mothers?”

Paige stared at her cool and collected friend. What on Earth was she talking about?

Jamie continued, “I mean, if you think about it, Mother’s Day is kind of a strange holiday. Our moms do so much for us 24/7 and in return we act like typical moody kids. Only on that second Sunday of May do we give them thoughtful gifts and serve them breakfast in bed, and do the chores so that they don’t have to. But in the next 24 hours things are back to normal.”

Paige lifted one eyebrow. Jamie continued to stare in the distance. Suddenly, a strange smile crossed her face.

“Then again, what’s up with Christmas? Jesus was born so that a fat guy in a red suit could help sell products?” She giggled and shook her head. “And what about Thanksgiving? Why do we only collect canned foods for the homeless during that time of year? Are the homeless immune to hunger eleven months out of the year, and only come to feast in November?”

Jamie did not wait for a reply from her friend. Her face grew more puzzled and curious as thoughts processed in her mind.

“Oh yeah, Arbor Day! Can’t forget Arbor Day! Our planet is already worn and torn and that should be the day to plant a tree? What environmentalist made that up?”

“Better yet..." Jamie put a hand to her chin in exaggerated thought. “Why celebrate anyone’s birthdays? Are they only important on the day they were born and just plain nothing for the other 364 unbirthdays?”

Paige rolled her eyes and scoffed. What utter nonsense was Jamie babbling on about?!

Suddenly, Jamie jumped with a start, causing a chain reaction with Paige.

“Oh no! I don’t have a father! I can’t celebrate Father’s Day!” A look of hurt and sorrow replaced the innocent curiosity that was there just seconds before. “It’s only targeted to those with daddies, so I can’t even show my uncle and grandpa how much I love them! God, I hate the idiot who came up with that holiday!”

Paige studied the tears that formed in Jamie’s eyes. She sighed in a mixture of irritation and guilt, and tightly put an arm around her pal. She shook her head, but smiled a tiny smile as if to indicate that the message had been received.

As she received and returned the hug, Jamie’s heart swelled with joy and love for her dear friend. Then, she pulled a small chocolate rose from her purse and held it up to Paige.

“Be my valentine?” she asked sweetly.

Paige smiled and accepted the rose. “Sure thing, friend.”

THE END

A/N: Based on my own experiences. I’ll admit that I’m a defender of Valentine’s Day, and I act as a Jamie in real life. (I’m a singleton, by the way. ;-) Too many people say, “Why wait one day a year to show your love?” about Valentine’s Day, yet they NEVER apply that notion to other holidays when it could easily go other ways. Thus, this little oneshot was born.

Valentine’s Day is not just for couples. My friends and family are my valentines. :)