D Glenn Millar [Millar - Diana’s Leap

Thursday, February 9th, 1978

Lindsay Place High School, PointeClaire, Quebec, Canada.

It was the day after, and Diana was stillwalking on air as she and her friend Cathy disembarked from the bus and startedwalking toward the school.

So, tell me! Cathy implored.

She knew something was up with Diana. Her friendhad dropped enough hints on the bus ride to school, and there was somethingabout her this morning. Usually, it was all she could do to stay awake for thewhole bus trip. This morning she was practically giddy with whatever it was.

Diana glanced sideways at her friend and flashedher one of her coy little smiles. Then she looked toward the school as sheconjured up the events of the day before.

Well It was after schooland I was at my locker gathering up my stuff. I wanted to be sure I rememberedmy history book because you know we have that quiz today in second period

Diana. Whatever it is,I m sureit has nothing to do with school. Will you please get on with it?

Diana giggled at her friend. Nothing couldsuppress the effervescence of her mood. She felt drunk with delight at thisunexpected turn of events.

Okay. Okay. Like I said, I was at my locker getting my stuff. I hadmy bag packed and my coat on, and I had just pulled on my hat when I feltsomeone grab it from behind and snatch it off my head. I figured it was one ofthe juveniles from Grade 10 and I whipped around to try and grab it back.That`s when I saw who it was.

Who was it?

It was Danny Alexander.

No.

Yes. It was Danny Alexander.

The guy on the football team the cute one?

Yes. Danny Alexander.

That s unbelievable.

It s true.

Well, I know it strue, but it s unbelievable. He s so cute, and so I don t know sad. You never see himsmile. He s kind of scary, but in a, you know, sexy kindof way.

Yes. I know what you mean, and I think he s older. He s17, I think.

He is 17.

How do you know?

Garry MacAdam told me. He said they had tochange leagues for football this year because two of the boys were over age.Danny was one of them. You re only 15 Diana.

I m almost 16.

You re not 16 until June. That s not almost.

it s more than half, Diana countered.

Well anyway, Danny Alexanderis just about the last person in the world I would expect to steal your hat.

Me too.

They reached the frontsteps of the school and went in the main doors. Diana s locker was on the second floor and Cathy s was on the main, so they stopped at the footof the stairs in the foyer to finish their conversation.

So, then what happened?

Well, he was with his friend Rob Addie.

The redheaded, pimply-faced guy that plays onthe basketball team?

Yes. That s him. Well, I figuredthey were going to throw my hat back and forth and make me jump for it andstuff. But that s not what happened.

What happened?

Well, he just stood there holding my hat likehe was waiting for me to make a grab for it, so then, you know, he could snatchit away and stuff.

So, what did you do?

I made a grab for it. Only he didn t snatch it away. He let me grab it. So then,we were both standing there holding on to the hat like we were connected orsomething. You know, through the hat.

Uh-huh. Then what?

This is the most amazing part. I keep playingit over and over again in my head. It makes me feel like I m floating or something.

So, spill it, Diana. What was it?

Well, that was when our eyes met. You know howthey say the eyes are the windows to the soul. I totally believe it now,because it was like we were cosmically connected. It was just for a second,maybe not even, but it was like time stopped or something. Suddenly, Rob Addiewas gone, the school was gone, the whole world was gone. It was just him and meCathy, our souls inextricably entwined. And then he gave me this little smile,and I gave him a smile, and then I knew, Cathy. I knew he was the one. I lovehim.

God, Diana. Could you be any more dramatic?

No. It is dramatic. It s the most dramatic, wonderful, incrediblething that has ever happened to me in my whole life. I love Danny Alexander,and I think he loves me too.

Are you sure about that, Diana? I mean, maybehe was just horsing around. It s not like a lot of guyshave shown much interest before this.

What are you saying?

Cathy regarded her youngfriend critically. It was true she had a pretty face, and she had beautiful,long brown hair that fell all the way down to the small of her back. But herbody had been slow to develop, especially in the bust area, and if there wasone thing Cathy knew for sure, despite her own limited experience, it was thathigh school boys had a keen appreciation for a well-developed bust. If anyone hada shot at Danny Alexander, it would be her, Cathy, not Diana.