Wednesday night

Simone was slightly startled by the familiar 'ping' that indicated she had a new e mail message.  Sitting at the desk in her room, she was in the throes of grading papers.  Grateful for the momentary distraction, she turned to look at her open lap top and absently hit the button to open the message.  Stretching in her chair and adjusting her eyes to the screen, she puzzled over both the address (which she didn't recognize) '…ALS@gmail.com' … and the subject which simply said  from you know who.  Her eyes rolled down to the body of text and she read to herself…  

'But … who…'  she began to wonder but then suddenly stopped wondering as the sender could only be  '…Annabelle.'   It had to be from Annabelle… but what did it mean?  Pondering for a moment, but realizing that it wasn't safe to reply without knowing for sure that it was Annabelle, Simone reigned in her curiosity and returned to her work.

A mere five minutes later, the 'ping' sounded again.  Less startled this time as she was not so deeply engrossed in her task — distracted from the first cryptic message, Simone shifted her full attention to her computer and quickly clicked on the newly sent message.

'O.K, Annabelle…'  she mused to herself  "what are you up to?"  she wondered aloud.  Her interest high and her spirits rising to meet it, Simone laughed at herself for feeling just a little bit like a giddy school girl who is the object of a crush.  Now struggling to muster any enthusiasm for the task at hand, she tried her best school teacher voice on herself…  "Focus Bradley, you're almost done."   Half – heartedly finishing the two remaining papers, Simone's discipline was rewarded  five minutes later, with another 'ping.'  Pulling her laptop front and center so quickly that she surprised even herself.

Simone was pleased to be able to give her full attention to considering what Annabelle was trying to say or do,  not even caring that she really couldn't figure it out.  She just enjoyed having something like this to wonder about.  When was the last time anyone had sent her secret messages, made romantic overtures?  It had been years because Michael just wasn't the type.  Not since Amanda had done that sort of thing and even then, it wasn't like this clever messages offered in portions to create suspense — so much effort.   Simone now roughly had the all the composure of a twelve year old girl.  And giggling to herself a little, she was inwardly delighted about it.  This was the way to Simone's heart.  And Annabelle knew it.