pg231

"C'mon, say something to me." Midori said with her face buried in my chest.

"Whaddya want me to say?"

"Anything. Something to make me feel good."

"You're really cute." I said.

"Midori," she said. "Say my name."

"You're really cute Midori," I corrected myself.

"Whaddya mean really cute?"

"So cute the mountains crumble and the oceans dry up."

Midori lifted her face and looked at me. "You have this special way with words."

"I can feel my heart softening when you say that," I said, smiling.

"Say something even nicer."

"I really like you, Midori. A lot."

"How much is a lot?"

"Like a spring bear," I said.

"A spring bear?" Midori looked up again. "What's that all about? A spring bear."

"You're walking through a field all by yourself one day in spring, and this sweet little bear cub with velvet fur and shiny little eyes comes walking along. He says to you, 'Hi, there, little lady. Want to tumble with me?' So you and the bear cub spend the whole day in each other's arms, tumbling down this clover-covered hill. Nice, huh?"

"Yeah. Really nice."

"That's how much I like you."

"That is the best thing I've ever heard," said Midori, cuddling up against my chest. "If you like me that much, you'll do anything I tell you to do right? You won't get mad, right?"

"No, of course I won't get mad."

"And you'll take care of me always and always."

"Of course I will," I said, stroking her short, soft boyish hair. "Don't worry, everything is going to be fine."