Cy Eliott

Cindy was the most beautiful woman in town. If you asked Mike Eliott, she was the most beautiful woman in the world. The day that they were married was the most magical in all human history. Imagin riding off into the sunset on a carriage drawn by 7 white horses, honeymooning on a tropical island, and sleeping on a beach.

Back home, they converted an old lighthouse into a bed and breakfast, business that would allow them to spend more time together. As time went on and the business flourished, it also allowed more time to spend with Cy, their brand-new baby boy. A more loving family has never existed.

Tragedy struck a few days before Cy’s 3rd birthday. Mike went to the grocery store after Cindy asked for some cheesecake. Only 2 blocks away, he decided to walk. After 30 minutes Mike had yet to return. Cindy called him with no answer. Then there was a knock at the door.

Officer 1: “Hello Ma’am. We’re sorry to disturb you, but we’re looking for Cindy Eliott.”

Cindy: “I’m her. What’s wrong?”

Officer 2: “Are you related to a Mike Eliott?”

Cindy: “That’s my husband. What’s wrong?”

Officer 1: “I think you need to come with us.”

Mike was crossing the street as he was returning home. As soon as he stepped onto the road, a speeding car turned the corner and ran right into him. The driver, running from the police, never saw him. Neither did the 3 police officers chasing after him.

The death of Mike hit Cindy hard. She felt it was her fault since she was the one who asked him to go to the store. It took her a while to get over it. Cy would now grow up without a father. This also made it hard for her to forgive herself. Cindy was determined to draw close to her son. He would always have his mother in his life. As he grew older, she refused to put him in a normal public school. Online schools became the best way to always have him with her. Once in a while, she did have to take a business trip and leave him with the maid. But this was rare, and far in between. When she did go, she’d only be gone a few days.

Cy enjoyed his life. He was able to make a few friends. Although most of his online classmates lived in many areas throughout the country, 2 of them lived close enough to meet in person. Joe lived just 2 blocks away. Greg lived in the same neighborhood, but a little further. Pedro lived in Brazil, but they became great pen pals.

When he was 8 years old, Cindy went on another business trip. She was gone for an entire week this time. She returned with startling news. She had gotten married. Ben moved in with his 2 sons, Jack and Mark. The 3 of them seemed to be very nice and well mannered. At least when Cindy was around. Cy could detect a hint of phoniness in them. He tried to warn his mother about this, but he didn’t want to ruin her happiness. With her working from home most of the time, he couldn’t see any problem with it.

Cindy had a chance to expand her business. She promised that it would only be for 2 days. She told him to use this time to get closer to his new brothers and father. He pleaded with her not to leave, but she was already contractually committed. Once she was gone, his new family gave him the cold shoulder.

Cy watched all day for his mother to return. Jack and Mark would make fun of him. They called him Momma’s Boy, Baby, and other names designed to put him down. When a car pulled into the driveway, he ran outside to greet his mother. But it wasn’t her.

Officer 1: Hello, I’m looking for Ben Nettles.

Ben: I’m Mr. Nettles. How can I help you.

Officer 2: Do you know Cindy Eliott-Nettles.

Cindy died in a car crash about the same spot that Mike died. The light turned green, and she crossed the intersection, but the 10-ton truck didn’t stop. Cindy was pronounced dead on the scene.

The main house had 10 bedrooms. In the beginning, Mike and Cindy shared a room and when Cy was old enough, he got his own room. This left 8 rooms for guests. When Ben moved in with his 2 sons, a large room was given to the boys since it was 2 of them. This still left 7 rooms for guests.

After Cindy died, everything changed. Ben ran the restaurant to the ground. He moved Cy out of the main house and into the lighthouse so that they could have another room for guests. In reality, he wanted his 2 sons to have their own rooms. They got the 2 large bedrooms. They were for guests paying more money. But Ben was never money conscious.

The lighthouse had 4 rooms for workers on the main floor and a large storage area on the 3rd floor. He tried to make it sound like a good thing since the space was much larger than his old bedroom. It was not as insulated as the main house. So, in the winter, the room was cold and hot in the summer.

Every idea Ben came up with to save money was at Cy’s expense. He was taken out of his online school and put in public school. He was also made to do extra chores around the house. He was treated more like a servent than a son, or even stepson. This is how Cy grew up. Working as a servent to Ben and his 2 brats.

9 years had passed, and Cy was a Senior in high school. At the top of his class, there were a number of prestigious universities inviting Cy to attend their schools. Jack and Mark, on the other hand, being at the bottom of the class, were in danger of not graduating. Cy was never the type to rub his intelligence, or their lack of, in their faces, but they had been jealous of him since day one. This jealousy was put to the test on the day Daniella showed up at school.

Daniella was the prettiest girl in school. If you were to ask Cy, she was the prettiest girl in the world. She was from one of the wealthier families in town. Daniella was placed in public school because her parents believed it would give her character. When she runs the family business, she would better be able to deal with the commoners if she spends time with them.

Those of high social standing quickly make friends with Daniella. Yet unlike them, she does not get a thrill from knocking down those on a lower standing. Unlike them, she had a kind heart. Cy can clearly see this. This is what made him fall in love with her. But, due to the company she kept, he did not get the chance to her to tell her.

Of all the boys in school, Jack and Mark were the most qualified. Their father ran a business. They were the school’s top athletes. They had the ability to put on a show of kindness. But they did not have the intelligence to keep it going. This would be proven soon. Prom was around the corner.

Daniella and Cy happened to meet one day in the hallway at school. As is the case with popular kids the world around, they pick on the unpopular. Cy was carrying several books to his next class when someone knocked his books out of his hand. A second person kicked them away from him preventing him from getting them. The crowd began to laugh, including her so-called friends. Daniella was the only one to stop and help him. That was the start of what would be a beautiful relationship.

When 2 kind hearts find each other, they happen to automatically draw close. Daniella slowly stopped hanging out with her small circle of classmates and started spending more time with Cy. As the days went by, it became clear who she wanted to go to Prom with. Cy. When Ben learned that the school’s most beautiful girl was going to Prom with Cy instead of his flesh and blood, he did what he could to put a stop to it.

Jack was the idea choice to go to prom with Daniella. He was the same height as her. He was well known by other students. According to people all over town, “They just look good together.”

Ben asked Cy to work in the restaurant on the night of prom. When he refused, Ben made it clear that this was not a request. Cy contacted his friends to let them know what was going on. The plan was set in motion to sneak Cy out of the house.

Joe’s mother was a doctor at East Suburban Hospital. Gregs father was an ambulance driver. So, when Cy faked an accident, everything was set in place for him to be rushed to the hospital. Although the hospital was not his real destination. Pedro shipped an official Brazilian outfit overnight for him to wear. For just $1, he was able to buy a mask that matched the outfit. Everything was set.

Cy arrived at Prom, and nobody knew who he was. He was by far the sharpest dressed boy there. All eyes were on him. All except Daniella. Not recognizing him, her eyes were scanning for the kid she knew. At the same time, all the boys from school were trying to get just 1 dance with her. She rejected them all.

When Cy approached her, it was different. He walked up, grabbed her hand, and gave it a tender kiss. He looked up at her and lifted his mask for only a second. He put his finger to his lips. “Shhhh!”

As they danced, the entire crowd was jealous. The girls were jealous of her while the boys were jealous of him. Between songs, he went to go get her a drink, but he received a phone call. It was Joe’s mother. She couldn’t keep up the façade too much longer. The ambulance had to return him home by midnight. At that point, he had to rush out. He was picked up about a block away so that he didn’t draw any attention to himself.

Ben was there to meet him at the house. He was clearly upset that he had to interrupt his plans for Cy. It wouldn’t be a problem if it was one of his sons. But Cy wasn’t that important. “What the heck are you wearing?” he asked without giving a chance for a reply. Cy just smiled. He had danced with the most beautiful girl in the world.

The next day, Jack told Cy about the great time he had with Daniella. Jack told him that the next date was already in motion. Of course, it was all a lie. While he was still telling his lies, Daniella showed up at the house.

“I heard you were injured.”, she said. She pulled something out of her purse and handed it to Cy. “You dropped this yesterday.”

The 2 boys recognized it right away. It was his mask he wore at Prom. They screamed.

In the end, Daniella and Cy went off to college together. Her parents gave them full tuition. After college, Daniella and Cy were married. They opened their own bed and breakfast with restaurant attached. The lighthouse was closed down due to multiple health code violations. They bought it, fixed it up, kicked Ben and his 2 brats out, and reopened it. Within a few years, they owned B&Bs all over the country. They became the richest family in town and lived happily ever after.