The Package

[Pakij]

NOUN

1. An object or group of objects in paper or plastic, or packed in a box.

2. A set of proposals or terms offered or agreed as a whole.

VERB

1. To present something in a particular way, especially to make them more attractive.

Madison and Canton had finally did it. After three years of emotional roller coasters, twists, intoxicating passion, and the most fun he had ever had in his life, Canton decided she was "the one". "It doesn't get better than her. Than this." he thought as he gazed at her. Often, when Canton stared at Madison, he would recall of the first day they met; how he had loved her, the first time he saw her. Canton would often laugh to himself through out the day when he thought about their first encounter.

Canton did not believe in the perils of superstition. He was a die-hard rationalist which was weird, because he grew up in a strict, Catholic home. But, when it came to matters such as karma, fate, destiny, and the ridiculous notion of love at first sight, he thought the whole idea of it all was ludicrous. That was, until he saw her that day.

Canton had stumbled upon her one day as he walked by a local eatery, and had literally stopped dead in his tracks. She was tucked off in a secluded corner outside; surrounded by flower pots filled with lilies and daffodils. It was as if she were in a garden, and she herself were a flower; and just like a beautiful flower, he decided to pick her. He almost missed her, because he was rushing; off to another interview, for a job he needed, but didn't want.

It was as if she was hiding in her own little world. The woman whom had sparked his curiosity was sitting alone; engrossed in whatever she was reading and seemed to be enjoying her own company. He wanted to walk up and declare his love for her at that very moment, but decided against it. He didn't want to bother her. Embarrassed by the amount of time he had wasted just staring at her, he decided to go back in the other direction.

As Canton turned to make his "great escape", he clumsily ran head on into the waiter, causing him to drop his tray filled with drinks and freshly made eatables from the popular bistro. "What the hell BUDDY?!" the irritated waiter yelled. It was at that moment, that Canton turned to see if Madison had heard and saw what just happened. She had stopped reading and was looking right at him with a cute smirk on her face. She was laughing. It was official, she had saw him. "Man, I'm sorry dude, I was distracted man." Canton laughed nervously. He began helping the waiter pick up broken glass and the provisions that had spilled to the ground, when unexpectedly, she had appeared. She quietly slipped a piece of paper inside the left pocket of the oxford shirt he was wearing, and walked away without saying a word. Canton immediately retrieved the paper to see what she had written. The mysterious damsel had written down her name and telephone number. "Madison" he whispered.

Canton proudly continued walking in the original direction he was going in. He did make it to the job site. The interview went well. But, because of his tardiness and lack of unhurriedness he didn't get the job. What he found that day was worth even more. He waited a whole day before he contacted her. They decided to meet up at the same bistro he had his "accident" at days prior. From that chance meeting they were inseparable. Everything just clicked. They were together ever since.

Now, three years later, at the same bistro, almost down to the exact date and time, he gazed at the love of his life, ready to get down on one knee and propose. "What?" Madison smiled. "What do you mean?" Canton said as he looked down. "Look at me." Madison said. Canton looked up in total embarrassment, hoping he didn't mess this up. "What's wrong? You seem anxious. Is everything OK? " Madison pondered. As Canton began to get up the nerve to do the speech he'd been practicing for weeks, something PARTICULARLY odd happened.

Canton pushed his saturated hand into his pants pocket. As he fumbled to pull the red- velvet ring box out on cue, purchased with a monumental amount from his savings, a strange woman in a black hat and jacket approached quickly; thrusting a package wrapped in a brown paper onto the table, as she walked by. The strange woman then purposely bumped the table as to draw even more attention to herself and the mysterious package she left behind.

The bump of the table; the way the peculiar woman looked, gave Canton a since of familiarity and anxiousness. He had seen this person somewhere, before, but could not place it. Madison stared in the direction the strange woman had ran in, and turned back to Canton with a satisfied look on her face. "What was that all about? " Madison questioned. Canton, who had abandoned the idea of saying anything for the moment, glared in the direction the woman went in as well. "I'm not sure. Anyway, Mad, I just wanted to let you know that I love you very much. I have loved you from the first day I saw you, here at this little bistro, we sit at now." Canton stammered. Canton reached across the table, gently grabbing Madison's soft hands. They stared at each other for a brief moment; grinning at each other. Madison gradually dropped his hands and picked up the package, wondering about the contents. "I wonder what this is? Money you think?" Madison said as she held the package up, shaking it a bit. "I wish!" Canton laughed.

"Go ahead and open it. Must have been real important." Canton said. "Well, I really was looking forward to what you were about to say to me, but if you insist." Madison said. She slowly began opening the brown- paper mystery. Inside was a white box, revealing an Ikea Virserum 4X6 gold picture frame. Within the frame was a photograph; a picture, containing the smiles of a well deserved family. As Madison looked at the frame, her smile turned into a scowl. "What? What is it? " Canton wondered. Madison gradually turned the frame towards Canton; he knew then he had reached the "point of no return". It was no turning back after this; he had to tell her everything. The whole truth and nothing but the truth, so help him God!

Canton's whole heart stopped. He closed his eyes and exhaled. He did not want her to find out; not, like this. "Who are these people CANTON?" Madison yelled. People were starting to stare at them; it was no turning back now. He recalled the day he met her again; how he decided, right then and there to throw caution to the wind and lie. He thought about how he neglected to tell her that he already had a family. You see, Canton was married. Canton, had TWO small children. Canton was UNHAPPY. Canton was UNINSPIRED. Canton was CLEVER. Canton was SELFISH. But, on this day, and at this moment; a moment meant to be special for them both, OLD Canton, was COLD BUSTED.

Canton had been unhappy in his marriage for quite some time when he met Madison. He was, at the time, an unemployed, stay at home, father. Canton loved his children, and still loved his wife, but he had not been "in love", for quite some time. It had been a while since he had an interview for job, and he knew he had responsibilities. But, the day he met Madison, is the day his luck changed. There would be other jobs. But not another her.

"Madison, I want to marry you." "WHO are these people Canton, I want to HEAR you say it." Madison whispered loudly. "Say what, Mad?" He knew exactly what she meant but decided to hold on to the beans until he HAD to spill them! "Who are these people Canton with you in this photograph?" Madison questioned again. "Madison, there is a perfectly good explanation for all of this." Canton pronounced quietly. Madison leaned forward and placed her elbows on the table and looked Canton straight in the eye. "Ok then Canton, EXPLAIN IT!" Madison breathed.

What should have been a feast of heaven, was about to turn into a feast from hell. When the waiter arrived with their food, even the waiter could feel the heat pulsating from Madison. If looks could kill, Canton would have died right at that table, came back to life, and died again!

Madison appeared cool as a cucumber on the outside, but Canton could see in her eyes that her blood was boiling. SHE WAS HOT! He knew he needed to think fast to diffuse this nightmare wrapped in brown paper. Canton pulled out the red velvet box. "Who is this woman in this photo?" Madison uttered angrily. For a moment, it seemed that time had completely stopped. For a brief second, he wrestled with the idea of lying. But, he had already been doing that. "The woman in the photo is Sylvia." Canton whispered. With a straight face, Madison asked, "And who is Sylvia, Canton?" Madison questioned. Canton wanted to run and hide. "No more secrets." he thought. He knew whatever he said now, could never be taken back. Canton took a deep breath. He knew what he wanted.

" Sylvia, is my wife Mad." Canton whispered. Madison dropped her head and stared at the table. Without looking up she asked, "And the two kids Canton. Who are they?" she mumbled. Canton took a long pause before speaking. "That's Cameron and Cassidy. My children." Canton said softly. Madison lifted her head to the sky. She noticed how white the clouds were; how blue the sky was, and wondered why he couldn't tell the truth before he was giving her, everything she had dreamt of. She decided she would not let him see her cry. She tried hard to fight back the tears, knowing what she was about to reveal. Canton wasn't the only one with secrets.

In the beginning, Canton was always around. Then, about a year into their courtship, he began to become "unavailable." The visits he gave her started to be far and few between. He stopped answering his phone in front of her, and always seemed to be preoccupied in his mind, when he did come around. He also, was never available on holidays or to go to events she would have liked for them to attend together. She loved him to death, but she never stopped giving him the "side eye".

After the second year of not being able to spend both Thanksgiving and Christmas with her love, Madison, OLD Madison....started looking. She already knew everything he was telling her but, she had promised to allow herself to hear the words, come out of his mouth. She needed to hear him CONFESS about the photograph that broke her heart. How could something wrapped in brown paper, ruin her chances of becoming the bride, she always wanted to be.

Though they both loved each other deeply, they didn't talk about their personal lives often at all. Canton longed to hear what she had to say next. He could no longer avoid the inevitable truth that he was a paramour in love.

Canton tried foolishly to clean this up by showing her the ring. Deep down, he knew it wasn't going to work. When it all boiled down, he was still a very married man, and had not even FILED FOR DIVORCE YET! He recalled all the lies he had told over the last three years; all the sleepless nights he could not spend with his true love. He was tired of lying to Sylvia. He was tired of lying to Madison. He was tired; tired of lying to himself.

Canton once again reached into his pocket, and pulled out the red velvet box again. He slowly opened the box, and saw that Madison's eyes lit up. But when she looked at Canton, at that point in time, he could feel the heartache he had caused her. Inside of the box was a Diamond Eternity, Round-Cut 14K White Gold wedding band. He had spent well over five grand for it, because to him, Madison was worth it and more. Canton got down on one knee and blocked out the cheers, praying for Madison to say yes. "Madison, will you marry me?" "Canton, how do you expect me to marry you after this?" Madison said as she held up the picture frame. Canton asked again, in the most serious tone he could muster. "Please Madison. You must know, that I am serious about you. About us." Canton removed the ring from its delicate box and held it up close to her face. "Will you marry me?" Canton asked again.

Madison began crying. She knew she had secrets of her own. She allowed Canton to place the ring on her finger; never saying whether it was "yes" or "no." Coincidently, while putting the ring on her finger, he wondered why he had never met her family or any of her friends. He observed QUICKLY that Madison was a loner; something he adored about her. She had always been intriguing and slightly elusive; something else Canton worshipped about her. Then just like that, she began to pick at her food in silence, after it had sat on the table, getting cold. She knew this was her moment. It would never be the right time to say what she needed to say.

Canton sat back down in his chair quickly. He didn't like being the "center of attention". After picking at the lukewarm veal and now frozen mash potatoes, Madison laid the fork down and looked at Canton; making sure she clanked the fork so he would know she needed his attention. Madison pulled her tan satchel off the back of her chair and opened it. Canton stared in awe, wondering what was in her "bag of tricks." She slowly pulled out and presented another package, wrapped in brown paper, like the one the strange lady had dropped on the table earlier. She passed the package to Canton without blinking an eye. "Open this." Madison said quietly.

Without saying a word, Canton ripped open the the package in confusion. "Another photo? What NOW! " he thought. He saw a little Madison; adorned in the prettiest, little dress ever! Her hair was in two ponytails, wrapped in red ribbons. He immediately noticed that she was not alone and pondered as to who the other person in the photograph was. Then it hit him. The dinner was delicious, but all he wanted to do was throw it up. Canton began to sweat and grabbed a glass of water to drink; suddenly feeling dehydrated.

"Canton, did I ever tell you that I am, estranged from my family?" Madison said. "No love, I didn't know that." Canton said as he grabbed Madison's hand across the table. "Where is she going with this?" Canton thought. Madison knew she had to be straight-forward; it was no turning back now. You see, Madison had NEVER seen a working relationship. Madison grew up watching and hearing her mother and father fight NIGHT after NIGHT through the thin walls of her tiny room. It was hard on her mother, herself and her little sister.

"My mom and dad were always FIGHTING. See, I was born, and then my dad, started cheating on my mother. My mom was so weak. My dad even got another woman pregnant, and brought the baby to live with us. So at the age of TWO, one day, I just instantly had a little sister." Madison said imperviously.

Canton glared at the ring on Madison's finger. She stopped talking abruptly and started texting on her cellphone. "You never told me you had a sister Mad." Madison laughed out loud wickedly IN A TONE HE HAD NEVER HEARD BEFORE. "I know. It's just so embarrassing explaining to people that you have a half sister who was made in an adulterous affair." she taunted.

Canton sat back in his chair, recalling what had just happened. He had just got served. He held his breath, hoping she was not going to say what he thought she was going to say. He knew exactly who that "OTHER LITTLE GIRL" was and hoped that "OTHER LITTLE GIRL" did not tarnish his future.

"It was hard accepting her at first. But then, we became very close. She went off to college, and I went my own way. We lost touch for several years..... Then one day, we bumped into each other right near this bistro. She went on to tell me about how she got married and had two kids. She showed me the photo you had me to open up days after I met you. I WAITED. AND I WAITED. AND I WAITED CANTON. YOU WERE NEVER GOING TO TELL ME!" Madison hollered. " Stop playing this game Madison, JUST SAY IT!" Canton yelled. Nearby restaurant goers began to watch what was unfolding. EVERYONE WAS WATCHING THE SHOW! ALL THEY NEEDED NOW WAS POPCORN AND BUTTER! It was like a scene of "Cheaters" reloaded. As if, right on que, once again, the strange lady reappeared. She removed her hat and jacket to make sure Canton knew who she was. Madison stood up next to the strange woman and gave Canton a devilish grin. "Canton, I want to introduce you to my little sister. Her name is Sylvia."