A+is+for+Anonymous+(Adrianne+Gold's+Memoir)

A is for Anonymous

He was standing there and he didn't look happy. It was cold and I was late. My mother pulled our black mercedes to the side of the curb and I jetted across the street as quickly as I could without tripping or slipping on any black ice. He didn't even say hello, he just grabbed my hand and started to lead me down the block. Refusing to acknowledge the crossing lights we passed George Street and then Commerce while he ignored the oncoming traffic. When he let go of me I looked at his shaking hands and his breath that formed miniature clouds. "How come you never wear gloves?" "I don't know. I don't like gloves." I looked down at my fingers and removed the striped pair I was wearing. "You wanna see something?" Rolling his eyes he said okay. I learned to make a bunny rabbit out of my gloves in the sixth grade. We stood in front of the train station and when I asked him if he thought it was cute he told me it was weird. "I forgot the cupcakes I made you." "Well I have your mix CD." "I only left them in the car. I can call my mom though. Maybe she's still in the area or something." He pulled the CD out of his sweatshirt pocket and I wondered how it fit in there. There were flowers on the front cover. I felt hopeful and for a moment it almost made me forget it was winter. I let him hold it for a little while longer and waited for my mother to answer. When she said she'd come meet us I hung up and turned to him. "Thanks. I really like flowers." "You seem like you would." "What's that supposed to mean?" "Nothing. I'm just glad you like it." If he liked me so much he sure had a strange way of showing it. I was drowning in the seas of my thoughts when my mother honked her horn and rolled down her window. At the stoplight I ran to receive the Tupperware containing the cupcakes I had promised. "Here." I shoved it into his ribs and hoped it'd reach his heart. Maybe it did or maybe I just have a promising career as a pastry chef. He said they were good and he was glad I made them for him.