Kent joined a little line of cars waiting to park in a large, dusty parking lot that was only used a handful of times every year. This time of the year was County Fair time. I hadn’t been to the fair since freshman year in high school. Last time I’d come it had also been with Kent. It was the first time our mothers let us go anywhere alone without adult supervision. I, being naïve as I was, had fantasies of my best friend kissing me on the Ferris wheel and romantically feeding me funnel cake. Instead we walked around, played games, pet some farm animals and joined a pie eating contest, of which Kent won.

I was smiling as Kent lifted his hips to withdraw his wallet from his back pocket to pay for parking. “Excited, Els?”

“Hells yes! I haven’t been here since—”

He interrupted me. “Freshman year.” His grin was contagious.

“Yes,” I confirmed.

After we parked the car we got out and headed into the fair which wasn’t too crowded because it was so early in the day. We went to the farm animals first.

“I never understood why you liked this part. They stink,” he said.

I bent down next to a pen that held a couple of lambs and smiled as their little heads popped out. “Because they’re trapped here. And they’re beautiful, despite the smell they omit.” I grabbed some hay from their feeding box and held it out as they came over to eat it. I heard the electronic shutter noise and looked up. Kent was smiling, having just taken a picture of me. “What do you think you’re doing?”

“Collecting some memories. Duh.”

I turned back to the sheep, for some reason that made me sad. Did he think we weren’t ever going to come here again? Because of Jen? Because of life in general? Was this just another short little sliver of heaven that I’d have to hold onto forever?

I gave each of the lambs a pet and then stood up. I forced a smile as I pulled out my phone and snapped a picture of Kent who was bent over the pig pen, his lips puckered as he made kissing noises to try to get its attention. “Perfect. Give her a little kiss for the camera.” I was able to admire my photo for only a second before Kent was coming towards me.

“Is it bad? Let me see.”

“Oh no, it’s great.” I backed away quickly and stuffed my camera into my book bag.

“Elly, let me see!”

I shook my head and ran away. He gave chase until I stopped at the funnel cake booth. I inhaled deeply and then moaned. The smell of sweet fried dough was so deliciously sinful. I inhaled one more time, my eyes closed.

“Just buy one, already.” Kent’s voice was at my side.