Cutie Pie

Write a story about two people meeting during unusual circumstances and becoming fast friends.

CUTIE PIE

           “The funeral had been small, and peace-filled. Hannah and Tom had chosen a beautiful little plot close to the trees and honeysuckle,” Eve thought as she got into her car. Normally, the CD player was the first thing she turned on after the ignition. But today, she decided to drive home quietly. Eve’s mind wandered to that day five years ago when she had met Zoe, her puppy dog, Lizzy, and one of the best friends she’d ever had, Mom, Hannah. She thoughtfully smiled as the memories and feelings came flooding back. She began to remember. It felt like it was yesterday.

Eve woke up early and put on her lounger. She took her dog, Jack, a four and a half pound chihuahua, for his morning “pee walk,” made coffee looking forward to her daily Bible study. She read, studied, meditated, and prayed, as usual. Finishing her morning study, Eve put her Bible and books in their place until tomorrow. She felt like there was something else she should do but she just couldn’t remember. After considering this for a few seconds, Eve stopped trying and asked God to allow her to bless Him somehow that day. Frankly, it was just like any other day to Eve. Little did she know that in a few short hours her life would be blessed and turned upside down by a woman named Hannah and her precious daughter that Eve would affectionately call, “Cutie Pie.” She did remember that she didn’t have any more creamer for her coffee and some meat for a pot roast she planned to make in her slow cooker. Eve got ready to go to the store. She could easily see that Jack wanted to go with her but today she didn’t feel like taking him. She just wanted to go to the store and come back home as soon as possible. 

She took the quick way.  But today, there was a long line of vehicles bottlenecked near the construction site of the new highway. “Oh, brother. So much for getting back home quickly,” Eve sighed. She’d be glad when the new highway was completed! It would shave several minutes off commute time to work which meant she could snooze at least 5 minutes longer in the morning. But for now, what should have taken 2 minutes to navigate took 15 minutes with all honking and the merging. “Well, might as well settle down with a little music,” Eve thought as she turned up the sound on the CD player and began listening to one of her favorite songs. That’s when she saw them! In the car a little ahead of her in the lane to her right. There was this cute little white-haired, pink eared puppy dog with his head sticking out of the driver’s side back seat window. And there was an even cuter little girl with her hair in braids holding the doggy up. 

Wanting to get a better look at the two of them, Eve slowly inched forward as far as she dared, making sure not to “bump” the car in front of her. When she was about even with the back seat window, she rolled down the passenger’s side window in her car and looked again at the dog and its owner. Their eyes locked, briefly and Eve yelled out, “I love your puppy dog!” The cutie pie gave Eve a big smile, giggled loud enough for Eve to hear her, and nodded her head, “yes.” Traffic was moving again. Eve soon lost sight of the car with its precious occupants as the driver merged into the left lane a few cars ahead of her. She thought of her Jackson at home and laughed because she knew that if he had been with her, he would have been barking like crazy trying to make friends out of the window.

Eve parked her little Fiat Pop that she lovingly called her “Zippity Doda” and walked into one of her favorite grocery stores. It was smaller than the franchised stores up the road. And the prices were a bit higher. But the products were better, and the meat freshly cut on-site by the butcher, who was also one of the owners. The people here were so friendly. She had even seen some of them at church a few weeks ago. She was looking for some of her favorite homemade cookies near the bakery when she heard the noise of an electric cart coming up behind her. Looking back, she was both surprised and delighted to see the cutie pie and her puppy dog riding in the cart alongside what must be her mother. Eve took that opportunity to say hi again. “Hi there, Cutie Pie and her puppy dog! Are you guys having a good day?” At that point, Cutie Pie giggled a “hello” as her puppy dog’s tail brushed her nose, wagging its greeting. Eve noted that there was a brace on both of the Cutie Pie’s legs as she shifted her gaze to Mom. “Your babies are just beautiful,” Eve said looking into mom’s eyes. Mom responded immediately, “Yes they are aren’t they!”

“I’m sure you don’t know this, but on the way here, I was in the left lane and you were driving in the right lane back near the construction site where all the cars were bottlenecked. I saw Cutie Pie here and puppy dog and spoke to them. I’ve got a chihuahua named Jackson that I like to take for rides with me,” Eve said. “Well, I knew something was going on because Zoe was giggling more than normal,” Mom smiled. 

“Zoe! What a beautiful name.  Do you know what it means in Greek?” Eve asked. “Well, no, as a matter of fact, we don’t. We think it is a Bible name but she’s named after my Great Aunt. Aunt Zoe was such a wonderful woman and she loved God! By the way, my name is Hannah,” she said as she put out her hand for what turned out to be a warm handshake. “Hi, my name is Eve. Looks like all three of us have Bible names,” she laughed and looked back to Cutie Pie. “Zoe is such a beautiful Greek name and it means ‘Divine Life’. I happen to know this because guess what?  Zoe is Greek for the Hebrew name, Eve. And that just happens to be my name! Isn’t that amazing! Cutie Pie here and I have the same name! It’s destiny that we should meet!” Eve shook her head in amazement and silently thanked God for this divine appointment.

“So, just how old are you, Mz. Zoe?” Eve asked.  Zoe held up 5 fingers and said, “My puppy dog’s name is Lizzy and she’s same age as me! We was borned together!” Both Hannah and Eve laughed. Then Hannah said, “Well, I hate to end our conversation, but I’ve got to get some bread and milk….” “Don’t forget the ice cream cake for my birthday party,” Zoe interrupted mom. “Oh, I won’t honey but we will get that from Michael’s Bakery on our way home from the doctor’s office,” Hannah said.

 “My birthday is tomorrow! And I’m having an ice cream cake and a party! Do you wanna come? I like baby dolls and it’s Lizzy’s birthday too so don’t forget to bring her a chew toy!” Zoe’s eyes were all lit up. “Honey! That’s not good manners to ask someone to come to your party just so they can bring presents!” Mom frowned at Zoe. Zoe ducked her head and quietly said “Sorry momma.”  

“That’s ok,” Eve said, “I know we’ve just met but I’d love to come to Zoe and Lizzy’s party. If you live near Michael’s Bakery, I must live close to you. Michael’s is only down the street from me.” “Really?” Hannah said, “Well, Michael’s is on the corner of Addison and Evans. We live at 2300 Evans.” 

“You’ve got to be kidding me! I live at 2392 Evans! We’re practically neighbors! I can’t believe that I’ve driven down that road thousands of times and never seen you guys!” Eve said, just a little shocked at the coincidence. Later, she’d realize this was God’s plan all along, giving her the opportunity to bless Him in the months to come in a way she’d never have thought about. “Well, we’ve just lived there a little over two weeks. We moved here from a small town in North Carolina so we can be closer to Zoe’s doctors. Oh, goodness, that reminds me. Zoe, honey, we’ve got to go. Our doctor’s appointment is in less than 30 minutes and it’s across town. Hope traffic is flowing quickly that way and there is no construction!” Hannah sputtered. 

“What time will you be home?” Eve asked. “If you don’t care,” she continued, “I’ll pick up the bread, milk, and cake if you’ll tell me what kind and I’ll bring it right over if you will trust me and if it’s ok. That’s a lot of ‘ifs’”. “You’d do that for strangers?” Hannah said. “Hannah, something tells me that we aren’t going to be strangers much longer. Of course, I’ll do this. It will be my pleasure!” Eve smiled. “Great! Well, if you don’t mind leftover potluck for supper, you can join us. Tom, my husband, needs to meet you. He’s gonna love the fact that you and Zoe have basically the same name. Oh, bring your chihuahua, Jackson, too! Okay, is 4:30 ok? We’ve got to go! We get the generic whole wheat bread and Johnston’s 2% milk. Michael’s has our order for the birthday cake ready to be picked up. Ask for the cake for Hannah Hyde. I’ll give you the money tonight! All of it should be less than $20. Are you sure you’re okay with this?” Hannah said hastily. Eve shook her head, yes, and said, “I’ll take care of everything.” “Come on honey. See you tonight!” And with that, Hannah, Zoe, Lizzy, and the electric cart were heading quickly for the door.

Eve laughingly waved goodbye, shaking her head and thanking God for the possibility of a new set of friends! As she went to look for her groceries as well as the bread and milk, she had begun to wonder why Zoe needed the braces and what type of doctor she’d be seeing today. She remembered that while driving home, she had basically prayed for them, asking the Holy Spirit to give them a great day full of laughter. Eve chuckled that, now, she and Jackson would be a part of that laughter! She quickly whispered a prayer asking that He help them to make it to the doctor safely and on time, that the doctor had good news for Zoe and that the puppy dog would be good during the appointment.

Eve, back in the present, tearfully, smiled to herself and thought about what she should take over to what had become her second home. Thinking about the people that would probably come over now that the funeral and interment were done, “I know,” she thought. “I’ll take an ice cream cake from Michael’s and a chew toy for Lizzy.”