kindergarten.

 His name was Joseph Alvedo, and this story starts with him. 


 He first approached her with a picture in his hands. Two dark grey figures were meshed together, she turned up her nose at this. 
"these are elephants.." he said.
"soo?" she replied, arrogantly.
"well elephants are the largest land mammal...they're considered to be a sign of luck."
"you aren't like most boys..."
"my mom says that's a good thing..."
"I'm Ana, by the way."
"I know who you are, but I'm Joseph."


 While most five year old boys would be caught chasing each other around the soccer field at recess, Joseph stuck by Ana's side. He'd teach her things, mostly about animals, but Ana would always act interested and most of the time, she was. It was peculiar to see a five year old boy and a five year old girl together as much as they were. Most children at this age were screaming "you have cooties" towards each other. But not Joseph and Ana.  They'd switch sandwiches at lunch and sit under the slides at recess. When boys would bully Joseph, Ana would take a stand and defend him. One day after Joseph had gotten hit in the face by one of the meaner boys, Ana knelt by his side as he tried to suck back the tears.


"Joseph..."
"..yes Ana?"
"I saw this movie once...about this princess who falls in love with a poor boy, who wishes he was a prince so he could marry her...and well."
"what is it?"
"will you be my prince...?"


The pain on Joseph's face was replaced, by a smile. He sat up and looked down.
"did you know that owl's have three eyelids?"
"you're kidding? what else?"
"well, owl's also have the best hearing out of. all birds...."


  Ana had always been different than most girls her age, smarter, more mature. And even though they were five, Joseph had taught her something very special. He was just a chapter in her life though, this is a story, and every story must have a beginning, right?