Page 69 of Positively, Penelope

Why was she crying? She’d just had dinner in a castle with a handsome man while overlooking a moonlit sea. She looked down at her dress. In a really cute dress. She sniffled again and took another bite of the cookie. A smile pulled at her lips. The cookies tasted great. MaybeIris was destined to become a magnificent baker, and as everyone knew, baked goods could solve almost every first-world problem.

Almost.

Text from Penelope to Izzy:Alec kissed me tonight. One kiss. A good-night kiss.

Izzy:And...???

Penelope:Well, I’ve been kissed before, of course, but I don’t think I have ever been kissed quite so ferociously.

Izzy:Ferociously? Please explain.

Penelope:You know all those movie kisses you used to make fun of, the ones where people looked like they were eating each other’s faces? I understand it now.

Izzy:Um...

Penelope:Perhaps it had just been a long time since he’d kissed someone. Maybe with more practice he will become less... hungry?

Izzy:Is more practice in his future?

Penelope:Oh, I’m sure, but not with me. Besides, I think he has a much broader interest than happily ever after right now. There were way too many cute distractions for him to stay interested in me for very long. Not everyone can find a Brodie, I guess, Iz.

Izzy:Don’t give up altogether, Penn. If you recall, I didn’t find my knight in cozy sweater vests until I was thirty. And he was worth all the heartache and long wait.

Penelope:It’s probably best if I wait to get home before trying to find my knight. Besides, if the girl can’t get the dream guy, then at least she can get the dream job.

Izzy:Have you decided about JMC then?

Penelope:Yeah, I think so. I love what I do. I’ve realized that from being here. And I love home. Getting to put themboth together, well, it’s the right thing for me. I’m still going to wait until later in October to give her a definite answer, but I think I know what I should do.

Skymarian Theater Troupe

From: JA

To: GK

Okay, anonymous GK, I have a deep question.

Why is it that good girls have such a hard time finding good guys? What is so attractive about women who wearMoulin Rouge!outfits but can’t have a thoughtful conversation? Or have legs longer than a tree but can’t show care to others? And why can’t happy girls get the good guys? Why are we overlooked or underappreciated? Don’t men want a wife who is happy? Solemn and repressed can’t be that attractive, can it? No matter what the movies say?

(I suppose that was more than one question, but all basically originating in one place.)

Why is it that you can only be taken seriously as the main character of your own life if you have either some tragic backstory or a subdued, mysterious personality? Or are incredibly sexy and alluring. Sexy, alluring, and tragic?

Why can’t sweet, happy, and loyal help a girl find a lifelong romance? I’m sure the future children would appreciate it, not to mention the future husband!

There was a time when I thought about creating a tragic backstory for myself to see whether it made a difference, but then I broke out in hives because I would have to lie.

There’s a lot to be said for a stable, nice backstory. And women who like to wear vintage clothes. Are hats the ultimate deal breaker?

I’m sure you’ve figured out by now that I’m all about fairy talesand sweep-you-off-your-feet kinds of things, but deep down I’ve been realizing what is even better than having a man walk into a forest and finish your dream song. It’s having a man who listens to me. Who wants to KNOW me and cares about what I have to say. Who sees beyond my age or my clothes or my random silliness and knows that deeper than all those things is a heart that cares and a mind that thinks. I mean, I wouldn’t mind him counting down the minutes to see me each day or running through rain to rescue me either. But at the end of the performance, there’s the ever after. And I want someone for the ever-after part, when the audience is gone and the stage is empty, and the only crowd we’re in front of is each other.

Thanks for being my void in which to send out my thoughts. That makes me think ofYou’ve Got Mail! LOL. So “good night, dear void.”

Text from Luke to Penelope:I just had dinner with Izzy. Listen to me, Penny-girl. The right man will see only you and he will want only you. I promise.

Chapter14

From: Josephine Martin

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