It was a week before the team would be going out of town for the championship game and having to spend the night out of town. Kelly was on her way to the grocery store when she saw Jack was riding his bike. She slowed down and followed him to the town library where he put his bike in the bike rack and chained down. Kelly rolled into a parking space and got out of her car following the young man in. She found him in aisle getting a book off the shelf that contained love sonnets in it; she blushed figuring the young man was going to send her one of them. Jack turned and saw the object of his desire standing in the aisle way. He took a moment to look her over from head to toe as if he was taking a picture in his mind for later.
"Uh Hi Mrs. Welch." He said.
"Hi Jack." She replied. "Can we talk?"
"Sure."
They found a table on the far side of the library away from the other kids doing research projects for school and other folks just reading. Jack could feel his stomach start to turn and twist as if someone was tying it in knots.
"Jack let me start out by saying your confessing your undying love for me was one of the most flattering things that had ever happened to me. You are a sweet young man and someday you will make a nice young girl or woman very happy." She explained.
"I'm sorry I fell in love with you Mrs. Welch, it really created some problem for us." He replied looking down at the table.
"Jack you should not be sorry, sometimes things like this happen that are beyond your control. Sometimes you get feelings like yours for someone who cannot return them to you; it is all part of growing up." Kelly could see tears welling in his eyes.
"I guess you do not want me coming over anymore or be friends with Kevin." He sobbed.
"On the contrary dear, I want you and Kevin to continue being friends. Of course you can come over as much as you like as long as you remember that there is no chance of me having the same feelings for you as you do for me." She said reaching out for his hands.
"I will try, but it will be hard for a while." He sniffed.
"I know it will be hard for you for a little while." She said. "You will see that I am right about all this and you will feel better."
"I'm kind of feeling better already." He said.
"Great and I hope you will be ready for next weekend?" Kelly asked.
"The big game, I sure will be." He replied.
"Kevin told me that your parents would not be able to go and asked if you could stay in a room with him and I. I have no problem with it if you do not mind sharing a motel room with an old lady." She said looking for him to smile.
"I won't mind." He said with a smile starting to form.
"Alright see you next weekend." She said getting up to leave. "Bye Jack, glad we got to talk."