And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees, just as things grow in fast movies, I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.

- F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby

The constant ringing of the phone broke the morning silence. The bright yellow rays tapped on my face, demanding me to pull the duvet over my face and escaping to the deep slumber that was harshly broken with the horrid tone. But then the tone never stopped ringing and I had to pull the duvet away to search around the bedroom for the source of the ringing.

The sunshine passing through the curtain gaps indicated it was still morning.

Morning?!

I quickly snatched my phone from the bedside table where it had been ringing and swiped on the screen with an angry thumb. Before she could talk, I asked. "Is someone dying?"

"Clai--- wait what?" My sister's voice said from the other side.

I groaned loudly and sat up on the bed, throwing the duvet away. "Well it's Sunday and it's too early for me."

Sunday Mornings weren't my favourite unless I was sleeping in. Sundays were the only off days for me, other days I worked 10 hours straight from morning to evening at a diner. The job didn't pay much but I had to pay my rents. It didn't help that a loan was added to my list of money problems. I wondered how I would clear that, since the deadline was approaching soon.

"Did you forget you were suppose to bring cupcakes for the carnival?"

And that made my head clear. At once, the sleepy haze puffed out of me and replaced with an abnormal rush in my muscles.

"Oh, that! I remember. I've got them. Let me get ready and I'll meet you soon." I answered back quickly, making use of my limbs and jumped out of the bed. If I didn't reach the school on time, Chloe would go all apeshit on me and that, I wouldn't look forward to, ever. Ending the call, I threw the phone on the bed, hoping it didn't bounce off as I went to the bathroom to shower and freshen up for the day.

The weather was scorching hot and cold water was soothing over my skin but time wasn't my friend this summer morning. After the quick shower, I put on a simple tee and denim shorts. Since it was Summer nearly, the air was warm and clammy but I had no problem with it unless I stank so bad due to extreme sweating which never happened as frequently as people thought.

When others complained about the clammy hands and necks, I walked freely with dry skin under the bright light from the ball of fire in the blue sky. But summer never failed to bring out the busy people of New York on the hot sands of beach. I could already picture the crowd on the beach, tanning their pale skin, little children playing with their small shovels and buckets on the sand, young teens splashing each other in water.

The image in my mind brought out my desire to visit the beach. Maybe I should visit it, well...when I wasn't being a lazy ass on Sundays and a busy waitress on workdays but that would be very unlikely to happen.

The sudden rumbling of my hungry stomach commanded my feet to make a beeline to the small kitchen.

Quickly, I had a light breakfast made and finished it before I went for those cupcakes. I added the frosting and made some finishing touches on them before packing them up for little hungry kids -who were most definitely driving my sister and other teachers crazy. As the Summer vacation were here, the school thought of throwing a carnival to bring all the students together for a joyful day with the school committee, where I'd be taking cupcakes for all the children.

Another thing about me, I loved baking. Simple as that. It was no surprise for anyone. Since the age of seven, I started helping my mom in the kitchen but I had no interest in cooking savoury things. But that didn't mean I never knew how to cook them. I did but my interest was only for baking sweets.

And for most days I hoped to open a bakery to share the goods I could make but with the pressure of a student loan that I had taken three years back to get control of my college funds and an advance six months apartment rent, the hope seemed to disappear day by day.

Now, opening a bakery wasn't my first priority. My first priority became to clear out the loan and months of due rents. It was the important matter I should focus on only.

My family was there to help but I didn't want them to know about my crisis. I didn't want to give dad another reason to criticise me for leaving our home town. It was up to me to figure out how I'd progress. Maybe I could ask for a raise at work.

Picking up the two boxes of cupcakes, I ran out of my small studio apartment after ensuring I locked the door. Hailing a cab for school, I reached the school within 20 minutes. The school was very lively and kids were scampering here and there. I tried not to cringe on the little patches of dirt and grass on their clothes.

Children. They're so oblivious to everything around them.

The bold yellow sundress and a white hat caught my eyes. She twirled around and waved at me giddily with a load of napkins in her palm. A whole line of stalls with organised necessities on it, stood behind her. Only thing missing, was my cupcakes.

Chloe Marie Tucker, was a sight for sore eyes. Male and female both. Starting from the wavy blonde hair to the long tanned legs. It was suffice to say, she was the complete opposite of me.

Her bright blue eyes, identical to mine brightened to a whole new degree as I reached her. "Thank god, you finally came! Now, could you hand out these candies to the kids in the playground first? Thanks and here, let me get those boxes. Now go!"

Before I could let out a single sound, the strict but beautiful teacher turned me away to the direction of the playground. Chloe was never the one to waste a minute. It was always get down to business for her. Nonchalantly, I walked toward the playground as I was used to her behaviour.

When the view of the playground became visible, I cursed Chloe to the moon and back. Oh, Chloe had another trait. She could be very cunning from time to time. The whole playground was packed with thirty to forty kids. Murmuring a prayer to the laughing God, I advanced to the herd of children, gently and cautiously.

This is going to be one long morning. Curse you, Chloe!

******

I sighed tiredly after giving out 4/5 portions of the candies. One packet wasn't enough for these sugar-hungry kids. I had to find few more packets then finally it was done. My legs were killing me. Good thing I wore flats or it could had been worse.

Spotting a vacant swing, I immediately rushed to it before another little human invaded it. Children were easy to love but thirty or more kids could tire anyone out when all together they hunted you for candies. Those kids could be dangerous. Good luck to their parents with all the sugar induced bodies.

I swung myself as slowly as I could on a child's swing. Gazing out, I noticed all the jolly faces, they were having fun. Large bright smiles upon every one. Something about children smiling and laughing had a way to warm a person's heart. They were the innocents in this world, oblivious to any terror all around them. Children should always be in happy moods, no matter what.

A slight cringe of metal came to my left ear. My neighbour swing was making horrible sounds that started a headache in me but that was soon forgotten when I saw who was invading the place. Nope. Not a giant like me, in fact the right size of human these swings were designed for.

Ariel.

Wavy red hair cascaded around the little body, reaching her hips. Her round shaped face was curved down gloomily as her eyes gazed longingly upon a group of kids playing over the slides.

This Little Ariel looked about five to six. At her age, I bet I wasn't that beautiful. Not even close.

Why is she so sad....and alone?

Since I knew the feeling of loneliness from deep within, I couldn't let her go through it any longer. When she didn't give any response to my invasion of her neighbour seat, I made myself comfortable in it.

I leaned my head down and smiled at her, to not come off as a creepy grown up.

"Hey!"

My voice met silence for a whole minute then came a small voice as she hesitantly lifted her head. "Are you talking to me?"

Upon closer inspection, I gazed at the beautiful irises of grey streaks. "I'm talking to Little Ariel."

For a moment, she seemed genuinely confused and I worried she was actually not aware of Ariel from The Little Mermaid. "Who's Ariel?"

"You don't know Ariel?"

It seemed she knew because slowly recognition lit up in her eyes. "She's beautiful."

Hearing the wishful yearning in her sweet voice, I replied. "Yes she is, just like the Little Ariel I'm talking with." But she just shook her head at that and gave me a sad smile. Seeing that, I added. "You know what? This Little Ariel is more beautiful."

She looked up at me with a newfound glow on her face. "You think so?"

Surprised at her vulnerability, I leaned back and studied her more cautiously. She was a truly pretty girl with beautiful facial structures. Her parents had to be one good-looking couple but from her behaviour, I was starting to get the feeling of negligence. Could her parents be doing that to her?

An instant affection for this little girl came over me. "I know so, dear and I want to be your friend now. Would you let me?"

My sister always told me I turned into a different person around children. But I knew I was being too forward and creepy. Frankly, I never approved of children speaking to strangers but I let it slide since it was on school grounds and no creepy child snatcher were allowed in. Only known people were allowed. And I believed I wasn't doing anything wrong. I was just making a little girl happy.

Little Ariel looked like she was analysing me from top to bottom and finally came up with a decision. "Why? No one wants to be my friend." She replied quietly and looked out to the same group of kids playing by themselves.

Can kids already be making their own friend circles? Wow. They're really fast.

Remembering my lonely days in college, I acted on impulse. "Well I want to be friends with the most beautiful and sweet girl I've ever met. I don't care about no one."

There was no way I exaggerated that compliment. She really was pretty to look at. All kids were but this one really caught my eye. Sometimes it was better to let children know about their worth. A few simple compliments might light up their face like no other. And that was exactly what happened.

She gave me a happy smile and giggled. "You're nice and beautiful. I like you."

I laughed at that but halted my response as I felt my phone vibrating. Pulling out, I saw Chloe's text demanding to get my ass over to her. Typical Chloe. Putting the phone back, I looked up at Little Ariel to find her looking at me intently with an unknown gleam in her eyes. Well, I couldn't stay to find out what was that.

All the children were busy playing and few adults were walking nearby. I stood up and plucked a beautiful red rose from the nearby pot after making sure no one saw. I crouched down to Little Ariel's level.

"I like you too. And here keep this packet of candy and a beautiful red rose for my beautiful Ariel." She took those happily and didn't ask any questions. "I have to go now but remember, you will always have a friend in me, Little Ariel."

At that, she hugged me as tightly as her little body could and kissed me on the cheek.

The constant vibrations on my back pocket shook me away from my momentarily dazed situation.

Oh damn, Chloe!

I quickly kissed Little Ariel on her forehead and ran to Chloe, who was standing impatiently. I didn't realise I was still waving to my new friend who wasn't even in my sight now. Chloe seized my hand and narrowed her eyes at me.

"What got you in that super good mood?"

I might had looked like an idiot but I couldn't help myself from giving a big toothy smile and chirping in a gleeful voice. "I made a new friend and that's Little Ariel."

Chloe looked at me as if I lost my marbles. She shook her head, flying her blonde hair around her head with a frown on her face. "I knew this was gonna happen one day. You gotta stop watching disney fairytales, Claire. You're a grown woman. Act lik-- hey woman, I texted you 5 minutes ago. You promised you were gonna help me today. Now come on."

And that Ladies and gentlemen was my sister, Chloe. Half the time she had no idea what she would talk about. But today I let her get away with all her bossy orders because I was too happy.

I made a little girl happy. I made a new friend and that was Little Ariel.

Wait, what's her real name again?