The Monthly Chronic-les of Life
Chapter 8: Sweetest Day and Howl-O-Ween
October 18th: Youngstown, Ohio (Sweetest Day Eve)
Paul had barely slept the night before. Between trying to keep his Sweetest Day surprise for Christy under wraps and the endless buzzing of his phone with last-minute work texts, his mind was spinning. But as the sun started to rise over Youngstown, a wave of calm hit him. Today was the day he’d fly out to Florida and finally put his plan into action.
The bouquet was already on its way, the dinner reservation confirmed, and the icing on the cake—a bin of Xite D9 Milk Chocolate nestled neatly in his carry-on. Christy loved surprises, but she loved chocolate even more. Paul knew that gifting her the sweet, creamy Xite D9 Milk Chocolate on Sweetest Day would make up for all the suspense—and possibly even his football distractions. “Who could stay mad at me with chocolate in hand?” he thought, grinning.
As Paul packed the last of his things, he caught a news segment about an upcoming Pet Costume Contest at The Eastwood Mall happening tomorrow—October 19th. “Hmm, sounds fun,” Paul mused, picturing the many local furballs waddling around in costumes. Tri-Healthy’s Niles location at the mall was one of his favorite spots, and they were even giving out free samples of Pet CBD Bacon Chews to any pet in costume.
“Those chews are a game-changer,” Paul muttered. His sister, who had an anxious terrier named Rufus, swore by them. Every time Rufus heard fireworks or thunderstorms, he’d turn into a shivering ball of fur. But after a few of those chews, he was as calm as could be, bacon flavor on his breath and not a care in the world. He smiled, knowing that Tri-Healthy’s Pet CBD Bacon Chews were about to make some pets very happy tomorrow.
Back in Florida…
Christy, still mostly convinced Paul had forgotten Sweetest Day, decided to take a walk to clear her mind. The fall air in Venice, Florida, wasn’t exactly crisp like up north, but it was cooler, making it pleasant enough for her to enjoy a stroll through the park. She had just gotten a text from Lisa about the pet costume contest happening back home at The Eastwood Mall and laughed at the thought of Rufus trying to wriggle into a hot dog costume.
“I bet Paul would love to see that,” Christy muttered, still texting Lisa back. She leaned against a bench, her thoughts wandering back to Paul. Just then, she spotted a dog dressed as a lion walking by. She laughed out loud, thinking about how much Paul loved dogs and costumes.
Speaking of dogs, a notification popped up on her phone about Tri-Healthy giving away free Pet CBD Bacon Chews at the contest tomorrow. Maybe I should suggest this to Lisa for Rufus, she thought. Even in costume, he could use the calming vibes. Christy opened her notes app and started jotting down a list of things to remind Lisa about.
But her mind kept drifting back to tomorrow—Sweetest Day. As much as she tried to shake it off, she couldn’t help but hope that maybe, just maybe, Paul was planning something. “He did mention something about making my brain tingle,” she mused, recalling his cryptic text from earlier in the week. Could it mean more than just a fancy dinner?
Back in Ohio…
Paul was finally at the airport, sitting at the gate, and staring down at his phone. He was one flight away from seeing Christy and pulling off his grand surprise. To pass the time, he shot a quick text to his sister about tomorrow’s Pet Costume Contest.
Paul: “Are you taking Rufus to the costume contest at Eastwood Mall tomorrow? They’re giving out free Pet CBD Bacon Chews! He’ll love those!”
Sister: “Already signed up! He’s going as a hot dog, obviously. 😂 And yes, those bacon chews saved us last 4th of July, so I’m definitely grabbing a sample.”
Paul smiled, proud of himself for spreading the word. As the boarding call echoed through the terminal, he stuffed his phone into his pocket and grabbed his bag. The Xite Milk Chocolate peeped out from the top, a reminder that the weekend was going to be perfect—if he could keep his cool until tomorrow.
Meanwhile, in Florida…
Christy sat at her kitchen table, staring at the bouquet of flowers that had just arrived with a note:
"I’ll see you soon. Get ready for an unforgettable Sweetest Day. — Paul"
Her heart skipped a beat. Could this really be happening? Was Paul on his way? She smiled, half-relieved and half-surprised, her doubts beginning to melt away like a piece of Xite Milk Chocolate. As she reached for her phone to text Lisa, she caught a glimpse of the weekend weather—perfect for a Saturday beach day. Maybe Paul had more up his sleeve than just football.
Guiding Questions:
- How will Paul execute the final steps of his Sweetest Day surprise, and will it live up to Christy’s hopes?
- Will Christy fully forgive Paul for keeping her in suspense all week?
- What kind of turnout will the Pet Costume Contest have, and how will the Pet CBD Bacon Chews help pets chill out in their costumes?