A thousand Boy Kisses

say thank you.
Thank you, Rune. Thank you for loving me so much that I felt it every minute of
every day. Thank you for my smiles, your hand so tightly holding mine…
For my kisses. All one thousand. Every one was cherished. Every one was
adored.
As were you.
Know that even though I’m gone, Rune, you will never be alone. I’ll be the
hand forever holding yours.
I’ll be the footprints walking beside you in the sand.
I love you, Rune Kristiansen. With all of my heart.
I cannot wait to see you in your dreams.

Dropping the letter, I felt the silent tears trickling down my face. Lifting my
hand, I brushed them away. I took a deep breath, before lifting the final box onto
my bed. It was larger than the rest.
I carefully opened the lid and pulled out the contents. My eyes closed as I
realized what it was. Then I read Poppy’s handwritten message tied around the
lid:

---

I stared at the large mason jar in my hand. I stared at the many blue paper hearts
gathered inside. Blank paper hearts, pushing against the glass. The label on the
jar read:

---

Clutching the jar to my chest, I lay back on my bed and just breathed. I wasn’t
sure how long I lay there, staring at the ceiling, reliving every moment I’d ever
had with my girl.
But when the night drew in and I thought of everything she’d done, a happy
smile spread on my lips.
A peace filled my heart.
I wasn’t sure why I felt it in that moment. But I was sure that, somewhere, out
there in the unknown, Poppy was watching me with a dimpled smile on her
pretty face … and a big white bow in her hair.
* * *
One year later
Blossom Grove, Georgia
“You ready, buddy?” I asked Alton as he ran down the hallway and put his hand
in mine.
“Ja,” he said and smiled up at me with a gap-toothed grin.
“Good, everyone should be there by now.”
I led my brother out the door and we walked toward the blossom grove. The
night was perfect. The sky was crystal clear and filled with glittering stars and,
of course, the moon.
My camera hung around my neck. I knew I would need it tonight. I knew I
would have to capture this sight to keep forever.
I had made Poppymin a promise.
The sounds of people gathered in the grove hit us first. Alton looked up at me,
all wide-eyed. “That sounds like a lot of people,” he said nervously.
“One thousand,” I replied, as we turned into the grove. I smiled; the pink and
white petals were in full bloom. I momentarily closed my eyes, remembering the
last time I was here. Then I opened them again, feeling a warmth spread through

---

my body at this townspeople’s gathering; they had packed themselves into the
small space.
“Rune!” The sound of Ida’s loud call brought me back to the here-and-now. I
smiled as she ran through the crowd, only stopping when she plowed into my
chest and wrapped her arms around my waist.
I laughed when she looked up at me. For a minute I saw Poppy in her young
face. Her green eyes were filled with happiness as she flashed me a smile—it
was dimpled too. “We’ve missed you so much!” she said, and stepped back.
When I lifted my head, Savannah was before me, hugging me gently. Mr. and
Mrs. Litchfield came next, followed by my mamma and my pappa.
Mrs. Litchfield kissed me on my cheek, then Mr. Litchfield shook my hand,
before bringing me in for a hug. When he stepped back, he smiled.
“You look good, son. Real good.”
I nodded. “You do too, sir.”
“How’s New York?” Mrs. Litchfield asked.
“Good,” I said. Seeing them waiting for more, I confessed, “I love it.
Everything about it.” I paused, then added quietly, “She would have loved it
too.”
Tears shone in Mrs. Litchfield’s eyes, then she gestured at the crowd behind us.
“She’ll love this, Rune.” Mrs. Litchfield nodded and wiped the tears from her
cheeks. “And I have no doubt she’ll see it up there in the heavens.”
I didn’t reply. I couldn’t.
Moving to let me pass, Poppy’s parents and sisters fell into step behind me, as
my pappa placed his arm around my shoulders. Alton was still gripping my hand
tightly. He’d refused to let go of me since I’d arrived home for this visit.
“Everyone’s ready, son,” my pappa informed me. Seeing a small stage in the
center of the grove, a mic waiting, I made my way over, just as Deacon, Judson,
Jorie and Ruby stepped into my path.
“Rune!” Jorie exclaimed with a big smile and gave me a hug. As did everyone
else.

---

Deacon’s hand slapped my back. “Everyone’s ready, just waiting for your
signal. It didn’t take much to get the word out you were doing this. We got more
volunteers than we needed.”
I nodded my head, and surveyed the townspeople waiting with their Chinese
lanterns in hand. On those lanterns, in large black writing, was every kiss I’d
ever given Poppy. My eyes focused to read those nearest…
… Kiss two hundred and three, in the rain in the street, my heart almost burst