Love Stories

(How it all began here.)

A fish funeral.

Never in a million years did I think the story of how I fell in love with Evan would include a funeral for a fish. A fish named Milkbone.

After spending a few hours with Evan and his friends at a bonfire in Provo Canyon the night before, stealing his hat in a rousing game of ultimate frisbee, then being largely ignored for the rest of the night, I had developed a small crush. Well, maybe it wasn't even a crush yet. I didn't know Evan hardly at all, but I did know I wouldn't mind bumping into him again in the near future.

When my friend Kristi told me her brother was going to be having a funeral for Milkbone and that some of his friends (not the fish, her brother) would be there I nonchalantly mentioned that I'd tag along. How often do you get to attend a fish funeral, complete with a presiding bishop in attendance? This was some pretty serious stuff.

It was a Sunday and out of respect for the deceased I thought it appropriate to wear my Sunday best, which just so happened to be a cute black number that was extremely flattering. (Oh how I wish that dress still fit...) We walked into the apartment where the funeral was to be held and I did a quick scan for Evan. Well, let's back up. At this point I don't think I knew his name was Evan. All of his friends had nicknames for each other and Evan's was "Magic". And when I asked Kristi what all of her brother's friends' names were, she wasn't even 100 % sure. So I knew him as Magic.

I saw Magic and apparently caught him off guard. He wasn't expecting me to be there. And in the wake of such tragedy, he wasn't going to get his hopes up in thinking I might make an appearance. Eventually he made his way over to where I was sitting and sat behind me. As my heart started to beat a little faster, I did my best to pretend like I hadn't seen him. The funeral began and there may have been some faux tears here and there. When everyone was invited to go outside for the burial (and I think it was at this point that the bishop in attendance had started to wonder if any of these boys would get married), I turned around and said something to Magic. (Or he may have initiated the conversation. Or maybe it was Kristi. I can't remember, but someone started talking.) Plans were made to get together the next week at our apartment and have a barbecue. Magic would be there and so would his friend Jex.

I'm not sure if I expected to be asked on a date at that fish funeral. I do remember leaving a little disappointed. I would have said yes to a date, even though all I really knew about this guy was that everyone called him Magic and he liked bonfires. Magic still thought I might have a boyfriend and was kind of testing the water to see how a group hang out would go. Surely he'd find out if I was dating someone if I showed up to this barbecue with a guy. Or at least it was bound to come up in some sort of conversation.

I left the funeral with a little bit of hope. At least I knew I'd get to see him again.

What I didn't know was that hours before our next encounter, I would be running several blocks to a friend's house with shower essentials and clean clothes in an effort to look somewhat decent after our toilet backed up into our shower. I was really excited to see Magic again and I wasn't going to let a little poop ruin that night.