Patricia made her way along the path between the buildings with a spring in her step. As usual she was in an effervescent mood, daydreaming happily as she weaved through the scattered crowd of students between her and the library.
Occasionally someone would bump into her, having not seen the short young woman, and each time she would wish that she was big enough for people to notice her. She refused to let it dampen her mood, however, and continued on her way pondering how nice it would be to be big enough to look down on everyone else. They'd notice her then for sure!
So caught up was she in daydreaming about growing larger that as she walked up the library stairs she did not notice someone coming down in her path. The collision was as brutal as it was comical to watch. The young man plowed into her, knocking her over backwards and launching him over her into a tumble down the wide staircase in front of the library building, limbs and possessions flying everywhere.
Patricia managed to twist as she made the short fall to the ground, breaking her fall clumsily and successfully preventing serious injury. Swiftly she was on her feet and bounding down the stairs.
"Oh I'm so sorry!" she cried out as she reached where he was lying at the base of the stairs. "Are you alright?"
"I'm fine," the tall boy groaned. He let out a slight yelp as he tried to sit up. "I think."
"I'm so sorry," Patricia repeated mournfully, putting her backpack down. "I didn't mean to crash into you."
"It's okay," he replied, slowly getting his feet under him. "I was too busy reading something to see you."
As he slowly brought himself to his full height his gaze worked its way up the meagre length of the young raven-haired woman. "Still," he remarked, "what a way to meet a pretty girl, eh?"
She blushed and smiled up at the boy, easily head and shoulders taller than her. She liked what she could see of him from down here.
"I am sure there are easier ways to meet people," she remarked kindly.
"That there are," he grinned. "Could you do me a favour and help me collect my things. I think I ought to keep bending to a minimum just now."
"Oh! Of course!" Patricia cheerfully collected everything she could find and handed it to him, for which he thanked her.
"My name's Todd, by the way," he said as he juggled everything into a manageable fahion.
"I'm pleased to meet you, Todd. I'm Patricia."
"Patricia. Now there's a nice name," smiled Todd. He glanced at his watch. "Oh, I need to be somewhere. Hopefully we'll meet again soon."
"That'd be nice," she said as he turned away and strode away swiftly on long legs. She picked up her backpack and slung it over her shoulders, ready to continue to the library, but stopped when she realised something had been concealed beneath her bag. Presumably Todd had dropped it and was not aware yet that it was missing. Figuring that she could give it to him when they crossed paths next, she bent down and picked up the ...