Heather's Version
(1) In July of 2008, my little brother Kyle got me an extra ticket for his work party/trip to the Playmill Theatre in West Yellowstone for my 19th birthday. I’ve loved Playmill since I was little, so I was very, very excited! 1a He worked at Yellowstone Bear World. On the day of the performance, we headed to Bear World to wait for the bus that was going to take everyone. I’m a pretty shy person until I know people, so I was a little uncomfortable because I knew no one but Kyle, and buried my nose in a book so I didn’t have to talk to anyone. 1b Once the bus got there, Kyle and I sat in the middle-ish of the bus, and I again started reading my book and ignored everything going on around me. We stopped at Dominoes to pick up the pizza, and while they were passing it out, I noticed a really cute guy sitting further in the back. But, of course, I was too shy to do anything about it. Later that night, once we got back to Bear World and were all getting into our cars to head home, I remember telling Kyle that he had some really cute coworkers. 1c But again, I was too shy to actually go talk to that really cute guy, and I didn’t think I’d ever see him again anyway, because Kyle said that most of his coworkers were heading back to school for the fall semester.
(2) A week or so after the Playmill trip, I got an interview at Bear World to work in the Photo Den. I had just finished my first year at BYUI (I was on the winter/summer track), and my mom told me that I needed to get a job (Yes, I lived at home at the time. I was planning on moving out again and getting an apartment after saving up more money), and Kyle reminded me that Bear World was looking for some people, because most of their employees had left to go back to school. I got the job, and my first day of work was August 9, 2008. 2a The other girl in the photo den showed me the camera, then sent me out to the tower that first day. The tower was outside the bear area; we took pictures of the cars driving through with bears next to them, and they transmitted into the photo den so people could see and buy them when they finished driving through. A little bit after I had set up in the tower, a golf cart drives up, and the cute guy from the Playmill trip got out. 2b I was so excited! I knew how to work the camera, which is what he had been sent out to show me, but instead of him heading back, we started talking about music and where we were from. I learned his name was Brett, and he liked the same kinds of music I did! This was pretty amazing to me, because my favorite music is Broadway/musicals. So that’s where it all started.
(3) I soon started borrowing his sweatshirt when it was cold. A couple days after I started, he cut his hair, and it looked so fuzzy and soft, I just had to touch it! My rubbing his head was the first time I touched him. 3a Around the same time that he cut his hair, his parents came up from Mink Creek to visit and drive through the park. I didn’t get to meet them then, because I was out in the tower that day. There is sort of a picture of me from that day anyway, from when they were driving through the bear area. The tower is in the background, and you can kind of tell that there is someone in it ;). 3b Two weeks after I started working at Bear World (August 23, 2008), we decided we wanted to get together after work and hang out/go on a date. I got to leave early that day, so when I went to go give Brett my number, he was feeding the baby bears and didn’t have his phone on him. So he gave me his number. 3c
(4) I hate calling people, period. I avoid it at all costs usually. But I REALLY liked Brett, and I wanted to spend time with him! So I called him. I think I dialed his number and then hung up about ten times before I actually finished the call. Thank goodness I did! I invited him over for dinner that night. That day my parents were in Logan, UT for some sort of meeting, and they had taken my older sister with them, so I was supposed to make dinner for my four younger siblings. 4a One of my friends from high school was getting married that day as well, so I was going to her reception. After I went to that, I quickly went to Broulim’s to get some of my favorite sausage. I had decided to make breakfast for dinner, and I REALLY wanted to impress him with my cooking. 4b I made homemade biscuits, sausage, and scrambled eggs. After everyone got their plates full, we went down to the basement to watch Eight Below while eating. Brett and I sat on the loveseat, and once we were finished eating, we started holding hands. That soon turned into cuddling. Yeah, in my parent’s basement, with my four younger siblings watching a movie with us. What can I say? He was cute! 4c When the movie was almost done, my parents got home. Once my dad came down the stairs, Brett jumped up and shook his hand and introduced himself. Thank goodness my dad didn’t scare him off! 4d
(5) We went to stadium singing the next day, and it was the first time I’d heard him sing - I love his voice! 5a Stadium singing is a BYUI tradition - every Sunday students gather under the metal stadium seats and sing hymns. The next day - Monday - I had my college FHE (Family Home Evening) group over to my house for a movie night, and invited Brett to come too.5b One of the girls had worked with Brett at Bear World before the semester started, so she knew him. She saw how we were acting around each other, and when everyone was talking in the kitchen and living room, she pulled me downstairs to talk. She told me that Brett was a really great guy, and she asked if I thought that it could end up going all the way. I told her absolutely yes! Then we went upstairs and watched the movie. The next day, Brett and I changed our Facebook relationship statuses to “In a Relationship”. Woohoo!
Brett's Notes
1a) I was excited, but rather nervous about the whole play thing. I had worked at Bear World for a year and a half, but I still didn't feel as if I was really friends with very many of my coworkers. Everyone was told that they could bring a friend/date/spouse/child/etc, but none of my friends cared one whit about this type of thing, so I was just going to go without an official date.
Back to (1)
1b) I stored my lunch in the fridge in a little room where we prepared the milk for the baby bears' bottle feedings. It was going to be locked when we got back from the play, so after work I rushed to get my bag with the empty food bowl and such. I was on my way across the parking lot to take it to my Jeep, when I saw that bus was pulling in. I had my grocery bag in one hand, and my bottle of hot sauce in the other hand. (I have hot sauce all the time. It's in my desk at work, 2 different types in Heather's purse, 4-5 bottles at home, a bottle in our camping trailer, and often some at Mom and Dad's place and in their trailer.) I was walking with a coworker, who was also going to put lunch stuff in their car, and I started looking at the group of people that were gathering to get on the bus. It was the first time I ever saw Heather. I couldn't figure out how Kyle had gotten her as a date, as I had no idea that she was his sister. Well, looking at her, I forgot to keep holding on to the hot sauce in my hand, and it dropped and shattered on the parking lot. My coworker had a good laugh at me, but I didn't tell him exactly why I forgot to hold on. I had to go back and get stuff to clean it up. The only consolation was that she hadn't seen, and I was able to clean it up after she was on the bus. So, I just looked like a klutz, rather than a twitterpated moron. Fortunately, I finished on-time, and was able to still make the bus to the play.
Back to (1)
1c) On the way up, and at the play, I sat next to one of my coworkers that I had thought was a pretty fun girl. We had agreed to be each other's +1 because neither of us really had anyone else to invite, and we got along well. We sat at the back of the bus, which meant I could see everyone else from behind. She even fell asleep on my shoulder on the way home, which would have been a lot more fun if I hadn't been so distracted the whole time with trying to figure out what was up with Kyle's date. I knew he wasn't very old, so I honestly worried that I might be some sort of pervert with a crush on a 16 year old girl, but she just looked like she might not be that young.
Back to (1)
2a) We really were pressed for employees, because most of our staff had gone back to school for the fall semester at BYU-Idaho. I was now attending classes, and still working 7 days a week. I worked directly with the animals, but at this point even I had to take shifts at the front gate, the photo den, the photo tower, and even the kiddie rides. So, when my boss told me that we were getting 2 new girls to work in the photo den, I was very glad to hear it. He told me that one of them was Kyle's sister, and I didn't make the connection. I had thoroughly convinced myself that I was a pervert for spending so much time thinking about a girl that was quite likely about 16 years old. I made myself stop thinking about her as much as possible.
Back to (2)
2b) When the 2 new girls started, I was gobsmacked. It wasn't Kyle's date, it was his sister. I asked my boss why she wasn't in school - thinking that maybe the high school hadn't started yet or something. He didn't know I thought she must be in high school, so he just told me that she was a winter summer student, so this was her off semester. OH BOY! I was NOT a pervert! Also, I was not going to be able to not think about her anymore. I was totally twitterpated. So, when one of the boss folk asked if someone could go out to the photo tower to show Heather how to use the camera and what types of shots to look for, I was the first in line. I didn't let there be a line. I told him I'd be willing, then just went and did it, without him even having a chance to say okay. I hope he thought I was just being a very good employee. I got into the little golf cart that we used to get around when we didn't actually need to go in with the bears, and I took off. I was nervous, and sweating, and was quite sure that she would tell me to go get someone else to help her. Fortunately she didn't, and we got to talking.
Back to (2)
3a) All of the keepers had Bearworld hoodies that we wore when it got cold. It was only cold in the really early mornings, when we did the first bottle feedings, fed the other animals, and did other assorted chores. By the time the other employees showed up, I didn't need it, as I truly love cold temperatures. So, I would take it off and store it in the little shack where we signed people up for tours and bear cub feedings. Also, I LOVED it when she touched my head.
Back to (3)
3b) My Jeep was not behaving very well, so Dad and Mom came up to help me get it fixed. Also, I was very excited to show my parents the park, and this served as a great opportunity to do so. It was a fun morning. We worked on the Jeep, ate KFC at the picnic tables, and they got to see all of my animals. I really enjoyed that day.
Back to (3)
3c) I really hated to do it that way, but on the bear cub feedings, we couldn't take a break, and I really wasn't supposed to have my phone on me. I do try to be the gentleman, but with her leaving early, I didn't want to ask her to hang around for another half an hour or more just so I could get her number. I didn't really think she would call, and I planned on just getting her number the next time I saw her. After all, she flirted with me a lot, but who would really be that interested in me? I sort of thought she was just being nice to me.
Back to (3)
4a) I thought it was a perfect "first date" idea. I never loved just the restaurant and a movie deal. I like to see people in their element. I was nervous about meeting her family, but figured it would be easier to do so as a date than as a boyfriend. It meant a lot less pressure on me, and hopefully a lot less scrutiny from her family. I secretly hoped to be out of there before her parents arrived, so that her siblings could talk about how they liked me, and then the future parent meeting would go even better.
Back to (4)
4b) I love breakfast food. Well played Heather, well played.
Back to (4)
4c) I loved that little dance of going from sitting near each other to cuddling. I got seconds of her great cooking, and then came back downstairs to sit down again, and she slid into me a bit. So, I started the process. You know how it goes. Touch her hand and see if she pulls it away. When she doesn't, rest my hand against hers, then a bit on hers, then more, then all the way on top of her hand. Then she turned her hand over and we locked fingers. It was delightful! She cuddled into me, and we just enjoyed the contact until her parents arrived. It was bliss, and it still is, every time. :)
Back to (4)
4d) Her dad didn't scare me off at all. He was very kind and I didn't feel like he wanted to kill me any more than any other dad would have. Honestly though, it was nice to meet them and get that out of the way quickly. I had already made up my mind that I was going to date this girl, and put everything that I could into it.
Back to (4)
5a) My voice is nothing compared to hers, but I do love to sing. We love to sing together. We actually have to listen to books when we go on long car rides, because otherwise we'll sing to music the whole way and I'll wake up with a sore throat and no voice. I'm not trained in proper singing at all. I just love to do it.
Back to (5)
5b) I was nervous about this particular evening. Also, my roommates were kind of rude about me skipping our FHE to go to FHE with this girl that I had only started seeing. To be honest, I think they were a bit jealous, but that's just my humble, nonetheless correct, opinion. We had nice FHE sisters, but you can tell a few weeks into a semester, if it even takes that long, if any of them pique your interest, and none of them did for any of us.
Back to (5)
. . . . . To Be Continued!
Love this!!!!!!!!!!!
ReplyDeleteThanks! It’s been so much fun to write down the story of us, and read the things Brett remembers too. Once we get it all written, I’ll definitely be scrapping it!
DeleteWhat a wonderful story! I had never heard it before! You two are so cute and perfect for each other ♡
ReplyDeleteThanks Stacie :D
Delete