"Hi. What’s your name?" asked James.
"Debby Barker, you?"
"James Santellano. So you're new?" James questioned.
"Yes. How old are you? I’m 12, my birthday is December 1st. It’s in 2 days!" said Debby.
"That's wonderful. I’m 12 too, mine was eight days ago, November 21st" replied James. Over the next few days, James and Debby became better and better friends. Then, Debby's birthday comes.
"Happy Birthday Debby!!" James whispered in her ear.
"Thank you so much," Debby whispered back.

A Couple Days Earlier
Debby picks up the phone. "Hello Julia. I was just about to call you! How are you?"
"I'm great. What have you been doing? I just had a Junior Olympics Gymnastics meet last week. Oh, also I just learned a double for diving yesterday!" stated Julia.
"I've played for 5 different softball teams since I left Pueblo, Colorado and came to Martha’s Vineyard. I finally found the team that I liked to play with, Midnight Madness."
"Sounds like fun! Got to go to gymnastics. I'll miss you!"
"See ya soon." responded Debby.

Debby and James' families go to dinner and attend a lot of other events together and become really good family friends. All of Debby's siblings are friends with James' siblings. Their families go to movies together, bowling and just about everything. They went bowling together for Debby's 13th birthday.
"Strike!!" yelled Debby and everybody started clapping.
"That's awesome Debby. Nice job!" said Mr. Santellano, James' dad.
"Thank you so much. I love to bowl!" replied Debby.  "Spare! That's great James."
"Not as great as you."
"Well I bowl every two weeks. It is one of my favorite sports after all." exclaimed Debby.
"Time to eat!" shouted Mr. Barker over the loud music.
"Let me go wash my hands and then I will be out," Debby said.
"Hey James, when are you going to make your move? Are you giving her what you said you would? Are you nervous?" asked Mr. Barker.
"Right before we eat as she's coming out. Thanks for finding me the great discount. Oh and yes, I asked a girl out at my old school in Orlando, Florida and she said "no". I’ve been looking for the right girl to ask ever since. Debby is the one I’ve been looking for."
"Good luck."
"Thanks," said James right as Debby was walking out of the bathroom.
"Hey Debby, will you go out with me?" asked James.
There was no hesitation before Debby replied, "YES!" Everybody started clapping as loud as they could and James gave Debby a long box wrapped in sports paper. Debby opened it and it was a brand new Demarini softball bat.
"Oh my gosh, thank you so much. I've always wanted this bat!!"
After that day Debby and James went on so many dates that neither of them could remember them all.  They hung out everyday after school, sometimes even slept over at the others house. They went to the movies together, the mall, dinner and of course bowling. Debby is teaching James how to bowl and get strikes, in return James is teaching her about his favorite sport, football. They also go to USA softball games and even sometimes on the weekends travel with the team to away games since Mr. Barker is the head coach. Then one Saturday night before James and Debby were about to go to dinner, Debby got a phone call…
"Oh hi Julia" said Debby surprised.
"Hey. What's new?"
"Oh I got asked out by a boy named James Santellano. I'll send you a pic of him."
There was a pause "That's weird." replied Julia in a shocked voice.
"Why? What's wrong?" said Debby confused.
"Does James have a cousin named Robert Santellano, because a kid, Robert Santellano asked me out a while ago and now we are dating. Julia could hear Debby talking to James about a cousin.
"Yeah. He does have a cousin, Robert Santellano. That is so weird!" said Debby.
"We should get together with our boyfriends so they can catch up on their family relationship!"
"Yeah. Totally! I'll call you tomorrow to find out when you are free to get together. It's been a long time since I've seen you." said Debby.
"Tootaloodledo Debby." said Julia in their secret language they made up when they were in elementary school.
"Tootaloodledo Julia." Debby said back.