Debi had a feeling Kev was going to pop the question, but then the box he was carrying was way too big for a ring. They were at the zoo long after closing, having made use of some keys Kevin had duplicated after a summer job at the zoo back in high school some six years ago.

“I knew these babies would still work,” Kevin bragged. Then he winked. “Don’t tell anyone but I tried them out last week.”

“But won’t all the animals be asleep?” Debi asked.

“It’s the atmosphere,” Kevin declared, and he handed Debi the box.

Debi wasn’t sure what Kev meant by atmosphere. She shook the box and couldn’t help asking, “What is it?”

“Open it and find out,” Kevin said.

It was a ball of some kind. Roundish. Well-worn leather.

“Um, what is it?” Debi dared ask again.

“My most precious possession. A 1927 New York Yankees’ football. See, it’s autographed by Red Grange.”

“Oh,” Debi said. “Yeah. I think I’ve heard of him. I think I’ve heard of the New York Yankees.”

“I can see you’re overwhelmed. It’ll look better when it’s pumped up. Only trouble is it doesn’t hold the air long. But you’ll see.” He grinned, and from his pants’ pocket produced a metal cylinder. “The pump,” he said, holding it up triumphantly. “In case you were wondering what that suspicious bulge in my pants was.”

In fact Debi had been wondering, but she hadn’t said anything.

Kevin threaded a silver needle onto the pump. He pointed to the small raised bump on the football’s skin. “See this hole here? You need to spit on it so the needle will go in easy.”

“Spit on it?”

“That is kind of crude, isn’t it? You can kiss it instead. If it’s a juicy kiss.”

Tentatively Debi brought the football to her mouth. She risked a small kiss. Right away she knew it was too dry, so she swallowed and repeated the kiss. A bubble of her saliva covered the tiny hole.

“Perfect,” Kevin said. “Now hold tight.” He pushed the pump’s needle into kiss-anointed hole. He worked the pump steadily, one strong stroke after another, until the football was plump and firm. When he pulled out the needle there was a small but juicy “ftt” sound. Kevin and Debi smiled at each other.

“I’m still not sure why you want me to have this,” Debi said.

“It’s my most precious possession,” Kev repeated. “After we’re married we can put it on the mantel over our fireplace.”

“Mantel? Married?”

“If you’ll have me.” He looked expectantly at Debi.

“I will,” Debi said. “I’ll have you. Even though I don’t have a most precious possession to give you in return.”

“You do!” Kevin said in contradiction. “Your virginity.”

“But I’m not...”

“That doesn’t matter. We can make believe. We can make believe each and every time. And there will be a lot of times, won’t there?”

“Yes,” Debi agreed. “I hope so.”

“Good. We can start tonight.”

“Here? Now?”

“In there,” Kevin said, nodding toward the lion compound.

“But what about the lions?”

“They’re inside, fast asleep. They can’t get into the outer aspects of the enclosure.”

“Outer aspects?” Debi questioned.

“Follow me,” Kevin said.

Kevin led Debi into the lion house, up a few cement steps to a metal door and a dimly lit hallway. Kevin unlocked and opened the door three doors down.

“I’m not sure about this,” Debi whispered.

“Don’t worry,” Kevin assured her, stepping into the enclosure. “It’s perfectly safe. We’ll just take off our clothes and—”

“What about that?” Debi asked. She tried to point to the twitching tail sticking out from a pile of artificial stones in the far corner of the enclosure, but she was holding the football tight to her chest and couldn’t move her arms at all.