Anwar was walking down the street with his pet Sandy. He didn’t know exactly where to go, but he was feeling snacky, and bored on a sunny Saturday.

He knew Sandy would have loved to go to the city arboretum, where she could meet up with her Iguana girlfriends and get some needed exercise, but unfortunately, the place had been closed down for a while due to it getting repairs, which meant the city sidewalks would have to do.

A man walking down the street glared at Anwar and then looked down at Sandy. His eyes widened and he stumbled back like a frightened cat. “Ack! What is that!? A raptor!?”

Anwar chuckled. “No, this is Sandy, my Iguana. Don’t worry, she’s mainly harmless if you don’t mess with her.”

“Mainly harmless!? That thing needs a leesh! You’ve got a wild animal that could be possibly dangerous just out and about right next to ya!”

“She hates leashes! And trust me, as long as you don’t provoke her, she’ll have no reason to bite you! She eats plants!”

“Does she have teeth?” the Man asked

“Yes.” Anwar answered.

“Then she needs a leash. Geez, kids today.” The man said, shaking his head as he walked by.

Anwar gritted his teeth and looked down at Sandy. He then kneeled down to look into her dark brown, dome-shaped eyes.

“Sorry girl, but I guess you’ll need a leash for the time being.” Anwar pulled a skinny yellow leash out of his pocket and put it around the iguana’s neck.

Sandy bobbed her head in protest, but that was that. Anwar tied the other end of the leash to a light pole.

Anwar was getting hungry, and there happened to be a donut shop right across from the light pole that read Ally’s donuts. Anwar couldn’t resist.

He turned back to Sandy. “Alright girl, I’ll be back, do not whip anybody with your tail, do you hear me?”

Sandy wasn’t paying Anwar any mind. She was busy staring at passersbys across the street. Anwar would just have to hope she would calm down.

As soon as he stepped inside, he heard some low synth and piano music with a hip beat you could nod your head to. The walls were light blue with a clean white railing above the dado. There were about five circle tables total in the large room and at the counter behind the display case, was the prettiest lady Anwar had ever seen.

He immediately walked up to the counter, thinking about what he would say to the lady. Maybe compliment her shirt or tell her a joke. As soon as he walked up close and her big syrup brown eyes began to focus on him, all the thoughts of actually talking to her drained out of his body.

She smiled. “Hi, I’m Ally, what can I get’cha?”

Anwar didn’t know what to say, he hadn’t looked at the display case, let alone the menu. He had been so focused on her he could barely think. He didn’t just want to order though, he wanted to talk, so he said. “Uh… you own this place? ‘Cause the shop’s named Ally’s and… y’know?”

His voice faded away, but Ally saved them from awkwardness by saying. “Yep! That’s me! I wanted to run my own donut business so I made it happen!”

“That’s awesome!” Anwar told her. How lame of him.

Ally giggled. “So, what donut strikes your fancy? Jelly filled? Chocolate!?”

Anwar thought. “You go strawberry with sprinkles?

“Yep! Coming right up!” Ally took a donut with pink icing out of the display case, wrapped it up and handed it over to Anwar.

“Thanks,” he told her. After Anwar had paid and walked out of the store, a smile appeared on his face that just wouldn’t leave.

He kept thinking of Ally, how nice and sweet she was to him, and how cool she looked.

He snapped back into reality when he got smacked in the leg with an Iguana tail.

“Ouch, Sandy! I forgot you were unhappy!” As soon as the two got home, Anwar swiped the leash off Sandy and let her run inside.

That night all he could think of was Ally’s face.

The next day, Anwar thought of going to the donut shop again. You know, to get donuts… and see Ally again. But wait! Getting a donut from the same place two days in a row? Anwar didn’t know, but maybe that would be a bit weird, so he patiently waited another four whole days to go back.

That cloudy Thursday, the arboretum had opened back up! That meant Sandy could be happy again! But first, Anwar had to go back to the donut shop for a donut and a look at Ally.

Sandy bobbed her head at Anwar, he knew where he was supposed to take her!

“I know, I know, but hey, I want a donut. You can wait a little longer.” Anwar said as he tied her to the light pole again and went inside the donut shop.

Ally looked up and smiled. “Oh! It’s you again! I was thinking about you, wondering if you’d ever come back.” Ally widened her eyes. “I mean, I wasn’t thinking of you in a weird way or anything, it’s just y’know, I’ve never seen you come in before and…”

“I get it,” Anwar nodded, thrilled that Ally was thinking of him.

“What do you want today?” Ally asked him.

Anwar smiled mischievously. “Surprise me.”

Ally returned the smile. “Well, I’ve got a new donut flavor that’s in need of a guinea pig tester. You up for it!?”

“Yeah!”

Ally then gave him a light brown donut with rainbow spots and white icing on top. “I call it, the birthday cake!” Ally yelled.

Anwar took a bite. It tasted of goopy doe and sourness. Anwar’s mouth began to push the food back up, and Anwar wanted to gag, but he wouldn’t, not in front of Ally. He made himself swallow.

Ally tilted her head and her eyebrows lowered, as if she were doubtful. “How was it?”

“Uh…” Anwar didn’t want to hurt Ally’s feelings, but he also didn’t want to lie to Ally. He decided which was more important.

“It tastes terrible.”

To his surprise, Ally laughed. “I knew I had taken it out of the oven too early. Thanks for the honest opinion. My mother would have just said ‘Wow honey this is delicious!’ .”

The two laughed.

Then one of Ally’s employee’s walked in, and Ally sat at a table with Anwar and they talked for hours. Ally was new to the city and had always had a love for donuts. In addition to baking, Ally could sew, draw napkin art, and eat a donut in twenty seconds. Anwar loved all of Ally’s qualities, and Ally thought it was crazy cool Anwar could whistle.

By the time Anwar left, the sky was orange and cars had their lights on. It was too late to go to the arboretum.

Sandy looked up sadly at him, her big brown eyes blinked up at Anwar.

Anwar was instantly regretfull. “I’m sorry girl. I meant to take you to the arboretum. I will this weekend I promise.”

But that weekend, Anwar wanted to hang out with Ally. he was torn between taking Sandy out or Ally. Then he had an idea! What about both!? He could ask Ally to go to the arboretum with him! But, what if she didn’t like plants… or Iguana’s?

Anwar didn’t want to look bad in front of Ally. What if she was scared of Iguana’s like that guy on the sidewalk earlier that week? He would just have to see.

Anwar decided it was with a shot.

That hot and sweaty Saturday Morning, Anwar walked up to the donut shop.

As soon as Sandy saw that building again, she swiped Anwar with her tail.

“Ouch! Wait! This’ll only be a minute Sandy, please!”

Anwar ran into the store to find Ally fanning herself with a menu.

“Hey, when do you get off work?”

“Today? 11:30 since my employee should be coming in at any moment,” Ally replied. “Why?”

“I was wondering if… you would want to go to the arboretum with me and my Iguana Sandy,” said Anwar.

Moment of truth. He prayed Ally would say she would go.

“You’ve got an Iguana!?”

“Yes.”

“That sounds so cool! Sure I’d like to come with you!” Ally said.