"Who was Saint Valentine?" Mrs. Lainey asked.

Before anyone could answer, our teacher explained that Valentine was a martyr and a priest or bishop of Rome.

"The popular customs associated with Valentines Day," she continued, "originated from England and France during the Middle Ages. It was believed that on the 14th day of February - half way through the second month of the year, the birds began to pair. For this reason the day was looked upon as a special day for lovers, and a proper occasion for writing letters and tokens."

I listened attentively as Mrs. Lainey advised our one room class consisting of grades one through nine that there would be an exchanging of valentines the next day. What a chance for me to express my love for Troy Finney!

Troy sat in the seat in front of me. He and his family had moved from Nova Scotia to our isolated outport in Newfoundland, and although he was 16 and I a shy and skinny 14, I was positive he liked me a little. Why, he actually sharpened my pencil one day!

Troy had the bluest eyes I ever saw. I stared at his profile as he moved left to right, his black hair cut neatly around the nape of his long neck. "What a beautifully shaped head!" I thought.

As I sat in my desk listening to Mrs. Lainey I made my plan, I would compose a poem and slip it in one of Troy's scribblers and he would never know who sent it.

"Roses are red, violets are blue," I wrote. "I hope you like me, as much as I like you."

I signed it, "Guess who!"

As soon as Troy was out of the schoolhouse, I slipped the note in his math scribbler.

"That should be the first thing he opens in the morning," I said and crossed my fingers.

I knelt down that night and prayed to this special Saint Valentine.

"Please," I pleaded. "I would like a small miracle, if you could give me a sign tomorrow, something to prove Troy even likes me a little."

I woke early and prepared myself for the unexpected. A blizzard had occurred during the night, but school would still be opening at nine. I wondered if that was a sign.

The new snow was heavy as my three sisters and I ploughed our way to school, I kept quiet, so not to give away my little secret.

The schoolroom was cosy with the potbelly stove burning in the centre of the classroom.

Mrs. Lainey smiled, "Since its Saint Valentines Day, we will begin by exchanging our greetings."

I watched the grins as everyone in the school received their delightful surprises.

"This card exchanging is for kids," Troy whispered to one of his buddies.

"Not really," I thought. "You'll see."

My heart stood still as I waited for some response when he looked at his math scribbler, but there wasn't even a second look at anyone, he just kept on writing.

I covered my eyes with my hands for a moment to stop from crying. Then I noticed a red heart sticking out of the back cover of my math book. It looked like it was cut out of some magazine, and had no verse or signature but I knew it was from Troy. It just had to be!

Saint Valentine heard and answered my prayer. My heart began to pound and I found myself seeing two of everyone. I awoke minutes later, sprawled on the floor with what seemed like a thousand eyes looking down on me. A cold wet towel covered my forehead while Mrs. Lainey reassured everyone I was okay.

I glanced over at Troy who looked very concerned, but after a few minutes he shook his head and whispered, "You didn't have to faint to get my attention. I knew you were there all the time."

I discovered later that Troy had cut out that heart for me. He found my card the night before. So you see, little miracles do happen once in a while. Especially on Saint Valentines Day!

Marie was born in Winter Houses on the Port-au-Port Peninsula in Western Newfoundland and now makes her home in Nelson-Miramichi. She is an avid writer and has written several articles for The Downhomer Magazine of Newfoundland. Marie can be reached at marieiv@nb.sympatico.ca.