Nightmare #587: Waldo leaves the library at 11:30 p.m., and starts on his way to his girlfriend’s apartment to say “hi” before going home for a good night’s rest. On his way to her pad, he passes a flower shop, and notices a BIG sign that advertises Valentine’s Day flowers “for that special someone.” “Hey, what day is today?” muses Waldo. “Lessee, yesterday was the 13th…” Waldo’s eyes suddenly pop out of his head as he realizes he has 29 minutes to find ANYTHING red or heart-shaped. Alas, for poor Waldo, it’s too late. His girlfriend comes running out her door with a crazed look in her eye—and a knife hidden behind her back. “AIIEEEEE!!!!,” screams Waldo as he falls to the ground.

DON’T LET THIS HAPPEN TO YOU! Whoa—wake up! It’s not Valentine’s Day yet, but it will be soon. Fortunately, there are many places you can visit to avoid the wrath of the angry lover.

The flower shop might be a good place to start, and DeKalb has many. Glidden Campus Florist, 917 W. Lincoln Hwy., is offering a special sweetheart rose bouquet—a dozen for $41. “(Sweetheart roses) have a shorter stem with bigger buds. They’re really elegant,” said worker Jill Bartels. Another special Valentine arrangement the shop offers is the “Twirling Tunes” bouquet. “It’s a fresh flower bouquet for $30 with a music box stuck in the middle that plays ‘Let Me Call You Sweetheart,'” said Bartels. “It’s a novelty.”

The shop has many other gifts beside flowers, and Bartels said business has already escalated considerably. “People want everything and anything that’s red,” she said. “I don’t think I’m going to want to see another rose (after the holiday),” she added.

All Seasons Florist, 852 S. Fourth St., offers 10 specials for the big day, ranging from $7 to $32.

One of those specials is “Gingerbread Love.” “It’s a bread basket with gingerbread kitties and spring flowers—and a recipe for gingerbread,” said worker Teresa Louis. The “I Love You Baby!” special (a green dinosaur hugging a vase that contains three roses) sells for $17.50.

DeKalb Florist, 2131 E. Lincoln Hwy., and University Bu-Kae Shop, their smaller subsidiary at 901 Lucinda Ave., also offer special arrangements through FTD and Teleflora (all the shops carry at least one of these flower wire services). Along with the other flower shops, DeKalb Florist sells balloons, gift containers, and stuffed animals that are appropriate for the holiday.

Of course, where there are flowers, there’s usually candy, and Fannie May, 223 E. Lincoln Hwy. and The Confectionary, 149 N Second Ave., have got everything covered where sweets are concerned.

Fannie May is selling a new item this year—chocolate roses that are $2 apiece. Customers can purchase them in a wrapped box of either one or 12. The store sells a variety of heart-shaped boxes filled with varying assortments of chocolates. The largest box weighs 4 pounds and costs $42.95. Some boxes are prepackaged, but customers can also pick their own selections.

Other Fannie May Valentine novelties include “heart pops,” (heart-shaped chocolate suckers) and chocolate marshmallow hearts.

The Confectionary also sells boxes of assorted chocolates along with many other Valentine goodies. (Note: All The Confectionary’s chocolate is made right in the store.)

“We have molded (chocolate) items—bears, cats, alligators, fish, turtles, mice, Porsches, typewriters, and we can put hearts on them,” said owner Tom Smith. “We’re known as a high-end (quality) house.”

And finally, where there are flowers and candy, there might as well be cookies too (you just can’t be too safe). Mr. Crum’s Cookies, 722 W. Lincoln Hwy., has six different Valentine’s specials. For instance, there’s the “Cookie Pillow”_ a heart-shaped pillow with a big cookie tucked inside. For $7.95, customers can order a nine-inch heart-shaped cookie in any flavor dough. This special, and all the others, should be ordered at least one day in advance, said worker Lynette Kelecich.

Cookies And Co., 901 Lucinda Ave., will be decorating cookies with Valentine motifs. Decorated cookies can be ordered in the morning and picked up that same afternoon. Although manager Alta Potter said it’s better to order them as soon as possible.

Although these stores offer different Valentine’s Day fare, all the workers have the same advice for customers as the fateful day approaches.

“Order very early! If everyone ordered early, it would be easier,” said Louis. “Come early. We have a good selection, but it will be busy (on the 13th and 14th)” said Smith. All the stores will also have extra workers on hand to combat the crowds and may stay open longer to help the poor souls who work late. “It’ll be a real test of a person’s good humor,” Smith said.

So, take the advice of these Valentine “experts” and stock-up on gifts for Feb. 14 now. Remember—no one wants to be a Waldo.