My crowd was not getting socialized in the same way that other kids were. We were outsiders and didn't participate in school activities except to subvert them. Other kids from families with expectations joined school clubs and other organizations. They dressed better and adopted mannerisms and linguistic styles that identified them one to the other. It was the conformity that I could not stand, that and all other forms of subservience. But having played on the school baseball team made me more acceptable, I guess. Somewhat.
One day, Mike, one of the boys all the girls thought was cute, told me that his girlfriend's friend liked me. Her name was Addie. He said that I should come with him on Friday and we would meet them at the basketball game. I could stay over at his house for the night. Mike was one of "them," but he was cool, too, and though I was nervous, I said sure.
Before Friday, I got a call. It was Mike's girlfriend telling me that Addie liked me. Addie. I had never seen her before and was uncertain about the whole affair, but when Mike's girl asked me if I wanted to talk to her, I said yes.
"Hello," she said. Is this you?" Her voice was not like other girls I knew. It didn't lilt but sang some slow melody I hadn't heard before. It vibrated low in my belly. "I can't wait to meet you. Mike showed me a picture of you. You're cute."
"Mike has a picture of me?" I thought that was odd.
"No, he showed me your picture in the yearbook."
"Oh, I don't think I look like that now. I had to get my hair cut for baseball."
"Well, I can't wait for Friday. What do you want me to wear?"
I had never been asked such a question before. I didn't know any of this. It was like a Doris Day movie, I thought, but I wasn't even Tony Randall.
"Are you listening to the radio?" she asked me.
"Yes."
"Do you hear that song? That's my favorite."
Spooky. That was the name of the song, and suddenly it was my favorite, too.
(no time to finish. to be continued. . . I think)
It's a funny thing. When a Girl discovers the power she has. Of course it is most dreadful to discover that the One Boy you want more than any other is immune to that same Power.
ReplyDeleteI guess that's how it works in the beginning. Sort of like Bewitched -- we go around twitching our noses at Boys wondering if it will work. And each time it does, we sort of get More Powerful. We can even convince you of your new favorite song. :)
I always wanted to be Tabitha. I remember sitting in my room -- dolls and assorted girl playthings strewn everywhere -- and wiggling my nose, hoping, just hoping the mess would disappear.
Oh. Where was I.
There's a sweet cruelty to adolescence.
Where's the fish? Where's the young girl warrior?
i left a comment earlier not sure where it went. Prolly the same place where my life is at the moment.:/
ReplyDeleteSpooky was the first song that I had that was attached to a girl. She was a 7th grader and I was a older guy in the 9th that drove. Her mom wasn't really into that so it didn't last long.
The next Girl well, let's just say she expanded my horizons in a lot of ways.
Hey, maybe it's all her fault :)
great read as always,
thanks
dh
you think it is to be continued? don't you dare even consider leaving us hanging on THIS one...
ReplyDeletelol, what a tease!
ReplyDelete