This is the anecdote I sent the writers:
When I was 17 I was interested in a girl I went to high school with.
You can call her N. We had a lot of mutual friends who were trying to
set us up, but both of us were too timid to make a move. One night all
of us went to the beach (in Northern California) and after doing what
any group of kids would do at night at the beach I found myself alone
with N. The rest of the group had intentionally ditched us to help our
romance along. We lay on our backs on the sand and talked about what
our ideas about romantic relationships and other things high school
kids talked about in the 90's. Things became very tense and one of us
suggested we rejoin the group. We got up and found the rest of our
friends waiting expectantly at the cars. When we arrived we were each
taken aside and questioned about whether anything had "happened".
6/1/07
Summer Love
Summer love. It is what it is, and we can't make it more, no matter
how hard we try. Natalie was every high school boy's summer dream,
and for one blessed season, she was mine. She had silky, chestnut
hair that would make a shampoo model envious, and long, bronzed legs
that just didn't quit. The thing I loved the most about her though
was her smile, so beautifully quirky. It was unattainable sweetness,
like the inside of a rosebud. And she was way out of my league.
We were in the same circle of friends, and so I was able to see her
often. There were countless days of beach parties and house parties
and road trips. I'd watched her being pursued by dozens of guys, but
she always shirked them away. This gave me flying hope. The trouble
with being on speaking terms with the girl you like is that if all of
your friends know about it, then so do all of her friends, and pretty
soon she finds out too. I'd sometimes wondered if there was even a
slight possibility that that was why she'd remained single. I dared
to imagine it was for me.
On one such particular party night at the beach, with bonfire ablaze
and a few too many marshmallows all around, I was given a chance to
test my aspirations. I was sitting with Natalie, both of us patiently
listening to a tedious sister-fight-story from her gabbling best
friend when my buddy Jared came around back and put his arms around
Natalie and me.
"Ash my man, and ladies, you all up for some late-night skinny
dipping?" A plotting grin formed on his face. He started winking
furiously at the other girl, Jen.
"Skinny dipping! Jared are you insaaaa-oh my gosh!" And Jen started
grinning as well. "Skinny dipping in the moonlight! Cool! C'mon you
guys!" She stood up, brushing sand from her legs and tightening her
scrunchy. "Everybody lets go! Last one to the water's a rotten egg!"
Almost everyone followed suite, with a few stray people that
apparently didn't worry too much about their egg status. This
included me. I smiled at the fire and lay down on my back.
"Late-night half-drowning not your thing?" Natalie asked, seeming
actually relieved her friend was gone. She stretched her arms in a
half-yawn, and shifted a little closer to me as she also lay down.
"No." I grinned. "And I was just thinking those dorks could have
handled that a little more smoothly." My hand was about an inch from
hers; no, I thought and crossed my arms under my head. Why were girls
so damned pretty? Her knee was just touching mine and I could barely
contain myself from leaping up with joy.
"Oh, yea. Them." Natalie wrapped herself in someone's sandy sweater
and sighed. To my utter amazement, she then proceeded to snuggle up
to me and lay her head down lightly on my shoulder. Being too
awestruck for words, I braced myself accordingly so I wouldn't have to
move a smidgen away from her, incase I should disrupt this sudden
affectionate bubble. After what seemed like hours of
star-watching-silence, I hoisted up my courage and procured what
seemed like good conversation in my head.
"So, the Backstreet Boys. They suck, hey?"
how hard we try. Natalie was every high school boy's summer dream,
and for one blessed season, she was mine. She had silky, chestnut
hair that would make a shampoo model envious, and long, bronzed legs
that just didn't quit. The thing I loved the most about her though
was her smile, so beautifully quirky. It was unattainable sweetness,
like the inside of a rosebud. And she was way out of my league.
We were in the same circle of friends, and so I was able to see her
often. There were countless days of beach parties and house parties
and road trips. I'd watched her being pursued by dozens of guys, but
she always shirked them away. This gave me flying hope. The trouble
with being on speaking terms with the girl you like is that if all of
your friends know about it, then so do all of her friends, and pretty
soon she finds out too. I'd sometimes wondered if there was even a
slight possibility that that was why she'd remained single. I dared
to imagine it was for me.
On one such particular party night at the beach, with bonfire ablaze
and a few too many marshmallows all around, I was given a chance to
test my aspirations. I was sitting with Natalie, both of us patiently
listening to a tedious sister-fight-story from her gabbling best
friend when my buddy Jared came around back and put his arms around
Natalie and me.
"Ash my man, and ladies, you all up for some late-night skinny
dipping?" A plotting grin formed on his face. He started winking
furiously at the other girl, Jen.
"Skinny dipping! Jared are you insaaaa-oh my gosh!" And Jen started
grinning as well. "Skinny dipping in the moonlight! Cool! C'mon you
guys!" She stood up, brushing sand from her legs and tightening her
scrunchy. "Everybody lets go! Last one to the water's a rotten egg!"
Almost everyone followed suite, with a few stray people that
apparently didn't worry too much about their egg status. This
included me. I smiled at the fire and lay down on my back.
"Late-night half-drowning not your thing?" Natalie asked, seeming
actually relieved her friend was gone. She stretched her arms in a
half-yawn, and shifted a little closer to me as she also lay down.
"No." I grinned. "And I was just thinking those dorks could have
handled that a little more smoothly." My hand was about an inch from
hers; no, I thought and crossed my arms under my head. Why were girls
so damned pretty? Her knee was just touching mine and I could barely
contain myself from leaping up with joy.
"Oh, yea. Them." Natalie wrapped herself in someone's sandy sweater
and sighed. To my utter amazement, she then proceeded to snuggle up
to me and lay her head down lightly on my shoulder. Being too
awestruck for words, I braced myself accordingly so I wouldn't have to
move a smidgen away from her, incase I should disrupt this sudden
affectionate bubble. After what seemed like hours of
star-watching-silence, I hoisted up my courage and procured what
seemed like good conversation in my head.
"So, the Backstreet Boys. They suck, hey?"
Nick & Nancy
“Where do you think they went?” Nancy asked, looking across the bonfire. Nick shrugged, and looked away. They had all come to Doran Beach in Bob’s van, but the other four had charged off into the dunes to explore, leaving Nick alone with Nancy. Nick was mortified. It could not more obvious that they were trying to set the two of them up? Not that he would have minded.
“It’s nice here.” Nancy said, “Quiet.”
It was quiet, Nick thought. Too quiet. He looked over at Nancy quickly. She wore a red tank top and white shorts and her tan skin glowed in the firelight. Nick darted his eyes away just as she noticed him looking.
Nick liked everything about Nancy Manning. He liked the fact that she wasn’t full of herself like a lot of other girls, always one upping each other with what they wore or who they dated. Nancy was quiet and smart. She was pretty, with a kind of off strawberry blonde hair, but she never did anything with it. It was just there. He liked that.
“How are you making out with chem. class?” she asked. Nick blushed. Once, a couple of months ago, he had mentioned his struggle with chemistry while they were having lunch with a group of friends. Nick wondered how she had managed to remember that.
“I’m doing all right.” he said, “It’ll never be my favorite thing.”
“Mine either.” Nancy answered, tossing a branch into the fire. Sparks shot up and her gaze followed them. Nick sneaked another peak at the girl, wishing he had the courage to tell her how he felt. Bob, his best friend would have in a heartbeat. Bob had had girlfriends since seventh grade, a steady string of them, but Nick had never understood what the appeal of girls was until he had met Nancy Manning. He glanced over and saw Nancy watching him.
“What?”
“Any more marshmallows?” Nick picked up the bag of marshmallows and started to toss them to her.
“Wait, I’ll come over there.” Nancy said. She got up and crossed over to the log that Nick sat on, bringing some long sticks. They divvied up the remaining marshmallows, spearing them and setting them over a section of coals that had no flame.
“Aha,” Nancy said, “I see you are an aficionado.”
“Aficia what?”
“Aficianado. An expert. Everybody else just lights them on fire. They don’t understand that this way, they get hot on the inside and turn golden brown on the outside.”
“You sound like a commercial for the marshmallow advisory board.” Nancy laughed.
“I want to be a writer.” she said “I don’t think I will though. I might actually end up writing commercials.” She made a face and reached down to turn both their sticks over. “What about you? What are your plans after high school?”
“I dunno.” Nick said, looking out to where the phosphorescent waves crested onto the shore, “I’ll probably go to the JC to start, and then transfer somewhere that has a good liberal arts program. I think I might want to be a teacher.”
“Oh, yeah? What?”
“Kids. You know, little kids. I think kids are cool. They’re so… uninhibited, you know.”
“Yeah.” Nancy said, “I think that you would be great at that.”
“Really?” He looked her in the eyes. She was smiling, and for a moment he thought he would kiss her. He had always been afraid of girls, but this girl seemed so different, so approachable. He wondered if he would ever have the chance to tell her how he felt.
“So what do you think you’ll do for college?” he asked her, reaching down to turn the marshmallows.
“Almost ready!” she said, rocking slightly. Their shoulders touched. “I’ll probably go Berkeley. Maybe wait to declare till I figure out what interests me.”
“Sounds good.” Nick said, hating himself. Could he be any more stupid? He felt like a caveman being interviewed by a princess. “I think maybe the…” he pointed down to where the marshmallows were starting to turn dark. Nancy reached down and picked up both sticks. She handed him one and they ate in silence.
“I’m glad you’re staying in the county, Nick.” Nancy said when she had finished eating. “Berkeley’s not that far. You can come see me.” She looked at him, licking her fingers like a kid.
“I would totally like that.” he said. He held up his last marshmallow to her. She plucked it off the stick with a smile and popped it in her mouth.
Just then, there was a shout from the dunes and Bob ran up and pounced on the sand. He was quickly followed by Lisa, Bob’s second girlfriend this year, and the rest of the gang.
“Hello young lovers.” Bob said. Nick wanted to smash him in the face. He looked quickly over at Nancy, but her face was unreadable. “We got to haul ass.” Bob said, “My dad told me I was supposed to be back home by ten and its after nine thirty now.”
After they had thrown sand on the fire, they all started to walk back to where they had parked the van. Nancy was walking ahead with the girls. Bob threw an affectionate headlock on Nick.
“Well, my man,” he said, “Tell daddy all about it. You get some?”
“Shut up.” Nick said.
“What are you guys talking about?” said Matt, coming up to join them.
“I was just asking my boy Nick here if he took advantage of our little ploy.” Bob said.
“As if it wasn’t obvious what you guys were trying to do.” Nick said.
“Well?” Matt said.
“Well, what?”
“You know.”
“Listen, if you guys like to circle jerk, that’s your business. Just leave me out of it.”
“That means he didn’t get any.” Matt said, punching Nick on the arm. Nick blushed. Bob and Matt were both cut from the same cloth, bold and brash. Nick sometimes wondered why Bob called Nick his best friend. At the moment, he was not sure why he called Bob his.
They reached the car and saw that the three girls had all crowded into the back seat. Matt shot Nick a withering glance. “Great.” he muttered under his breath. “After you, stud.” Nick crawled into the middle seat, miserable. He was ashamed that he hadn’t taken advantage of his time alone with Nancy, but he was more ashamed of the way his friends were acting. Matt turned to Lisa, Bob’s girlfriend.
“You want shotgun?” he said.
“No, you go ahead.” Lisa said, “I’m staying back here with my Homies.”
“Wait a minute.” Nancy said as Matt started to slide the door of the van closed. She squirmed out from where she was tucked between the two other girls and sat down next to Nick in the middle seat. She went about the business of buckling herself into the seat while studiously ignoring the two girls nudging each other in the back seat. Nick looked out the window in order to hide the wide grin that was threatening to split his head like a melon.
“That’s better.” Nancy said.
“It’s nice here.” Nancy said, “Quiet.”
It was quiet, Nick thought. Too quiet. He looked over at Nancy quickly. She wore a red tank top and white shorts and her tan skin glowed in the firelight. Nick darted his eyes away just as she noticed him looking.
Nick liked everything about Nancy Manning. He liked the fact that she wasn’t full of herself like a lot of other girls, always one upping each other with what they wore or who they dated. Nancy was quiet and smart. She was pretty, with a kind of off strawberry blonde hair, but she never did anything with it. It was just there. He liked that.
“How are you making out with chem. class?” she asked. Nick blushed. Once, a couple of months ago, he had mentioned his struggle with chemistry while they were having lunch with a group of friends. Nick wondered how she had managed to remember that.
“I’m doing all right.” he said, “It’ll never be my favorite thing.”
“Mine either.” Nancy answered, tossing a branch into the fire. Sparks shot up and her gaze followed them. Nick sneaked another peak at the girl, wishing he had the courage to tell her how he felt. Bob, his best friend would have in a heartbeat. Bob had had girlfriends since seventh grade, a steady string of them, but Nick had never understood what the appeal of girls was until he had met Nancy Manning. He glanced over and saw Nancy watching him.
“What?”
“Any more marshmallows?” Nick picked up the bag of marshmallows and started to toss them to her.
“Wait, I’ll come over there.” Nancy said. She got up and crossed over to the log that Nick sat on, bringing some long sticks. They divvied up the remaining marshmallows, spearing them and setting them over a section of coals that had no flame.
“Aha,” Nancy said, “I see you are an aficionado.”
“Aficia what?”
“Aficianado. An expert. Everybody else just lights them on fire. They don’t understand that this way, they get hot on the inside and turn golden brown on the outside.”
“You sound like a commercial for the marshmallow advisory board.” Nancy laughed.
“I want to be a writer.” she said “I don’t think I will though. I might actually end up writing commercials.” She made a face and reached down to turn both their sticks over. “What about you? What are your plans after high school?”
“I dunno.” Nick said, looking out to where the phosphorescent waves crested onto the shore, “I’ll probably go to the JC to start, and then transfer somewhere that has a good liberal arts program. I think I might want to be a teacher.”
“Oh, yeah? What?”
“Kids. You know, little kids. I think kids are cool. They’re so… uninhibited, you know.”
“Yeah.” Nancy said, “I think that you would be great at that.”
“Really?” He looked her in the eyes. She was smiling, and for a moment he thought he would kiss her. He had always been afraid of girls, but this girl seemed so different, so approachable. He wondered if he would ever have the chance to tell her how he felt.
“So what do you think you’ll do for college?” he asked her, reaching down to turn the marshmallows.
“Almost ready!” she said, rocking slightly. Their shoulders touched. “I’ll probably go Berkeley. Maybe wait to declare till I figure out what interests me.”
“Sounds good.” Nick said, hating himself. Could he be any more stupid? He felt like a caveman being interviewed by a princess. “I think maybe the…” he pointed down to where the marshmallows were starting to turn dark. Nancy reached down and picked up both sticks. She handed him one and they ate in silence.
“I’m glad you’re staying in the county, Nick.” Nancy said when she had finished eating. “Berkeley’s not that far. You can come see me.” She looked at him, licking her fingers like a kid.
“I would totally like that.” he said. He held up his last marshmallow to her. She plucked it off the stick with a smile and popped it in her mouth.
Just then, there was a shout from the dunes and Bob ran up and pounced on the sand. He was quickly followed by Lisa, Bob’s second girlfriend this year, and the rest of the gang.
“Hello young lovers.” Bob said. Nick wanted to smash him in the face. He looked quickly over at Nancy, but her face was unreadable. “We got to haul ass.” Bob said, “My dad told me I was supposed to be back home by ten and its after nine thirty now.”
After they had thrown sand on the fire, they all started to walk back to where they had parked the van. Nancy was walking ahead with the girls. Bob threw an affectionate headlock on Nick.
“Well, my man,” he said, “Tell daddy all about it. You get some?”
“Shut up.” Nick said.
“What are you guys talking about?” said Matt, coming up to join them.
“I was just asking my boy Nick here if he took advantage of our little ploy.” Bob said.
“As if it wasn’t obvious what you guys were trying to do.” Nick said.
“Well?” Matt said.
“Well, what?”
“You know.”
“Listen, if you guys like to circle jerk, that’s your business. Just leave me out of it.”
“That means he didn’t get any.” Matt said, punching Nick on the arm. Nick blushed. Bob and Matt were both cut from the same cloth, bold and brash. Nick sometimes wondered why Bob called Nick his best friend. At the moment, he was not sure why he called Bob his.
They reached the car and saw that the three girls had all crowded into the back seat. Matt shot Nick a withering glance. “Great.” he muttered under his breath. “After you, stud.” Nick crawled into the middle seat, miserable. He was ashamed that he hadn’t taken advantage of his time alone with Nancy, but he was more ashamed of the way his friends were acting. Matt turned to Lisa, Bob’s girlfriend.
“You want shotgun?” he said.
“No, you go ahead.” Lisa said, “I’m staying back here with my Homies.”
“Wait a minute.” Nancy said as Matt started to slide the door of the van closed. She squirmed out from where she was tucked between the two other girls and sat down next to Nick in the middle seat. She went about the business of buckling herself into the seat while studiously ignoring the two girls nudging each other in the back seat. Nick looked out the window in order to hide the wide grin that was threatening to split his head like a melon.
“That’s better.” Nancy said.
Monday
Monday, on the eve of a standard skip day. This night is full of standards. Same people drinking the same standard beer. Same guitar playing the same very standard songs. Finger rock, a very standard teen hang out on a tucked away beach in Nor-cal, aptly named finger rock because of the infamous, bench shaped ,smooth rock, in a dark corner of the beach perfect for sliding into third with anxious fingers. I’m here staring into my masterfully built bonfire uninterested in drinking and contemplating a quick escape, but I have no ride.
“Alex!” I yell in a whisper. “Is that N?”
“Yeah bro.” he replies with squinty eyes and a devious smirk. “I told something to you about here being fer her. Shhh, I’m making stars.” He lies back onto the sand and points into heaven giggling. Acid is a terrible thing for such a fragile mind. N and I knew each other well though we’ve never spoken. We shared friends but never hung out before. All our conversations existed only within the brief moments of eye contact followed by the break neck head turn of shyness. This is the first time I’ve seen her here and I’m surprised.
“What did you say?” I shake Alex’s shoulder all the time fixated on her. But Alex has since gone catatonic and is useless now. We meet eyes and she mouths “hey” then begins the awkward walk given to all by the uneven sand. She looks down at Alex and smiles and sits next to me. She’s wearing her polka dot leggings and a lime green corset, which matched her hair, over a black tank top. This outfit certainly hung on the more understated side of her closet. But her attire was always for her aesthetic pleasure, never for shock value or to shake up the imaginary establishment built with the concrete wisdom of mid-pubescent teens.
“I didn’t know you hung out down here.” She states after a minute of admiration of my roaring fire.
“And I though you were too good to hang out with us.” I say it with a smile and she laughs.
“I’ve been working on a painting for most of the semester and I’ve been obsessed, I just had to go home and spend time on it, but I’ve been feeling like a shut in so I gave myself the ni8ght off.” A good explanation for her guest appearance I guess. I look back and Alex is gone so I lye back onto the sand and she follows suit. A good sign I think to myself. There isn’t a word spoken and I get nervous, I have to sustain her interest so in the hopes of striking up more conversation I say the first thing that comes to mind.
“So, our friends think we should get together for some reason.” You asshole! What the hell does that mean? For some reason? I try to recover.
“I mean they thought we’d have a lot in common.’’ My attempt was too late, I look over and she has robot face. That look of embarrassment that is trying to be overwritten by a smile but just freezes.
“What’s your painting of?”
Her face reboots and she looks relieved.
“Well” she says “I can’t really tell you what it is, you would have to look at it and tell me.’’
“Is that because you don’t know what it is?”
“Just the opposite. I know exactly what I created and what it means to me. But I painted it for art, so now it’s everyone’s.”
I admired her even more just from that simple answer.
“That’s exactly how I feel about music.”
Our conversations build and transition smoothly from topic to topic. A moment of silence and I notice the guitar sounds and idle conversations have disappeared. We were now the only two people on the beach. I begin to get melancholy knowing that this would soon end our night. I try to make our last few minutes together count.
“So when do you think I could see my painting?”
She looks puzzled. “Your painting?”
“Yeah, the one you painted for everyone.”
She smiles and turns to me with those huge eyes of hers visible even under the midnight sky. She says nothing, though it looks like she wants to.
“We should probably head up.” She suggests with a disappointed look on her face. We begin the trek up the sandy hill where our rides are parked, never saying a word but contemplating what had happened. We reach the lot and our friends are waiting with ridiculous smiles expecting to hear something juicy. I turn and say goodnight and we give each other a stiff hug and walk in opposite directions. She turns back and yells
“You can see your painting tomorrow.”
“But there’s no school” I say
“I know”.
“Alex!” I yell in a whisper. “Is that N?”
“Yeah bro.” he replies with squinty eyes and a devious smirk. “I told something to you about here being fer her. Shhh, I’m making stars.” He lies back onto the sand and points into heaven giggling. Acid is a terrible thing for such a fragile mind. N and I knew each other well though we’ve never spoken. We shared friends but never hung out before. All our conversations existed only within the brief moments of eye contact followed by the break neck head turn of shyness. This is the first time I’ve seen her here and I’m surprised.
“What did you say?” I shake Alex’s shoulder all the time fixated on her. But Alex has since gone catatonic and is useless now. We meet eyes and she mouths “hey” then begins the awkward walk given to all by the uneven sand. She looks down at Alex and smiles and sits next to me. She’s wearing her polka dot leggings and a lime green corset, which matched her hair, over a black tank top. This outfit certainly hung on the more understated side of her closet. But her attire was always for her aesthetic pleasure, never for shock value or to shake up the imaginary establishment built with the concrete wisdom of mid-pubescent teens.
“I didn’t know you hung out down here.” She states after a minute of admiration of my roaring fire.
“And I though you were too good to hang out with us.” I say it with a smile and she laughs.
“I’ve been working on a painting for most of the semester and I’ve been obsessed, I just had to go home and spend time on it, but I’ve been feeling like a shut in so I gave myself the ni8ght off.” A good explanation for her guest appearance I guess. I look back and Alex is gone so I lye back onto the sand and she follows suit. A good sign I think to myself. There isn’t a word spoken and I get nervous, I have to sustain her interest so in the hopes of striking up more conversation I say the first thing that comes to mind.
“So, our friends think we should get together for some reason.” You asshole! What the hell does that mean? For some reason? I try to recover.
“I mean they thought we’d have a lot in common.’’ My attempt was too late, I look over and she has robot face. That look of embarrassment that is trying to be overwritten by a smile but just freezes.
“What’s your painting of?”
Her face reboots and she looks relieved.
“Well” she says “I can’t really tell you what it is, you would have to look at it and tell me.’’
“Is that because you don’t know what it is?”
“Just the opposite. I know exactly what I created and what it means to me. But I painted it for art, so now it’s everyone’s.”
I admired her even more just from that simple answer.
“That’s exactly how I feel about music.”
Our conversations build and transition smoothly from topic to topic. A moment of silence and I notice the guitar sounds and idle conversations have disappeared. We were now the only two people on the beach. I begin to get melancholy knowing that this would soon end our night. I try to make our last few minutes together count.
“So when do you think I could see my painting?”
She looks puzzled. “Your painting?”
“Yeah, the one you painted for everyone.”
She smiles and turns to me with those huge eyes of hers visible even under the midnight sky. She says nothing, though it looks like she wants to.
“We should probably head up.” She suggests with a disappointed look on her face. We begin the trek up the sandy hill where our rides are parked, never saying a word but contemplating what had happened. We reach the lot and our friends are waiting with ridiculous smiles expecting to hear something juicy. I turn and say goodnight and we give each other a stiff hug and walk in opposite directions. She turns back and yells
“You can see your painting tomorrow.”
“But there’s no school” I say
“I know”.
Untitled
My name is Christian Pfeifer and I have story to tell one. It involves my long awaited love whom I’ll never forget in time. I’ll take you back further than one can imagine within the glimpse of time. It was a time like any other and I’m to tell one how it goes. When I was 17 I fell in love with a girl. Not just any girl but the woman of my dreams, my high school sweetheart. Natasha was what they called her, but I called her N. N was like my buddy, down to earth and she loved to chill. What I loved was actually being able to reside within her presence. Just the time being spent with one another and the other times to my
imaginations content, was than what I could’ve hoped for. She was 5’5”, dark eyes, dark hair, with tanned skin and a body you could die for. Her smile was as radiating as the sun’s heat waves. She was special, indeed and everything I had ever hoped for. We had friends of friends, mutual friends, who’d noticed our vibe and have tried to hook us up. They were really cool about it, though they’d tried to keep everything on the mellow side. I knew all along, I knew. You see N was the type of girl you could take to beach for a walk along side the boardwalk taking in the Northern California breeze. She’d sit there and just listen and take in everything that would have to say. She’d tell you all of her hopes and dreams, and discuss the problems of the war. There was always time with her for she was like an incandescent rose ready to blossom and take whole of the world. She made you feel what she was feeling, love what she loved and at the same time in place she’d take in all you’d have to give. We were in tune with one’s emotions and to me it felt like romance was the next caption. It was about to
begin. You see the 90’s was the era, the era of love, compassion, symbolism and rebellion all bottled into one. America was getting ready to change and we were about to change. Time was inevitable and I can tell this much for sure. I remember then, we were out on the warmest day of the summer, taking in all of the air that was. A group of us, Lizzy, Taylor, N, Sam, Brad, Charlie and the rest of the guys. We were all having a good time soaking in the sun on Northern California’s hot sand, which was taking away all of the energy exuded from within. We loved it and everybody was relaxed. This was it and it was our time. And the joking and laughter played a big role within it all. Everything was going great with whole crew until Brad starting talking
-Brad- Anyone up for a game of Volley Ball?
-Lizzy- Sure
-Taylor- Sure
-Sam- Sure
-Charlie- Sure
-Zachary- No. You guys know I don’t play Volley Ball.
My thing is baseball and that’s it. They knew what they were doing, especially Brad. For one everyone knows N isn’t into sports and Me, my thing is baseball. One day I’ll play for the Yankees. They’ve got to be kidding me……
-N- Well I don’t play sports so I’ll just stay here
and relax with Christian.
-Yeah, you do that …………..Brad stated as he and the others walked over through the crowd It was quiet though the mood was set, and they were alone. Just as planned. The mood was right and the setting was on them. The two of them, all quiet and still. The rupture of the stance was all so sudden. They looked into one another’s eyes taking in all that was given. They were friends though there was something more that was to be in store. N looked directly into Christian’s eyes for at this moment in time, he was in Never Never land sailing away, in a dream world. She stated………
-N- Christian, Christian………..Christian, hello?! Earth to Christian
Christian immediately jumped out of his skin not knowing what to do, how to feel or what to say except,
-Christian- Huh?
-N- What’s wrong with you? I’ve been gazing into your eyes for about a minute to find out what’s going on. Everything’s been dead and they’ve been gone for about 30 minutes. What’s wrong, Chris?
-Christian- Nothing…..everything’s fine and I’m cool girl, just thinking
He wanted to say I’m just thinking about you and what we could be. You’ve always been my fantasy, though he could never go there even when he had more to share. She was more than that, something very special. Though for the moment right now she was his buddy. She knew something was up and he knew very well that she could tell.
-N- I know something’s up, Chris. You’re not saying much for you’re just staring into space with a lot on your mind. Give me a break and spill the juice.
-Christian- I am fine indeed and I’d like you to know this for a fact. Just thinking..
-N- Christian, you’re my best friend. And if you don’t tell me how will I help you. How will I be able to help you?
Just as N was about to finish her long awaited conversation with Christian, the whole crew returned. Trying to get in on all of the action they thought was coming their way…. Help him with what, Natasha……….Brad chimed in
-N- Nothing, nothing
-Brad - So, what did happen when we were gone, doing our thing? Since you guys don’t do V-Ball
-N- V- what?
-Everyone- Volley Ball, Natasha
-N- Oh, thanks and I’d appreciate it if you guys just call me N. I’d prefer this better
- N- And nothing happened between Christian and I, but just a casual conversation amongst a friend. That’s it. He’s daydreaming again about his life as the next Derek Jeter.
-Christian- No, I’m not, girl. Stop playing, I’m gonna be better than Derek Jeter
-Brad and N- You and what army?............stated with
laughter
imaginations content, was than what I could’ve hoped for. She was 5’5”, dark eyes, dark hair, with tanned skin and a body you could die for. Her smile was as radiating as the sun’s heat waves. She was special, indeed and everything I had ever hoped for. We had friends of friends, mutual friends, who’d noticed our vibe and have tried to hook us up. They were really cool about it, though they’d tried to keep everything on the mellow side. I knew all along, I knew. You see N was the type of girl you could take to beach for a walk along side the boardwalk taking in the Northern California breeze. She’d sit there and just listen and take in everything that would have to say. She’d tell you all of her hopes and dreams, and discuss the problems of the war. There was always time with her for she was like an incandescent rose ready to blossom and take whole of the world. She made you feel what she was feeling, love what she loved and at the same time in place she’d take in all you’d have to give. We were in tune with one’s emotions and to me it felt like romance was the next caption. It was about to
begin. You see the 90’s was the era, the era of love, compassion, symbolism and rebellion all bottled into one. America was getting ready to change and we were about to change. Time was inevitable and I can tell this much for sure. I remember then, we were out on the warmest day of the summer, taking in all of the air that was. A group of us, Lizzy, Taylor, N, Sam, Brad, Charlie and the rest of the guys. We were all having a good time soaking in the sun on Northern California’s hot sand, which was taking away all of the energy exuded from within. We loved it and everybody was relaxed. This was it and it was our time. And the joking and laughter played a big role within it all. Everything was going great with whole crew until Brad starting talking
-Brad- Anyone up for a game of Volley Ball?
-Lizzy- Sure
-Taylor- Sure
-Sam- Sure
-Charlie- Sure
-Zachary- No. You guys know I don’t play Volley Ball.
My thing is baseball and that’s it. They knew what they were doing, especially Brad. For one everyone knows N isn’t into sports and Me, my thing is baseball. One day I’ll play for the Yankees. They’ve got to be kidding me……
-N- Well I don’t play sports so I’ll just stay here
and relax with Christian.
-Yeah, you do that …………..Brad stated as he and the others walked over through the crowd It was quiet though the mood was set, and they were alone. Just as planned. The mood was right and the setting was on them. The two of them, all quiet and still. The rupture of the stance was all so sudden. They looked into one another’s eyes taking in all that was given. They were friends though there was something more that was to be in store. N looked directly into Christian’s eyes for at this moment in time, he was in Never Never land sailing away, in a dream world. She stated………
-N- Christian, Christian………..Christian, hello?! Earth to Christian
Christian immediately jumped out of his skin not knowing what to do, how to feel or what to say except,
-Christian- Huh?
-N- What’s wrong with you? I’ve been gazing into your eyes for about a minute to find out what’s going on. Everything’s been dead and they’ve been gone for about 30 minutes. What’s wrong, Chris?
-Christian- Nothing…..everything’s fine and I’m cool girl, just thinking
He wanted to say I’m just thinking about you and what we could be. You’ve always been my fantasy, though he could never go there even when he had more to share. She was more than that, something very special. Though for the moment right now she was his buddy. She knew something was up and he knew very well that she could tell.
-N- I know something’s up, Chris. You’re not saying much for you’re just staring into space with a lot on your mind. Give me a break and spill the juice.
-Christian- I am fine indeed and I’d like you to know this for a fact. Just thinking..
-N- Christian, you’re my best friend. And if you don’t tell me how will I help you. How will I be able to help you?
Just as N was about to finish her long awaited conversation with Christian, the whole crew returned. Trying to get in on all of the action they thought was coming their way…. Help him with what, Natasha……….Brad chimed in
-N- Nothing, nothing
-Brad - So, what did happen when we were gone, doing our thing? Since you guys don’t do V-Ball
-N- V- what?
-Everyone- Volley Ball, Natasha
-N- Oh, thanks and I’d appreciate it if you guys just call me N. I’d prefer this better
- N- And nothing happened between Christian and I, but just a casual conversation amongst a friend. That’s it. He’s daydreaming again about his life as the next Derek Jeter.
-Christian- No, I’m not, girl. Stop playing, I’m gonna be better than Derek Jeter
-Brad and N- You and what army?............stated with
laughter
I Should Have Taken My Shirt Off
I should have taken my shirt off.
It was N’s idea to lie on our backs and look up at the stars. Obviously I said yes. Actually I just nodded. I couldn’t even get the words out. She was wearing a blueberry-colored bikini, which ripened a little in the darkness. What I mean is that I would have said yes—or nodded—to just about anything she suggested. “But I’m just warning you,” I said, “I don’t really remember any of the star stuff except the Dippers. And I even mix those up.” She told me not to worry and that if worst came to worst we’d make up our own ones. We walked slowly and unevenly. She picked out a spot to sit and we dropped down. We dug our butts into the soft cold sand. N took a loud, deep breath. I envied her a little. I didn’t feel relaxed like that. Because of all the itchy sand sprinkled up my shirt.
She rolled over onto her elbow. “Just take it off.” Stars reflected in her eyes.
It took me a second to realize what she meant. My shirt. On very clear nights sometimes it takes sentences a second or two extra to reach me. “Nah. I’m cold.”
“But you’re making a face like you’ve got sand up your shirt.” She always squinted a little whenever she said smart things.
I told her that maybe I liked having sand up my shirt. “But feel free to take off your bikini off if you want.” She answered with a combination between a laugh and a sneer. We both took this moment to stretch our necks and look at the parking lot. It was hard to make out, but we could see the little neon red bull’s-eyes of our friends smoking in the parking lot. They had left us alone. Their brilliant idea. To treat us like endangered species who needed to mate or something. It was both very nice and very uncomfortable to have our friends close by. I felt safe, but watched.
I asked her what she thought about two of our other friends who recently started sleeping together. “It’s pretty weird. But good, I guess.” I nodded along with her. It’s hard to pin down what I thought was so special about her but I think it had something to do with nodding. Usually when you nod it’s like you’re just agreeing with the person. But with N I felt like she could tell that my nod was also my way of answering her.
“He’s too affectionate though.” I took mental notes on everything she said.
“Totally.” I imitated a guy who couldn’t stop puckering his lips. It made her laugh and fall into me a little and that quieted us. It was so strange. It’s like whenever our bodies touched it cancelled out my words and thoughts. It was like I had to make a choice between thinking and touching. But obviously it was a lot more complicated than that.
I hid my hands in the sand. I asked her if she thought that we would still be friends in ten years. It’s a hard question to make eye-contact with. She shrugged and shuffled a little which added another dose of sand up my shirt. “I hope so,” she said.
“Me too,” I said. I nodded slowly. “I’m serious.”
“Do you think I’m not?”
I looked at her. “Listen. Have you ever had sex?”
She said yes quickly. In the silence a gust of wind came along and blew up the back of my shirt. Some of the sand drizzled lightly over my back. “Have you?”
“No,” I said. “Just not yet.”
“Oh,” she said. “I didn’t like it, though.”
I stood up. I was careful not to douse any sand on her. “You don’t need to say that.” She looked up at me. I was blocking her moonlight and it made her look dark and fragile. I shrugged and said I don’t know and then tried to laugh.
I held out my hand. She took it. We went back to go hang out with our friends.
It was N’s idea to lie on our backs and look up at the stars. Obviously I said yes. Actually I just nodded. I couldn’t even get the words out. She was wearing a blueberry-colored bikini, which ripened a little in the darkness. What I mean is that I would have said yes—or nodded—to just about anything she suggested. “But I’m just warning you,” I said, “I don’t really remember any of the star stuff except the Dippers. And I even mix those up.” She told me not to worry and that if worst came to worst we’d make up our own ones. We walked slowly and unevenly. She picked out a spot to sit and we dropped down. We dug our butts into the soft cold sand. N took a loud, deep breath. I envied her a little. I didn’t feel relaxed like that. Because of all the itchy sand sprinkled up my shirt.
She rolled over onto her elbow. “Just take it off.” Stars reflected in her eyes.
It took me a second to realize what she meant. My shirt. On very clear nights sometimes it takes sentences a second or two extra to reach me. “Nah. I’m cold.”
“But you’re making a face like you’ve got sand up your shirt.” She always squinted a little whenever she said smart things.
I told her that maybe I liked having sand up my shirt. “But feel free to take off your bikini off if you want.” She answered with a combination between a laugh and a sneer. We both took this moment to stretch our necks and look at the parking lot. It was hard to make out, but we could see the little neon red bull’s-eyes of our friends smoking in the parking lot. They had left us alone. Their brilliant idea. To treat us like endangered species who needed to mate or something. It was both very nice and very uncomfortable to have our friends close by. I felt safe, but watched.
I asked her what she thought about two of our other friends who recently started sleeping together. “It’s pretty weird. But good, I guess.” I nodded along with her. It’s hard to pin down what I thought was so special about her but I think it had something to do with nodding. Usually when you nod it’s like you’re just agreeing with the person. But with N I felt like she could tell that my nod was also my way of answering her.
“He’s too affectionate though.” I took mental notes on everything she said.
“Totally.” I imitated a guy who couldn’t stop puckering his lips. It made her laugh and fall into me a little and that quieted us. It was so strange. It’s like whenever our bodies touched it cancelled out my words and thoughts. It was like I had to make a choice between thinking and touching. But obviously it was a lot more complicated than that.
I hid my hands in the sand. I asked her if she thought that we would still be friends in ten years. It’s a hard question to make eye-contact with. She shrugged and shuffled a little which added another dose of sand up my shirt. “I hope so,” she said.
“Me too,” I said. I nodded slowly. “I’m serious.”
“Do you think I’m not?”
I looked at her. “Listen. Have you ever had sex?”
She said yes quickly. In the silence a gust of wind came along and blew up the back of my shirt. Some of the sand drizzled lightly over my back. “Have you?”
“No,” I said. “Just not yet.”
“Oh,” she said. “I didn’t like it, though.”
I stood up. I was careful not to douse any sand on her. “You don’t need to say that.” She looked up at me. I was blocking her moonlight and it made her look dark and fragile. I shrugged and said I don’t know and then tried to laugh.
I held out my hand. She took it. We went back to go hang out with our friends.
Untitled
"So what happened?"
"Let fly, man—tell us everything."
"Everything!"
Jake and Danny were pushy, but Umberto was just trying to fit in (he had driven us to the beach in the first place). They had all went out of their way to leave me alone with N. (the girls who were presently interrogating N. had also done their part in Operation Hookup) and felt that I owed them details. They demanded to be more than silent partners; they wanted a say in how the business in which they'd invested ran. I chose to be diplomatic and answer with a refusal to answer.
"Fellas...a friend wouldn't ask and a gentleman wouldn't say." A gentleman? Me? Maybe they wouldn't call my bluff.
At first, when Jake had explained that he had brought the book Danny was asking about (this should have been a tipoff—Danny never read anything not punctuated by pictures of semiclad blondes) I didn't suspect anything. But Umberto's decision to join them, followed by Lane and Justine, leaving me alone with N., made the whole plan abundantly clear. They must have been preparing for this since that morning, when Jake told us about the beers his dad had purchased and forgotten about (the benefits of being a party planner's progeny) and we decided to meet on the beach that night.
Now, about forty-five minutes after we'd arrived, N. and I were alone, lying on our backs. The white light of the stars seemed to glow brighter in contrast with the orange spots of ember rising off the campfire a few students at local community college had set about a dozen yards down the beach. I knew that time moved at different rates when you were blasting through space, but staring up at the cosmos time seemed to move slowly; I knew I could take my time with N.
"What are you—" I squeaked.
"What?"
"What do you look for in the guys you date?"
She chuckled. "You don't think that's a little forward?"
"Would you rather I played it cool?
"Sure. Coy it up a little."
"Alright." I paused, and a car honked, reminding us that we were near the parkway, and not all alone, adrift on a disconnected island. "Do you ever wonder if we're going to turn out like our parents?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like, boring—you know, nine-to-five, yelling at our kids, worrying what the neighbors think of our lawn."
"Our lawn?"
"Sorry. Our respective lawns."
"I don't know. I feel like we're more self-aware than they were, you know? If we can remember being teenagers, maybe we won't lose that romanticism when we have to make those difficult adult decisions."
"You could be right." I turned over and faced her profile. She was so beautiful. At that moment, I knew that I could lie there with her, on that beach, under the stars, that night, forever, and be completely satisfied.
"I really like you."
She got up. What? What did I do? How did I fuck this up? She began brushing the sand off of her hooded sweatshirt.
"We should probably get back before Jake finishes all the beer."
"Yeah, you're right." I did this. This was me, my fault. I failed.
We headed back, and found that they were waiting for us.
"Let fly, man—tell us everything."
"Everything!"
Jake and Danny were pushy, but Umberto was just trying to fit in (he had driven us to the beach in the first place). They had all went out of their way to leave me alone with N. (the girls who were presently interrogating N. had also done their part in Operation Hookup) and felt that I owed them details. They demanded to be more than silent partners; they wanted a say in how the business in which they'd invested ran. I chose to be diplomatic and answer with a refusal to answer.
"Fellas...a friend wouldn't ask and a gentleman wouldn't say." A gentleman? Me? Maybe they wouldn't call my bluff.
At first, when Jake had explained that he had brought the book Danny was asking about (this should have been a tipoff—Danny never read anything not punctuated by pictures of semiclad blondes) I didn't suspect anything. But Umberto's decision to join them, followed by Lane and Justine, leaving me alone with N., made the whole plan abundantly clear. They must have been preparing for this since that morning, when Jake told us about the beers his dad had purchased and forgotten about (the benefits of being a party planner's progeny) and we decided to meet on the beach that night.
Now, about forty-five minutes after we'd arrived, N. and I were alone, lying on our backs. The white light of the stars seemed to glow brighter in contrast with the orange spots of ember rising off the campfire a few students at local community college had set about a dozen yards down the beach. I knew that time moved at different rates when you were blasting through space, but staring up at the cosmos time seemed to move slowly; I knew I could take my time with N.
"What are you—" I squeaked.
"What?"
"What do you look for in the guys you date?"
She chuckled. "You don't think that's a little forward?"
"Would you rather I played it cool?
"Sure. Coy it up a little."
"Alright." I paused, and a car honked, reminding us that we were near the parkway, and not all alone, adrift on a disconnected island. "Do you ever wonder if we're going to turn out like our parents?"
"What do you mean?"
"Like, boring—you know, nine-to-five, yelling at our kids, worrying what the neighbors think of our lawn."
"Our lawn?"
"Sorry. Our respective lawns."
"I don't know. I feel like we're more self-aware than they were, you know? If we can remember being teenagers, maybe we won't lose that romanticism when we have to make those difficult adult decisions."
"You could be right." I turned over and faced her profile. She was so beautiful. At that moment, I knew that I could lie there with her, on that beach, under the stars, that night, forever, and be completely satisfied.
"I really like you."
She got up. What? What did I do? How did I fuck this up? She began brushing the sand off of her hooded sweatshirt.
"We should probably get back before Jake finishes all the beer."
"Yeah, you're right." I did this. This was me, my fault. I failed.
We headed back, and found that they were waiting for us.
Untitled
“So I heard you liked to sleep in graveyards“ whispered in a giggle Nathania, putting back her long black hair so she could see me better. „It’s just for feeling, you know? There is a huge calmness. Like I can feel the deads’ wiseness“ did I replied, in my restrained 17 years old vocabulary. The heat of the Charleston’s summer was making her black mascara sweat down her pale cheeks, like a very sad angel. She laughed again, hiding her black lips behind her black colored nails hand.
„Wisdom not wiseness“ was her response. I suddenly associated the thromping of my heart with love. Her gothicness was giving her the sensuality thatevery gothic kid like me was dreaming of.
„Hey, why don’t you let me in your brain a little so I can know everything that you know?“ I replied, full of my inexperience. She looked puzzled and her smile fell down. She stared at me for a few seconds, making me feel that the question was not proper, like if it wasn't just a metaphore.
„You might feel brave like a grave digger, but don’t you think that a trip
inside my brains is a peaceful promenade. Deads and demons make two.“ whipped she in my innocent face.
„Look kid, I like you a lot, but I ain’t no wannabe. What you see is what you get.Now that’s cute. You have a look in your face like if you just saw a dead? Ithought you liked cemetaries.“
Did she say. And then she giggled. She breaks my heart and now she takes my dignity.
„What are you talking about? You think that you got a worst life than anybody on this sad land? I came a long way from here Nathania. Longer than you could even dare to walk.“
„Really?“ and she stood up and was heading back to the cars where our friends were waiting. I was on my feet in a second and strongly grabbed her frail arm. Quick I was pushed to the ground and I saw her teeth. She was beautiful. Her eyes were red with desire and her hips wer pushing on mine, leaving in me the only desire to stay still. Her arms were holding me firmly
to the ground.
„It won’t hurt“ were the warm words her lips whispered in my ear. It fell like a wave of heated blood rushing in my veins, excitement. Her soft lips kissed my neck. I tilted my head to give her free range on my jugular. She pierced the skin with her sharpies and I was falling. Myself was being dragged in a very dark place, shades surrounding me, fear was imposed uponme. Her orgasmic respiration sounded like a hurricane, isolating me in ist loudness. It was smooth violence, venom straight to my heart.
When I woke up, I felt disoriented. She was next to me, sitting and smilling.
„Sweet dreams?“ did she ask.
„Yeah, my neck is very sour though.“ My 17 years living with a psycho mother
had thaught me to never give the crazy more that they asks for. Just play
the game.
„I gave you a little suckie, I couldn’t resist“ Her big red lips smile was
telling me otherwise.
„So, you want to finish what you started?“ Did I say with all the daring
attitude I could manage.
„No, I’m fed up. And you’ve been sleeping for a while. The others are
waiting“
When our friends saw us, we were separated for an interrogation. They saw my wound and make fun of my suckie. How far did you go heart breaker?
I would have to kill her later.
„Wisdom not wiseness“ was her response. I suddenly associated the thromping of my heart with love. Her gothicness was giving her the sensuality thatevery gothic kid like me was dreaming of.
„Hey, why don’t you let me in your brain a little so I can know everything that you know?“ I replied, full of my inexperience. She looked puzzled and her smile fell down. She stared at me for a few seconds, making me feel that the question was not proper, like if it wasn't just a metaphore.
„You might feel brave like a grave digger, but don’t you think that a trip
inside my brains is a peaceful promenade. Deads and demons make two.“ whipped she in my innocent face.
„Look kid, I like you a lot, but I ain’t no wannabe. What you see is what you get.Now that’s cute. You have a look in your face like if you just saw a dead? Ithought you liked cemetaries.“
Did she say. And then she giggled. She breaks my heart and now she takes my dignity.
„What are you talking about? You think that you got a worst life than anybody on this sad land? I came a long way from here Nathania. Longer than you could even dare to walk.“
„Really?“ and she stood up and was heading back to the cars where our friends were waiting. I was on my feet in a second and strongly grabbed her frail arm. Quick I was pushed to the ground and I saw her teeth. She was beautiful. Her eyes were red with desire and her hips wer pushing on mine, leaving in me the only desire to stay still. Her arms were holding me firmly
to the ground.
„It won’t hurt“ were the warm words her lips whispered in my ear. It fell like a wave of heated blood rushing in my veins, excitement. Her soft lips kissed my neck. I tilted my head to give her free range on my jugular. She pierced the skin with her sharpies and I was falling. Myself was being dragged in a very dark place, shades surrounding me, fear was imposed uponme. Her orgasmic respiration sounded like a hurricane, isolating me in ist loudness. It was smooth violence, venom straight to my heart.
When I woke up, I felt disoriented. She was next to me, sitting and smilling.
„Sweet dreams?“ did she ask.
„Yeah, my neck is very sour though.“ My 17 years living with a psycho mother
had thaught me to never give the crazy more that they asks for. Just play
the game.
„I gave you a little suckie, I couldn’t resist“ Her big red lips smile was
telling me otherwise.
„So, you want to finish what you started?“ Did I say with all the daring
attitude I could manage.
„No, I’m fed up. And you’ve been sleeping for a while. The others are
waiting“
When our friends saw us, we were separated for an interrogation. They saw my wound and make fun of my suckie. How far did you go heart breaker?
I would have to kill her later.
Untitled
It was getting cooler now that the sun began to vanish behind the edge of the ocean’s horizon. A purple and orange kaleidoscope reflected off the distant water and glazed our eyes like Fourth of July fireworks. We sipped our fake-ID-purchased beers and watched. It was beautiful.
I slipped a casual glance toward Nicole and saw the last of the sun’s radiance on her face. She was gorgeous. Her head began to turn and her eyes caught me as I turned away as quick as possible (whiplash never felt so good). I turned back and our eyes met. We looked at each other for a brief moment before turning away again. My stomach fluttered.
Fresh beers from the cooler were passed around and someone got a fire going using scavenged driftwood and we began to huddle around. The cool breezes and the warmth of the fire made a nice and cozy combination. I looked across the dancing flames at Nicole. She looked back at me and smiled. I smiled back like a goofy teenager in love, but that wasn’t a surprise cause that’s exactly what I was. I gently bit down on my lip and reminded myself to be cool. It wouldn’t do to look like a complete idiot in front of this girl that I considered the most beautiful creature that ever lived.
As the night wore on, we traded stories around the fire as the portable radio played in the background. We talked mostly about stuff that had gone on during the past school year--our senior year. Robbie told about the stink-bomb that was set off during the second week of school, and about how the smell was so bad that Principal Davis threw up right in the middle of the hallway. Jamie brought up the pep rally when the cheerleaders’ pyramid collapsed and Amy, the head cheerleader, broke her collarbone. And John, ever the popular athlete, recalled his own winning shot during the regional basketball championship. He wasn’t really a braggart, just very enthusiastic about his accomplishment. We reveled in it all, knowing that college and the rest of the world was looming before us at the end of the summer.
As the stories were winding down I was feeling good, a little buzzy. Three beers made me feel magical. I dropped the last bottle and plopped my back in the sand. I looked up at the stars and was overwhelmed. I closed my eyes and felt the ocean breezes blowing across my face. I heard some movement and then voices began to drift off into the distance. There was a shift beside me and someone sat down next to me. Some sand splashed against my leg. My heart began to beat fast as I recognized the perfume.
“Hi,” Nicole said.
I opened my eyes and sat up. We were alone. I turned my head frantically and saw everyone else walking off down the beach, back toward the cars.
“Where’s everybody going?” I asked. Those buttholes, I thought. I wondered how long they had been planning this: to leave me and Nicole alone.
“Nowhere,” Nicole said. “They’re just getting ready to go back, but I don’t think they’ll leave us.”
“They better not,” I said. I lay back down. Nicole lay down as well.
We lay in silence for a few seconds.
“So how’s it going?” Nicole asked.
“Pretty good,” I said. “How are you?”
“I’m cool.”
More awkward silence and then both of us spoke at once.
“So are you looking forward to college,” we both said at the same time. There was another moment of silence and then we both laughed.
“You first,” I said.
“Nah, let’s talk about something else,” she said.
“What?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” she said. “What do you want to talk about?”
“I don’t know either.”
Yet more silence and then the conversation really kicked in.
“Ummmm,” she said. “Doooo you like anybody?”
“Do I like anybody?”
“That was the question.”
“Um, yeah, I like somebody.”
“Who?”
“Who?”
“Yeah, who?”
“I don’t want to say.”
“Why not?”
“I’d feel stupid.”
“I’ll tell you who I like if you tell me who you like,” she said.
“Why do I have to go first?” I asked.
“Because I asked first, silly.”
I was sure that I was as red as Superman’s cape and that even under the dim moonlight she could see it, but I was loving every second of this. I propped myself up on one elbow and she did the same. We faced each other. The butterflies in my stomach were fluttering madly and I think even then I knew this was a moment I would replay in my head over and over for the rest of my life.
“Well,” I finally said. “I kind of like someone on this beach.”
“I kind of like someone on this beach, too,” she said.
“Yeah, who’s that?” I asked, playing the game out to its fullest.
“Look around,” she said. “Do you see anyone else on this beach?”
I feigned looking around for someone else and then turned back to her.
“No,” I said. “Just me and you.”
“Well, what do you plan to do about that?” she asked.
“Just this,” I whispered.
On the portable radio, Pearl Jam slipped into the main solo of their song Alive and I leaned in and kissed Nicole. Her lips were soft and moist and I tasted her lip balm--strawberry. We kissed gently for about a minute, lost in sweet euphoria, flying to the moon, and doing back flips over and over in my mind, and then a honking horn brought us back to reality.
“I guess we better rejoin our friends,” Nicole said.
“Yeah,” I said in a daze. I wasn’t sure when I would come back down from this natural high and didn’t care if I ever did.
Nicole picked up the radio and I kicked some sand onto the last of the burning embers of the fire. We walked back to the others in silence. Nothing either of us could have said would have made that moment any better. It was perfect just the way it was.
We rejoined our friends at their cars. Nicole got in with Jamie and Shelly. I got in Robbie’s car with John. I watched Nicole through the back door windows of the cars. She smiled and I smiled back. I couldn’t hear anything, but I saw that the car full of girls was already beginning to talk. Robbie closed the door and started up the car. John turned around in the passenger seat and looked back at me.
“Details,” he demanded with a smile.
I slipped a casual glance toward Nicole and saw the last of the sun’s radiance on her face. She was gorgeous. Her head began to turn and her eyes caught me as I turned away as quick as possible (whiplash never felt so good). I turned back and our eyes met. We looked at each other for a brief moment before turning away again. My stomach fluttered.
Fresh beers from the cooler were passed around and someone got a fire going using scavenged driftwood and we began to huddle around. The cool breezes and the warmth of the fire made a nice and cozy combination. I looked across the dancing flames at Nicole. She looked back at me and smiled. I smiled back like a goofy teenager in love, but that wasn’t a surprise cause that’s exactly what I was. I gently bit down on my lip and reminded myself to be cool. It wouldn’t do to look like a complete idiot in front of this girl that I considered the most beautiful creature that ever lived.
As the night wore on, we traded stories around the fire as the portable radio played in the background. We talked mostly about stuff that had gone on during the past school year--our senior year. Robbie told about the stink-bomb that was set off during the second week of school, and about how the smell was so bad that Principal Davis threw up right in the middle of the hallway. Jamie brought up the pep rally when the cheerleaders’ pyramid collapsed and Amy, the head cheerleader, broke her collarbone. And John, ever the popular athlete, recalled his own winning shot during the regional basketball championship. He wasn’t really a braggart, just very enthusiastic about his accomplishment. We reveled in it all, knowing that college and the rest of the world was looming before us at the end of the summer.
As the stories were winding down I was feeling good, a little buzzy. Three beers made me feel magical. I dropped the last bottle and plopped my back in the sand. I looked up at the stars and was overwhelmed. I closed my eyes and felt the ocean breezes blowing across my face. I heard some movement and then voices began to drift off into the distance. There was a shift beside me and someone sat down next to me. Some sand splashed against my leg. My heart began to beat fast as I recognized the perfume.
“Hi,” Nicole said.
I opened my eyes and sat up. We were alone. I turned my head frantically and saw everyone else walking off down the beach, back toward the cars.
“Where’s everybody going?” I asked. Those buttholes, I thought. I wondered how long they had been planning this: to leave me and Nicole alone.
“Nowhere,” Nicole said. “They’re just getting ready to go back, but I don’t think they’ll leave us.”
“They better not,” I said. I lay back down. Nicole lay down as well.
We lay in silence for a few seconds.
“So how’s it going?” Nicole asked.
“Pretty good,” I said. “How are you?”
“I’m cool.”
More awkward silence and then both of us spoke at once.
“So are you looking forward to college,” we both said at the same time. There was another moment of silence and then we both laughed.
“You first,” I said.
“Nah, let’s talk about something else,” she said.
“What?” I asked.
“I don’t know,” she said. “What do you want to talk about?”
“I don’t know either.”
Yet more silence and then the conversation really kicked in.
“Ummmm,” she said. “Doooo you like anybody?”
“Do I like anybody?”
“That was the question.”
“Um, yeah, I like somebody.”
“Who?”
“Who?”
“Yeah, who?”
“I don’t want to say.”
“Why not?”
“I’d feel stupid.”
“I’ll tell you who I like if you tell me who you like,” she said.
“Why do I have to go first?” I asked.
“Because I asked first, silly.”
I was sure that I was as red as Superman’s cape and that even under the dim moonlight she could see it, but I was loving every second of this. I propped myself up on one elbow and she did the same. We faced each other. The butterflies in my stomach were fluttering madly and I think even then I knew this was a moment I would replay in my head over and over for the rest of my life.
“Well,” I finally said. “I kind of like someone on this beach.”
“I kind of like someone on this beach, too,” she said.
“Yeah, who’s that?” I asked, playing the game out to its fullest.
“Look around,” she said. “Do you see anyone else on this beach?”
I feigned looking around for someone else and then turned back to her.
“No,” I said. “Just me and you.”
“Well, what do you plan to do about that?” she asked.
“Just this,” I whispered.
On the portable radio, Pearl Jam slipped into the main solo of their song Alive and I leaned in and kissed Nicole. Her lips were soft and moist and I tasted her lip balm--strawberry. We kissed gently for about a minute, lost in sweet euphoria, flying to the moon, and doing back flips over and over in my mind, and then a honking horn brought us back to reality.
“I guess we better rejoin our friends,” Nicole said.
“Yeah,” I said in a daze. I wasn’t sure when I would come back down from this natural high and didn’t care if I ever did.
Nicole picked up the radio and I kicked some sand onto the last of the burning embers of the fire. We walked back to the others in silence. Nothing either of us could have said would have made that moment any better. It was perfect just the way it was.
We rejoined our friends at their cars. Nicole got in with Jamie and Shelly. I got in Robbie’s car with John. I watched Nicole through the back door windows of the cars. She smiled and I smiled back. I couldn’t hear anything, but I saw that the car full of girls was already beginning to talk. Robbie closed the door and started up the car. John turned around in the passenger seat and looked back at me.
“Details,” he demanded with a smile.
A Night at The Beach
It was a great night to be out on the beach in North California. A half moon, up in the sky, was reflecting on the undulating waves of the sea, creating the effect of silver when it has been polished. Yet it was a mild moon, intent on keeping the environs dark enough for us to relish a sense of privacy. A light breeze fanned us with butterfly wings as we walked at the edge of the shore, letting our feet get wet by the refreshing touch of the frothy seawater. There were six of us - three boys and three girls. Most of us were locals, born and brought up in the area around the beach and we went to the same school.
Only Nicole was an outsider. She was originally from Florida; a year had passed since her family had moved to North California. Luckily for me, her parents decided to enroll her in my school. I took no time in discovering that she was real beauty, as did many other boys. I am still not sure which one of the boys Nicole was attracted to, that is, if she was attracted to anyone of us. But in my own way I did all I could to make her realize just how badly I was infatuated with her. On occasions I offered to take her out to movies or to the neighborhood restaurants. She did accept my offers about half of the time.
That made me about a 50% success with her. But I was not satisfied with mere 50%, I wanted her 100%, I wanted her all for myself. When you are in school, it is difficult to keep your infatuation for any girl a secret from your friends. My crush on Nicole became common knowledge around the school. I guess Nicole too knew about it, the school was full of blubbering types and one of them would surely have told her. But she never made me realize that she knew about my infatuation for her, and naturally I never asked her if she knew. There were occasions when my friends at school would try to set me up with her.
They would try the obvious ploys like leaving me alone with her in the classroom or in the park. When we were traveling by bus they would see to it that I got the seat next to Nicole. I really relished every chance that I got to be in her company, but I don’t think I was ever able to have the desired effect on her. She never said anything that could be construed as a signal for her not liking my attentions, but she continued to act aloof. Her aloofness was most disconcerting for me. Today when I was walking beside her on the beach, my mind was full of her. But what was she thinking about. I turned my head to look at her. She was looking down towards her feet as she walked with us.
Did she even know that I that it was my hand that she was holding as we marched at a gentle pace? She probably took me for granted. To her I was an inanimate object, as the moon in the sky, the sand on the beach. I heard John say, “I feel like going that way. Why don’t you guys come with me? Nicole and you can continue walking the way you are.” He winked at me. That was his way of leaving me alone with Nicole. I thanked him from the core of my heart. The other members of the group walked away with sly smiles on their faces. I heard John say, “You would better make the most of this opportunity.” Nicole and I started walking away from the group, my grip on her hand got a little firmer.
We walked for about 100 meters when we reached a small alcove made by rocks. I looked back; my friends had disappeared in the misty darkness of the night. Nicole and I were all alone. “Why don’t we sit down out here, on the rocks?” I suggested. “I don’t mind,” she said carelessly. We were sitting on the wet rocks, taking about this and that. She talked about her life back there in Florida. But I asked her what I was really interested in knowing, “did she have any serious boyfriends in Florida?” “Oh, I have always had boys hovering around me,” she flashed a cool smile, “but it was hardly serious.” I was relieved to hear that.
…To be continued….
Only Nicole was an outsider. She was originally from Florida; a year had passed since her family had moved to North California. Luckily for me, her parents decided to enroll her in my school. I took no time in discovering that she was real beauty, as did many other boys. I am still not sure which one of the boys Nicole was attracted to, that is, if she was attracted to anyone of us. But in my own way I did all I could to make her realize just how badly I was infatuated with her. On occasions I offered to take her out to movies or to the neighborhood restaurants. She did accept my offers about half of the time.
That made me about a 50% success with her. But I was not satisfied with mere 50%, I wanted her 100%, I wanted her all for myself. When you are in school, it is difficult to keep your infatuation for any girl a secret from your friends. My crush on Nicole became common knowledge around the school. I guess Nicole too knew about it, the school was full of blubbering types and one of them would surely have told her. But she never made me realize that she knew about my infatuation for her, and naturally I never asked her if she knew. There were occasions when my friends at school would try to set me up with her.
They would try the obvious ploys like leaving me alone with her in the classroom or in the park. When we were traveling by bus they would see to it that I got the seat next to Nicole. I really relished every chance that I got to be in her company, but I don’t think I was ever able to have the desired effect on her. She never said anything that could be construed as a signal for her not liking my attentions, but she continued to act aloof. Her aloofness was most disconcerting for me. Today when I was walking beside her on the beach, my mind was full of her. But what was she thinking about. I turned my head to look at her. She was looking down towards her feet as she walked with us.
Did she even know that I that it was my hand that she was holding as we marched at a gentle pace? She probably took me for granted. To her I was an inanimate object, as the moon in the sky, the sand on the beach. I heard John say, “I feel like going that way. Why don’t you guys come with me? Nicole and you can continue walking the way you are.” He winked at me. That was his way of leaving me alone with Nicole. I thanked him from the core of my heart. The other members of the group walked away with sly smiles on their faces. I heard John say, “You would better make the most of this opportunity.” Nicole and I started walking away from the group, my grip on her hand got a little firmer.
We walked for about 100 meters when we reached a small alcove made by rocks. I looked back; my friends had disappeared in the misty darkness of the night. Nicole and I were all alone. “Why don’t we sit down out here, on the rocks?” I suggested. “I don’t mind,” she said carelessly. We were sitting on the wet rocks, taking about this and that. She talked about her life back there in Florida. But I asked her what I was really interested in knowing, “did she have any serious boyfriends in Florida?” “Oh, I have always had boys hovering around me,” she flashed a cool smile, “but it was hardly serious.” I was relieved to hear that.
…To be continued….
Ghostwriters Wanted
I sent this anecdote out to a group of authors who replied to an online ad. I asked them to write it as a short story and fill in the parts I left out with their own ideas. I offered them $20 for their services which was paid for by a Serviceworks grant.
http://web.mac.com/serviceworks/iWeb/Site/Service-Works.html
When I was 17 I was interested in a girl I went to high school with.
You can call her N. We had a lot of mutual friends who were trying to
set us up, but both of us were too timid to make a move. One night all
of us went to the beach (in Northern California) and after doing what
any group of kids would do at night at the beach I found myself alone
with N. The rest of the group had intentionally ditched us to help our
romance along. We lay on our backs on the sand and talked about what
our ideas about romantic relationships and other things high school
kids talked about in the 90's. Things became very tense and one of us
suggested we rejoin the group. We got up and found the rest of our
friends waiting expectantly at the cars. When we arrived we were each
taken aside and questioned about whether anything had "happened".
http://web.mac.com/serviceworks/iWeb/Site/Service-Works.html
When I was 17 I was interested in a girl I went to high school with.
You can call her N. We had a lot of mutual friends who were trying to
set us up, but both of us were too timid to make a move. One night all
of us went to the beach (in Northern California) and after doing what
any group of kids would do at night at the beach I found myself alone
with N. The rest of the group had intentionally ditched us to help our
romance along. We lay on our backs on the sand and talked about what
our ideas about romantic relationships and other things high school
kids talked about in the 90's. Things became very tense and one of us
suggested we rejoin the group. We got up and found the rest of our
friends waiting expectantly at the cars. When we arrived we were each
taken aside and questioned about whether anything had "happened".
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