"Hello, Mr. Eidson," I said.
My former religious studies teacher smiled. "Michael Langston!" he replied. "What brings you here?"
"I was visiting my aunt," I responded. "She lives 2 blocks down, and once I was done, I thought I'd stroll over to the campus and replay some memories. De La Salle really transformed me, and high school was an incredible four years."
I felt a body press up against me from behind. Two soft hands covered my eyes, and a familiar, playful voice said, "Guess who."
Without turning, I called, "Hi, Karen."
My fiancée removed her hands from my eyes. "Thought I'd find you here," she remarked. "I was doing the same thing, reliving my days at Carondelet. I don't have any classes today, so..."
I smiled. "I don't think you've met my former teacher," I said. "Karen, this is Mr. Eidson, who teaches religious studies. Mr. Eidson, this is Karen Jenkins, my fiancée."
"Delighted to meet you, sir," Karen responded.
"Likewise," replied my teacher. "I hope you two are happy together."
"Oh, we are," I smiled. "You're invited to the wedding, of course. I can't not invite the man who turned around my life."
I looked at the picture on the wall. "We first met at the dance," I said, almost in reverie. "You were wearing that lovely, pale-pink dress. Even though you were being a wallflower, I was drawn right to you like a moth to a flame."
Karen smiled. "You looked so like an old-time gangster in that outfit. I was a little nervous about dancing with you, but you made me feel comfortable."
"You may not be what passes for conventionally attractive," I replied, "but there's just something about you that makes me want to hold you in my arms and cover your body with kisses."
"Down, boy," she teased. "You can kiss my lips, but that's all you get until after we're legal."
I smiled at her. She came up to my shoulders, her skinny 5'3" frame tucked against my 5'11", muscular body. Her mousy-brown, shoulder-length hair and thick glasses contrasted with my blond crewcut and solid, square-jawed face. My friends didn't know what I saw in her, when I could be dating a tall, blonde-haired, athletic cheerleader-type girl. I knew, however, that she was the one. I had known since I walked onto the dance floor and saw her sitting in a chair, staring at the couples dancing. I felt a current flow between us as I walked towards her, and she felt light in my arms as we danced through 7 songs together.
"I know, sweetie," I said. "You're just so wonderful, it's difficult to be patient at times. You're the only girl I'll ever need."
She leaned up and kissed me. "I love you, Mike," she replied.
"I love you, Karen," I responded.
The wedding was a great success. We held it the summer after our first year in college – both of us having become UC-Berkeley students after high school. We both invited several of our former teachers, as well as friends and family. Everyone enjoyed themselves thoroughly, especially when for our first dance, we re-enacted our first meeting. We were even wearing the same outfits.
Karen looked even prettier than she did then, in my opinion. Her face was glowing with joy. "I never thought I'd be married, especially to such a wonderful man," she whispered as I piloted her around the floor. "I thought I'd be always a wallflower, watching my friends find happiness."
"I'm lucky to have found you," I whispered back. "Without your love, I wouldn't have had the strength to go from being a punk to being a respectable member of society."
She kissed me softly. "Flatterer," she said with a laugh.
I could have danced with Karen for hours, but we both had certain dances we had to do [with parents, brothers, sisters, money dance, etc.] The music eventually stopped. We changed into casual clothes and both of us helped to clean up after the reception was over. Finally, the last of the debris was swept up and put in the trash. It was 8:25 p.m.
Her parents were still there. "Have fun on your honeymoon, you two," her dad called out. He pulled me aside and whispered, "Take good care of her. She's lived a sheltered life."
"Don't worry, sir," I replied. "I love her with all my heart. There's nothing I wouldn't do for her. I'll keep her safe."
With that, we got in our car [a wedding gift from many pooled family members on both sides, given a few days earlier] and drove up to the hotel we were staying at, near Duxbury Reef.
After checking in, Karen kissed me on the lips, deeply. Sliding her hands under my T-shirt, she began running them over my muscular chest. Her fingertips sent shivers of electricity through me as she caressed me.
"That feels very nice," I said softly, almost in a whisper.
She tugged upward on my shirt. I got the hint and took it off. She pulled me against her and nuzzled my neck with her tongue. I reached my arms down and pressed her body against mine. Her hands began to run over my back, finally settling on running up and down my spine.