Jake Roberts pulled into the parking lot behind Choy's Chinese restaurant in Missoula, Montana about 7:30 Friday evening. It was a pleasant April evening, rare in spring in western Montana. He parked his bright red Corvette in a spot near the back entrance and strode leisurely inside. Choy's was a fairly large place for a college town. It was also semi-expensive. Jake's family had a lot of money so he had a generous allowance. The Chinese lady, Mrs. Chung, who ran the place, escorted him to his usual table.
"We have new waitress," She smiled. "You see her, you like her. I send her over here."
He started to protest, but then thought better of it. He knew it was useless to argue with the little Chinese woman. He had tried it before and it didn't work.
As Jake settled into his seat, a vision of total loveliness and beauty appeared in front of him. She was oriental. She was perfect.
The vision asked, "May I take your order, sir?" Jake couldn't answer. His throat had slammed shut and he had started to sweat. "Sir?" inquired the vision.
Jake had never been outgoing. In fact, he was extremely shy, especially around the opposite sex. That's why he was still a virgin. It embarrassed him to think that he had never loved a lady, but those were the facts. Now he was confronted with the most beautiful girl he had ever seen. His brain crumbled.
Finally he croaked, "I'd like some egg foo yung, and some kung pao chicken, please."
She continued to query him about soup, salad and the usual accoutrements. She wrote it all onto her pad and swept away toward the kitchen.
Jake was now a shambles. He could not think about anything but the girl. He knew he would have to shake this feeling. He was a math major with a 4.0 GPA. He couldn't let this rattle him.
The next day, he went back to Choy's. He knew he had to find out more about the girl. Mrs. Chung greeted him at the door again. She was smiling from ear to ear. Jake knew that she knew he was hooked. "So, you like Julie a little." She said. Jake smiled. "Maybe you like her a lot?"
"Is she working today?" asked Jake.
"She be here in two more hours." Mrs. Chung replied. Jake didn't think he could wait that long, but on the other hand, he was scared and shaking.
"I'll be back." Jake stated and walked out to his 'Vette.
Two and a half hours later, Jake returned to Choy's. He came in through the rear entrance again and was again greeted by Mrs. Chung.
"I think you maybe like Julie a lot. She cherry girl. You no hurt her!" Mrs. Chung admonished.
"I think of her all the time. It's your fault for hiring a goddess." exclaimed Jake as he sat down. Soon Julie was standing in front of Jake's table. Once again he felt the constriction in his throat. He couldn't speak.
"Is something wrong, sir?" Julie asked.
Summoning up all his courage, Jake said, "No, no, nothing's wrong. It's just that I've never seen a girl like you before."
"Is something wrong with me? Should I get you a different waitress?"
"No!! Absolutely not!" Jake almost shouted. He was having a very difficult time talking to her. "Can I ask you your name?" Jake asked meekly.
"Sure, it is Julie Trang. My family is Vietnamese." She replied.
"Although I've only seen you a couple of times, I would really like to get to know you better." Jake begged.
"Well," she responded, "This is awfully fast. What would you want to do?"
"There is a frat party Saturday night. Would you go with me?"
"I don't know about that. I've never been to a frat party, but I have heard some bad things about them."
"What you have heard probably has some truth to it," Jake admitted. "But I would take good care of you. I would have you home early and we could leave any time you want."
"OK" she said. "But I have to warn you, I'm not much of a party animal."
"Neither am I." vowed Jake. "I only go because I'm a frat brother. I seldom stay at one of these things much past 8:30 or 9:00. We could go get something to eat after we leave."
"Won't you have to come back to the frat house to sleep?" she asked.
"No, I've got my own house. Dad insisted that I join the frat. I made him give me a house before I agreed to it."
"Wow!! Is daddy loaded?"
"Yeah, he's got mega bucks. But he really is a nice guy and he came by all of it honestly. I'll pick you about 6:30. That way, we won't be there very long. Just long enough for me to become the envy of the entire frat." He smiled.
The week dragged by with the alacrity of a snail with polio. Finally Saturday evening arrived. It was chilly out as is typical of spring time Montana weather. Jake burned rubber almost all the way to Julie's house. When he got there, he rang the bell. Julie answered the door and invited him inside.
Suddenly it was more chilly inside Jake than outside. He was nervous. Very nervous. He stepped inside and she escorted him to the front room. Her mother and father were introduced and greeted him openly. They seemed like a nice couple and expressed some concern about the frat party.
"It'll be alright." Jake assured them. "I promise not to let anything bad happen to her."
"We understand you are an amateur boxer." Julie's father said.
"Yeah, but it is just a hobby. I'm really not good enough to turn pro or even get into the Olympic circuit. After I graduate, that will be a thing of the past."
Her father grinned broadly and said, "We don't know much about you, but you look like you can take care of our daughter."
The longer Jake talked to them, the better he liked them. "Just between us, sir, I think your daughter is the sweetest, nicest, most beautiful girl I have ever met and frankly, I want to get to know her and her family much better. I'm not a playboy or someone who chases women. In fact, your daughter is the first date I have had in two years. I'm not going to hurt her or try to take advantage of her."
The old man smiled and said, "I appreciate your honesty. We want to know you better too, but first, have a good time this evening and bring her back to us."
"You can be sure I will Mr. Trang." He took her arm and walked her out to the car.
"I think daddy and mama like you." She said.
"I hope so." He replied.
Even though she was only 4' 10" and 90 pounds, when she walked into the frat house, it was like a movie star had arrived. All the frat brothers shifted into "full lust" and all their dates shifted into total dismay.
"Holy shit!" exclaimed Jake's fishing buddy. "Where did you capture her?"
"I never give away good fishin' spots." Jake stated.
Julie looked around and saw that everyone had a drink or a beer. There was a keg on the bar. There must have been fifty bottles of hard liquor behind the bar.
"Can I get you something to drink?" Jake asked.
"You'll think I'm a party pooper, but I don't drink alcohol."
"Neither do I!" exclaimed Jake. And with that he ambled over to the bar and retrieved a couple of Sprites. By the time he got back to Julie, she was surrounded by frat brothers. "Alright, heathens. Go back to the slums and leave the lady alone."
"Thanks Jake. For a minute I felt like the main course at a wolf feed." They sipped their drinks and listened to the music for a while. Finally, a slow dance came on.
"Want to dance maam?" Jake inquired.
"Sure thing, handsome." Julie responded.
"I can't dance fast." Jake explained.
"I can, but I don't like to. I think it looks odd. Like you're demented or physically impaired." Julie commented Jake laughed and held her tighter. She squeezed him. It was great!
At 8:45, Jake said, "I've had about enough party. Let's go get something to eat."
"OK" replied Julie.
"What would you like for dinner?" Jake asked.
"How about a big, juicy steak!" Julie answered enthusiastically. They hopped in the car and headed for the best steak house in town. "I've never eaten here" Julie said as they drove up to the parking valet.
"I'm sure you'll like it. They have really good food here."
"Well, OK, if you say so."
The evening was going by much too fast. Their food came and was consumed. A local band was playing oldies in the background. He led her out onto the dance floor and held her tightly. She reciprocated. She put her hands on the back of his head and drew him down to her. No mean feat! Jake was no giant, but his 5' 10" frame was way up in the air for the short, beautiful Julie. She kissed him lightly and ran her tongue across his lips. A bomb went off inside Jake's head. He had never had a girl lick his lips. It was an incredible feeling. She looked into his eyes and smiled, resting her head against his shoulder. He could have stayed like this for a week! Jake shuddered visibly against her and knew beyond a doubt that he was in love. The song ended.