Falling for Sandy
by DG HEAR
I want to thank my anonymous editor for making this a much better read. She has been a tremendous help over the last few months.
My name is John Akers and I'm thirty-four. I come from a poor family where life was tough. Despite the hardships, my parents stuck together. The way they worked so hard as a couple made me want that same kind of marriage for myself. However, no matter how many women I dated, I never found that special one.
Back in high school, I dated a lot, especially my senior year. It was as if once I turned eighteen, I suddenly had this need for getting them to make out with me. I loved it when they let me feel them up and even get my hand inside their pants. Even though I teased and flirted, I never had intercourse while in high school. I just loved playing around with the girls. I guess a few of them thought I was strange when I didn't try to do more but I was happy with just being the flirt. And most girls dated me more than once so I figured I was doing something right.
Even though my family had been poor, my parents made me study. Plus, I played both football and baseball and earned a four-year scholarship. After checking out some colleges, I decided to go to California to play football. Back then, I wanted to go into radio/broadcasting and figured that was the place to go. I used to watch TV and see all the nightclubs with people lined up to get in. It seemed to be where the good-looking women and parties were and they looked so happy and free.
Good thing I didn't have to study much because we practiced for hours every day. Any extra time I had I worked on my radio skills. For the first two years, it was almost all work and no play but that changed my junior year. I started to party that year and ended up being a DJ at most of them.
So on the weekend, if I didn't have a game, I was working at a party. That's when I started the real dating and didn't stop at just feeling up the ladies. I had a lot of good sex but never found the love I hoped for. I realized that by dating and sharing women who had sex with my friends, I wasn't going to find true love.
Although I enjoyed playing football, I wasn't interested in it as a career. So after I graduated from college, I landed what I thought was the job I always wanted. I was the DJ in one of the hottest hangouts in LA. My first week there I thought I had died and went to heaven. The place had it all--flashing lights and hundreds of women who were there to party or become noticed.
I worked Tuesday through Thursday from 6pm to midnight. On Friday and Saturday, I worked from 6pm to 2am. By then I had built up my own CD collection and had them alphabetized. My helper always had the tapes ready to go. There were very few requests I couldn't fill.
Working there meant I had all the sex I wanted. I was even with a few would-be actresses. After doing it for years though, it became old. I still liked it but something was missing. So when I turned thirty, I decided to move back home.
I missed my family and the simple life that I remembered. I guess I was growing up. I called my old hometown radio station and asked if they had any openings. When they heard it was me they offered me the weekday afternoon time slot slot from noon to six. I could play whatever type music I wanted--as long as it didn't break any of their rules, of course.
That left my weekends free to DJ at weddings and parties. It was a lot tamer crowd than I was used to but I really enjoyed it. I hired a young woman, Dana, who was able to learn my system and have my CD's ready when needed. She was married with one child and was happy to have the part-time job. Jim, one of my old football buddies from high school, helped me set up all my equipment at the different events.
The pay was a lot less but I had saved quite a bit of money over the years. I stayed with my parents for a few months until I settled in. I saw my sisters and their families. They had the kind of life I wanted. Many of my old friends from school were already divorced. I just didn't want to settle for less than my dream.
I enjoyed my job at the radio station. For a two-hour period each day, I played requests. I was surprised at how many people wanted to hear the music from the sixties through the eighties. It was rare that I didn't have what they asked for. The station got calls on how much they loved my show, which really made me feel good. I had built up a big following.
Almost every weekend I worked at a party or wedding where I met a lot of women. I dated quite a few and they were usually nice. Of course, everyone wanted to know why I wasn't married. I just told them I hadn't met that special woman yet, which was the truth.
One of my friends asked me to be a groomsman at his wedding. He also asked me to be the DJ at the reception. By then I was quite popular. He matched me up with a friend of his fiancée who I swear was the prettiest woman ever. Her name was Sandy and she was a widow. She was thirty and had a ten-year-old daughter and a four-year-old son.
At my age, I accepted that if I ever found a woman I cared for that she would probably have been married before and possibly even had children. We met at the rehearsal the day before the wedding. I mentioned that after the ceremony I was to be the DJ and wouldn't be around for her. I just wanted to apologize in advance so she didn't think I was rude.
It was strange but I got a little flutter in my stomach while talking to her. She told me she was a widow and her husband died in Iraq two years before. Her daughter was eight at the time of his death, and her son was only two. She had a job as a real estate agent and was able to make it financially but her parents were the ones who helped her through the difficult times. I could tell how much she loved them by the way she spoke of them. It was another reminder of the life I wanted.
At the wedding, I did my part and helped seat people. I then went back with the others and Sandy and I walked down the aisle side by side. She looked beautiful in her blue gown. We stood in front of the church with the entire wedding party, smiling as the bride and groom said their vows. My buddy Tony was a nervous wreck when he saw his bride coming down the aisle on her father's arm.
After the ceremony, the wedding party greeted the guests who were then going over to the large hall for the reception. I had to excuse myself so I could go over and make sure all my equipment was ready. When I got to the hall, Dana and Jim had it almost all set up. Mary and Tony had given us their music list and Dana was putting the CD's in our machine.
When we were ready, we played some music until the wedding party arrived. Dana announced the names of everyone as they walked in and I ran back to be with Sandy. She was smiling when she saw me coming. We stepped into the room together as Dana said our names. When Tony and Mary walked in everyone clapped and cheered. Then we all sat down at the wedding party table. Tony's brother was his best man so he gave a speech and then a few other people spoke.
Afterward, everyone lined up for the buffet. I had Dana change a few CD's while I stayed with the wedding party to eat. Then I apologized to Sandy since I had to do my DJ job. She said she understood and would talk with me later. I felt bad leaving her though.
I started the play list, which was the first twenty songs. That gave me a chance to go dance with Sandy. Some of her family members were at the wedding and she introduced me to her daughter, Dorothy, and her son, Tyler. They were sitting with her parents. We danced to three songs and she felt so good in my arms. Then I had to go up and DJ a little. I took the microphone and said Tony and Mary thanked everyone for coming to the wedding and wanted them to have a good time.
I then announced the next three songs and let everyone know if they wanted to request something to come up and mention it to my assistant or me.
Dana brought her husband and son to the wedding. Tony told me it was OK. I relieved them so they could get something to eat and I kept announcing the songs. As I was changing some of the CD's, Sandy asked if she could sit with me. I told her I would love it. I felt bad not being with her. We actually danced a few slow songs right in front of my stand.
A few people made requests for the party songs. First was the YMCA. Then they asked for the Macarena and the bunny hop. We worked them all in and the people were happy. Sandy's daughter asked me to play the crazy chicken song. I told her I would just for her.
I announced that I had a special request before turning up the volume. Dorothy looked at me and smiled. She was as pretty as her mother was. I was glad I brought the song with me especially when I saw Sandy dancing it with her daughter. The reception was almost over and I knew I wanted to see Sandy again. I knew I needed to ask her before she left.
"Sandy, I know we just met, but I'd like to see you again."
"John, I haven't dated since my husband died. I don't know if I can."
"I won't push you into anything. I'm thinking we can start with going out for dinner or seeing a movie. If you prefer, we can take the kids to the zoo or the aquarium. I just want to get to know you better. When I'm with you, I feel something I haven't felt before."
"I like you, John. Call me Monday and we'll see about getting together."
"My Saturdays are pretty much taken up but I'm free most any other evening. I promise to take it slow," I said to Sandy.
I gave her a light kiss on the cheek and thanked her for being my date. She smiled and went over with her kids and parents who were watching us. I felt something between us but wasn't sure what it was. But I was positive I wanted to explore those feelings.
I called her on Monday and we decided to have dinner on Friday. I mentioned the Red Lobster and she said it would be fine. She gave me her address before we hung up. As I was working, I couldn't stop thinking about her.
