Red Light, Green Light
This is not a work of fiction. The events described took place 50 years ago. Most of the main events are clear and vivid in my mind but much of the dialog I have had to invent based on my memories. Also, it is possible that I have embellished or invented minor points in the story. I have changed names of characters in the story. I recently went through my letters and found 8 from Terri. I read each of them and it helped me remember details about our crazy romance. Those letters hit the recycle bin a few weeks ago, never to be seen again.
This is the story of how I met my second sexual partner when I was 19 years old. This particular series of sexual encounters took place over 2-1/2 years while I was in college and still stands out as unique due to the intensity of our sexual encounters and the risk involved.
The Beginning
I had just arrived home for Christmas holidays from WSU and was looking forward to about 2 weeks away from school at my folk's place in Vancouver, WA. My Dad asked me if I would be interested in seeing the Stan Kenton Orchestra who were scheduled to play in Portland about 10 days later.
Although big band stuff wasn't my favorite type of jazz, I knew I would enjoy the night out with my father so I volunteered to go over to Jantzen Beach and buy tickets at an import store that had a Ticketmaster franchise or similar.
I walked into the store and up to the checkout counter where 2 tall, elegantly dressed blonde girls were standing. I told them I wanted to purchase concert tickets and they looked at each other and then told me they didn't know how to sell the tickets and would need to get someone to help me.
One of them walked down an aisle and called out for Terri.
Terri emerged from behind some shelves where she had been stocking merchandise.
As she approached, I took her in.
She was short, about 5'-3" and gave the impression of being somewhat dowdy in dress.
She was wearing a long paisley velvet dress with sleeves that came to the elbows. The dress had a dark blue background with emerald and golden paisley designs and a slightly scooped neck. She was wearing leather sandals with 2" heels and a small silver cross around her neck.
Her face was oval and she had an upturned nose. Her mouth was rather small and her lips were of average fullness. Terri had brown eyes and was wearing no makeup. I can't every remember Terri with makeup on.
Those first impressions faded as I was completely overwhelmed by her hair.
She had the most beautiful head of wavy red hair I have ever seen. Her hair came below her shoulders and from the front it looked like two gorgeous waterfalls of shimmering red framing her face.
The blonde girls were standing off to one side of the cash register whispering to each other and right away I got the impression that they looked down on Terri.
She walked behind the counter and asked if she could help me.
I told her I wanted to buy tickets for the Stan Kenton concert and she pulled a 3-ring binder from under the counter and started to flip pages. As I stood there, I realized she had an unbelievably full bust. The dress showed about 2 inches of cleavage and her skin was absolutely porcelain white, her arms, her face and her bust. There wasn't a freckle on this girl. I swallowed and tried to collect myself.
She eventually found the sheet for the concert and then looked at me and smiled. She asked, "What kind of music does Stan Kenton play?"
I said, "It is big band stuff, you know, swing like was popular in the 50's. My Mom and Dad grew up in Chicago and danced to this music before they were married and before us kids came along after WWII."
She smiled.
Terri said, "I don't really listen to jazz. Don't know anything about it."
She gave me a form to fill out with my name, phone number, mailing address, etc. She said the tickets could be mailed or I could come back in and pick them up in a few days. It told her I wanted to pick them up and she ran my bank card and I paid.
She looked at the form and said, "Ken, I hope you and your dad have a good time at the concert."
She then looked over at the blondes and said, "We got some inventory in that needs to be unpacked and put out."
I asked her, "Are you the manager here?"
She gave a little snort and shook her head.
"No, I worked here one summer and since then holidays when I don't have school. The owner comes in for a few hours each day and keeps an eye on everything but we pretty much do all the work."
I said, "Are they sorority sisters or something?"
She gave me a big smile, "Yeah, they are at the U-dub, I have a really hard time getting them to do any work."
I said, "Well, I will wait for the call." And turned and walked out of the mall.
I thought about Terri on and off for 2 days when I received the call that the tickets were ready to pick up.
I drove back to Jantzen Beach to pick up the tickets and figured, hell, she probably won't even be working today.
Well, I was wrong.
Terri was standing behind the counter when I walked in and she smiled as I approached. She was wearing a really beautiful satin emerald blouse with long sleeves and a black skirt that came just above her knees. She was a short waisted woman but due to her height her legs gave the impression of being on the stumpy side.
She remembered my name and went through the drawer looking for my tickets. She found them after a bit.
I was standing there and suddenly blurted out, "Would you like to go out with me?"
She completely froze for 10 seconds and said nothing. The blondes were standing nearby taking this all in.
I realized I had screwed up and told her, "Oh sorry, I don't want to make you uncomfortable, forget what I said".
Terri shook her head and said, "I would like to go out with you."
It was one of those weird situations where you are expecting doom and gloom and suddenly the sun comes out.
I asked Terri for her number and she got this grim expression on her face and said, "I'll call you; your number is on the ticket form."
The blondes were smirking and whispering as I walked out.
Terri phoned me the same afternoon at 4 PM. My mother called me to the phone.
I said, "What do you want to do?"
Terri said, "I don't know but I have the next two days off work."