Bob'sStory
It was June of 1959, and the school year was drawing to a close. I was really looking forward to the summer vacation. I was turning 19 in August and would have my own car as a birthday present. What freedom faced me. It was also, according to my parents, the last summer of just hanging around. From this point on I would have to find summer employment.
We lived in Bondville Vermont, in the Green Mountains. It was mostly a farming community. My parents were both doctors. My Dad was what you would call a good country doctor. My Mom was a sexual therapist. I was, and I guess still am a jock. I played both football and baseball. I was good enough to have started to attract scouts from the major Eastern schools, but my sights were set on the IV league.
My parents wanted me to be a doctor, and to tell the truth I also wanted the same thing. I had been accompanying my dad on house calls for some time, and he would always explain the cases to me. I was beginning to understand why and what he was doing. My mom also took a lot of time with me. She explained why she chose sexual therapy, and instilled in me the beauty of sex. By 16 I understood how the human body responds, and about responsibility. I knew that masturbation was natural and that both men and women both got pleasure that way. I knew that there were ways of having sex without having intercourse, such as orally or anally. This was the period before the pill, before aids, and abortions were still illegal.
One afternoon, my Mom called me into the kitchen as she was preparing dinner. She told me that she had to talk to me about something and need my cooperation. It seems that some years earlier while she and my father lived in New York City, she had a patient, quite a bit older, and having troubled sexually. She was able to help them and they had a baby daughter. They never in their lives felt that they were going to be able to have a sexual relationship, much less a child. They were very thankful, and had kept in touch with my parents.
They had contacted my mother now, once again asking for help. It seems that their daughter, who was now 18, was quite withdrawn, and exceedingly shy and quiet. They were in their 70's and really out of touch with this generation and were asking for advice in how to deal with their daughters problems. My mom suggested that they send their daughter to our house for the summer. She thought that it would give her a chance to interact with my friends and that mom could observe and maybe bring her out of her shell.
Mom then said that she wanted me to be a gracious host and to include her in my summer activities. I couldn't believe what I was hearing. The last thing I wanted this summer was to have to baby sit some shy mouse. I voiced my objections, but was told how surprised she was by my reaction. After all she thought that I was a concerned human who could think of more then myself. It really bothered me to disappoint my mom so I told her that I would do everything in my power to see that Anne had a nice summer.
Anne's STORY
It was June of 1959. I was looking forward to my summer vacation. I had everything planned. I had a list of books that I was going to get from the library, and planned to spend my days on the great meadow in Central Park loosing my self in the books.
I was attending Sacrate Heart Academy, and I really felt very out of place. My parents were the age of most of the other kids grandparents, and they had absolutely no understanding of anything going on today. I guess I am very quiet and prefer my books to other people. I was not one of the "in" people and was not part of the social scene at school. I guess this also caused me to withdraw into my shell. I would look at the boys, when we would have mixers with the boys school and hope some one would ask me to dance, but it never happened. I was always waiting for my prince to sweep me off my feet, just like in the romance stories I loved to read but it never happened.
One day after school my mom told me she wanted to speak with me. She told me that she didn't think it was a good idea for an 18-year-old to spend the summer in the city, and felt that it would be beneficial for me to be in the country. She told me she had a friend who used to live in the city but had moved to Vermont when I was a baby, who had a son who was a little bit older then I. She had spoken with her, and explained that she thought that it would be a great idea for me to spend the summer in the country, and if it wouldn't be too much trouble, I could stay with her family.
Mom failed to tell me the real reason, that being that she was concerned with me being such a quite loner. I could not believe my ears. I had no intention of spending a summer with some "goober" who probably didn't even know what a book was, much less carry on a conversation. My mom just looked at me, and in a stern voice which I have never heard before, told me this was not up for discussion. I should pack what I wanted to take with me, and that I would be gone for two months.
I ran to my room crying hysterically. I heard the door to my room open and my dad sat down on my bed. He leaned over and kissed me and told me "Annie, sweetie you will see that this will be really a good thing for you." No, no I screamed it's the worst, I don't want to spend my summer there. He then whispered to me,"sweety, give it a chance for just two weeks. If you are miserable I will then bring you home. Try just for me." I dried my tears, hugged my dad, and said ok, but that he should prepare right know to come and get me.
Bob's STORY
It was July 1st, school was over, and she was coming today. I had discussed the situation with my best friends, Joel and Roberta who we all called Bobbie, and they said that they would pitch in, and that I was not to worry, how bad could it be.
At 5P.M. My dad returned from town with Annie. She had just taken a 51/2-hour bus ride from New York City. Our house was an old Victorian with a large porch. I was sitting there when they pulled up. I was really expecting the worst, but what a pleasant surprise. Annie was very pretty. She had blond hair pulled back into a ponytail, was tall and slim. She was warring a blouse and skirt with Bobbie socks and saddle shoes. Dad called me to help with her bags and to introduce us. Annie offered me her hand, and when I took it she sort of flushed. I grabbed her suitcase, and a box full of books. I wondered what she thought. Did she think we were all-ignorant and didn't have books or a library?
Annie's STORY
It was July 1st, and the day I was to leave. I hugged mom and kissed her good by. As I was getting on the bus, I turned and whispered to dad, "don't forget your promise". He hugged me and said don't worry I won't. The buss pulled away, and the tears were rolling down my face. I cried all the way to Bondville. When I got off the buss, this nice looking tall man walked over to me, and said are you Annie. I could not speak just nodded yes. He said hi I'm Hal. He took my bag and box of books and off we went. Hal told me he admired my courage. I looked at him out of the corner of my eyes to see if he was kidding. I could tell he wasn't. He continued telling me that I was really going to love Vermont and that Bob was really a great kid and that I would have a great time.
We finally arrived, I got out of the car, and I thought that I would fall down. There sitting on the porch was a God. Hal call out and the God came down the stairs to us. Hal introduced Bob, and he took my hand. I could have fainted, I was so embarrassed I turned so red and could say nothing. Bob was about 6 feet tall, light brown hair, and the most beautiful blue eyes I had ever seen. He smiled at me when he said hello and I thought that my knees were going to give out. I just lowered my eyes and followed them into the house.
Dinner was very strange. It was like watching a movie. The table conversation was very normal; they were trying to include me as if I was part of the family. I just didn't know what to say or do. Finally dinner was over. I offered to help clear and do the dishes, but was told that clearing was Bob's job, and that I should just relax.
I picked up one of my books and went out to the porch, sat on a very comfortable wicker couch, curled my feet udder me and began reading. I don't know how long I was alone, I was so absorbed in my book, and I suddenly look up and saw that Bob was sitting on the top step looking at me. I was so mad at myself, because I could feel myself once again blush. Hi he said, "I didn't want to disturb you, you were so engrossed in your book, by the way what are you reading." I finally got control of myself and was able to reply that I was reading Browning. Oh he said, I really don't care too much for her, when it comes to poetry I prefer Whitman, and believe it or not Shakespeare. I was so taken aback, I never expected that this God would even know who Browning was. For the first time in my life I found myself talking easily with a boy, who could talk about poetry and literature. It turned out that he and I had a lot in common. We both were honor roll students who loved to read.