It was the most perfect night in the world, or at least it was to an eighteen year old boy who had the world by the tail. It was June and the prom was my destination. Dressed in my Dad's tux that my Mom tried to alter to fit as best she could, I was dapper, complete with a white carnation. The air was thick and sweet with the aroma of spring. The moon was big and bright. All was right with the world. Or at least my small part of it anyway.
Being from a small southern town no one ever heard of was a blessing and a curse. You see we didn't pay much attention to what happened outside of Pinewood Holler. Hell, most never left. But it was 1964 and seemed to me that most of the world outside of here had lost its mind. We heard tell of riots and then the war but that seemed so far away and long removed.
It was the prom for me and I was off to fetch the most prettiest girl in the county, Barbara Jean. Not sure how we wound up together but we've had been together since kids in kindergarten. We played, went through that stage where boys are "icky" and girls have "cooties". Then the wonderful time of "I like you"... but had no idea what to do with it or what to do about it.. you know that one. We were 18 and grown by most standards around here. Hell my cousin was married at 16. It seemed predestined that Barb and I would be together, even though I thought she could do better. But it was me taking her to the prom, and trying not to get too much dust on my tux.
It took awhile to get to Barb's house, but I didn't care much. I was full of excitement and joy at the thought of holding her close and dancing. I found myself standing in front of her gate. It was a nice house for around these parts. Her dad did well by the family. I took inventory of myself, making sure all was in order and neat. I knew she would be looking good. I didn't want to make her look bad or nothin'. With corsage in hand, I approached the door and knocked. Manly, you know. I was so nervous it most likely came out as a tap.
Wasn't but a minute when the door opened and there was Mr.Baker. He was a big man, graying hair, strong jaw, and muscles to match. Rather intimidating I must say, with a voice that could shake the roof. With a wave of this ham hock he called a hand, he ushered me inside. In a voice loud enough for his ancestors to hear, he called for his daughter. "Barbara Jean, you get on down here now. Stop that fussin' around."
Not sure about Barbara, I was sure ready to stop fussin'. At the top of the stairs appeared Barb, dressed in a white satin gown, off the shoulder. Her long blond hair hung in ringlets about her delicate shoulders. The eyes I loved to stare into somehow seemed bluer. The sparkle in them put the stars to shame. There was just a hint of bosom showing, round and pert. She seemed to glide down the stairs. As she reached the bottom I could do nothing but stare in awe at the girl I once caught frogs with at Millard's Pond.
Seconds seemed like hours until her father's voice once again made me jump."Good God boy, don't just stand there gawking. Put the flowers on her." I must have seemed like a fool, but I wasn't sure where to pin them. There were boobs in the area. Sensing my distress, Mrs.Baker came to my aid before I could poke her daughter in the chest.
With her arm in mine and a good night wish, we were out the door, and none too soon for me. We walked arm in arm through the flower-scented night, chatting like young people in love will do. I don't remember too much of the prom, just how soft she was to hold, the scent of honeysuckle on her slender neck as I nuzzled it. When I kissed her full lips, red as strawberries and twice as sweet, my heart would skip a beat. Before I knew it she had taken my hand and led me out of the gym and into the moon-soaked night.
Not sure why we left, nor where we were going, I would have followed her anywhere. She led me along the same road we had come until we reached the path that led down to Pinewood Lake, and with not so much as a hesitation, she led me down the narrow path. I asked what was at the lake she needed to show me, but she just put a finger to my lips to hush me up. When we entered the clearing to the pond it was as if it was a picture painted just for us. The moon shown off the pond like a reflection in a mirror. The only sound besides my young heart beating like crazy in my ears was the sound of crickets playing their love song.
In a voice as soft as a summer shower she said, "Come sit on the dock with me for a bit."
With my hand in hers she led me down the same dock we sat on as kids, fishing, swimming and skimming stones. Seemed like it was only yesterday that we wasted many long lazy days here. We sat and she removed her shoes as did I, dangling our feet in the water, causing never-ending ripples. With our arms around each other and her head on my shoulder, her long blond hair like corn silk tickled my cheek. Without notice she brought her left hand up to my cheek holding my face like a mother caressing her new born. Reaching up with her face her lips brushed against mine like the wings of a butterfly. She never kissed me like that before...long, deep, sensual. Making her way to my ear and kissing it, she sent the words over her lips that I longed to hear, "I love you so."
