When the song ended I was in tears from the beauty of the words and knowing someone felt this way about me. I rounded the corner into my apartment complex, parked my car and went inside. Dropping my keys and purse on the countertop, I noticed the answering machine blinking. When I pushed the button the cryptic message gave me a hint to my secret admirer. A soft muffled voice said, "Happy Valentines Day Anna. Meet me at the bridge in the park at 7:00pm."
A click signaled that the message was done. I listened a couple times to see if I could discern whom the voice belonged to, to no avail. I picked up the phone to check the caller id; it was a private call. I knew I should be scared but I wasn't. Anyone who dedicated this particular song to me could never harm me; I felt it in my heart. After I freshened up and changed into some comfortable jeans and a sweater I drove to the park. There were no other cars there, so I waited. Finally, another car pulled into the park a fair distance away from me. A man got out and walked to the bridge. From my distance I was not able to see him.
I left my car with my heart racing and my palms sweating, wondering at the slight nagging feeling in my stomach. I approached the bridge, intrepid but stepped onto the wooden planking and began walking toward my would-be suitor. He turned toward me when he heard my footsteps but the dark of night hid his features from me. The closer I got the more intrepid I felt. I hesitated and wondered if I should turn around and run. He noticed my hesitancy and spoke toward my direction. "Thank you for coming Anna."
I stopped walking about 40 feet from where he stood. "Do I know you?" I asked quietly.
He walked toward me, narrowing the distance I had left between us. I could not move. When he got closer he looked familiar to me, but I could not put a name with his face. His six-foot frame towered over me. Slightly graying temples and strong features stood before me, with steely blue eyes piercing into my very soul. "Has it been that long Anna?" he spoke softly with a deep vibrato. His hand reached to touch my hair on the side of my head. "You still have beautiful hair after all these years."
Words escaped me. I stood and looked at him trying to place him. Obviously it was someone I knew a long time ago, but I did not have a clue of his name. He seemed to revel in my slight discomfort, by the tilted grin on his mouth. I felt embarrassed, "I am very sorry, but I do not know who you are."
He pulled his hand away from my hair, "Do you remember going to the Homecoming Dance in Junior High, back in '75?"
I thought back to that time. "Barely. Gosh, that was a long time ago."
"Yes, it was but that dance has been etched in my mind for years, Anna." He smiled as he spoke. "I remember the powder blue dress you wore that night."
It felt odd to have this man recount an event from my past, not knowing who he was. I finally asked him outright. "Who are you?"
"Andrew Johnson." He said in a firm voice.
"Andy Johnson?" I repeated with surprise. "Little Andy?"
"Yes," he laughed.
"Wow, you have grown." I offered with a smile. "How? Why?" I paused.
"Yes, I am a man now Anna." His steely blue eyes gazed at me. "I was 'little Andy', the nerdy short kid with glasses, braces, zips and not too many friends."
I recalled the dance, and Andy being there. "You asked me to dance that night."
"And you accepted Anna. I have never forgot that night." His expression softened. "After my family moved away the following year, I thought of you many times; then the years just got away from me."
"So, how did you come to be here with me now... and why?"
"I came back to town for business. I drove by the old school and that memory flooded to the forefront of my mind. I ran into a few others that we went to school with, but as you may have guessed, no one recognized me."
"I can understand why, you have changed remarkably Andy." I reminded him.
He continued, "Sometimes we go through life and we don't take the time to thank people who have made a difference in our lives. I decided to look you up to tell you how special you made a geeky nerd feel at that Homecoming dance, years ago."
I felt giddy, humbled and happy. "Thank you Andy."
"You're welcome Anna. Are you busy or can we go have a drink together?" he asked with the same hesitant look he had 30 years ago.
I smiled up at him. "Of course Andy, I would enjoy that very much."
We walked back to our cars, "I will meet you uptown at Charlie's."
I got in my car and drove to Charlie's, marveling at this blast from the past and how little Andy Johnson has grown and changed into a strikingly handsome man. He followed me and parked beside my car in the parking lot. Before I could get out he was at my door, opening it for me.
"Thank you Andrew." I said as I got out. "Gosh I can't get over how tall you are now and... and how handsome you are."
He smiled a soft smile, "You are just as beautiful as you were years ago Anna, and just as sweet too."
We walked into the bar and found a seat. Our conversation ranged from remembering the dance to what we were both doing in the present. I felt comfortable speaking with him. It was refreshing to be with someone who had known me for so long. "Are you married Andrew?" I asked with curiosity.
"I was, not anymore." He spoke in a flat tone.
"Same here." I responded.