This story is at least 85% true--too bad it isn't 100%, but that's life.
*
The quinquennial celebration of sloppy sentimentality, coupled with blackmail and extortion, had come upon me again. Another reunion at dear old Alma Mater; how nice once again to see classmates who had far more hair, much less fat, and a great deal more money than I. And hear them discussing the relative merits of skiing Gstaad and bareboating the Caribbean. Every reunion I get older and they get younger. This time one showed up with his 30 year old wife and ten year old son: my kids could have kids that age (except they don't).
I went, of course. I even like most of them. I think of my life as a bad John O'Hara short story; the kind no one has read for fifty years, but which I always liked.
So I registered the minute the first registration packet arrived in the mail the previous September, and made sure at year-end to send a tax-deductible grand to the old calaboose on The Hill. That got my name on the "moderate givers" list, and entitled me to what the late Damon Runyon called "an E-flat hello" from the latest Dean (number five since I graduated; Deans at the dear old calaboose had a relatively short shelf life). I even remembered his name, although I'm quite sure he didn't know me from the Holy Ghost.
So cocktails, more cocktails, the Class dinner (not bad, they held it off-campus at what passes for a class joint at the nearest upscale mall) and the barbecue.
Then I could ditch the suit (wash-and-wear travel special), put on cargo shorts and a top (thank God for the gym! Torture is good for the gut) and see what the younger generation is up to.
Thank God, they were up to no good, just as we were, although they sure were getting more than I got. There's that bastard of a virus now, and that's no joke, but The Pill is established, everyone bags it, and there are good times on The Hill.
So it's ten p.m. and I'm under the big tent in the middle of the arts quad, sipping lukewarm Bud Light from a wax paper cup, and finding out where the children are. Diversity being the PC brew du jour, we have eligible vulvæ attached to young and no-longer-young persons of every land, race and language. Mostly they're five years out or younger, some even of last year's or this year's crop of graduates, and all warranted to be over the age of 18 years. The local Deputy Dogs are carding everyone younger than me before letting them in to sample the Bud Light.
The band isn't bad, but as usual they make decibels substitute for major-league talent.
Then I see her. It was the hat at first, one of those light tan would-be Aussie bush hats, brim buttoned up on both sides, the back of the brim pulled down like a sunflap and the front rucked up like a three-corner Revolutionary War special. She had an aristocratic smile, amused at the antics of the peasants yet not condescending or disdainful, but she was dancing like tomorrow would never come.
I could see the spaghetti bra straps, but wondered why she needed one. Now I am a tit-man. The Girl of My Dreams is well equipped, which first brought her to my notice two seconds before I decided to marry her forty years ago. And they're still fine by me, two kids and forty years of life later. And to keep them in view I keep my nose (and other parts) clean. Nevertheless, I ain't dead, only married, so I admire a well-hung, properly displayed rack on any lady. My motto is "Baby, if you hang 'em out, I'm gonna check 'em out."
But despite her greenapple sized tits, the smile got me, and the stare, and the oval, perfectly-proportioned face. She was dancing, not just moving but really dancing. She and a Hispanic girl, who was low to the ground, barrel-with-boobs, lots of black hair and lipstick, just on the decent side of slut.
I turned on the Gaydar, adjusted for range and bearing, and awaited results.
"Cannot determine," the reading came back, "but strongly trending negative, click 'reset' for next scan."
She turned away from me. Now I like a well-turned butt. Not only should a woman look good forr'ad, she should look good aft. Bows are easy, said the skipper, but it takes skill to make a good stern. The GoMD provided enough to hold onto, although she was no bubble-butt. This young countess hid the goodies under a pair of cutoffs and a scoop-necked float of a shirt, but her ass showed muscle. Good.