High School Reunion Reunion
Rhoda was my first girlfriend. I was Rhoda's only boyfriend for any length of time in high school.
She had a great body. Rhoda was 5' 9" with a trim, athletic figure. I estimate her measurements were 36-24-34. Rhoda sported a full C cup. She wore her straight light brown hair parted in the middle, Dorothy Hamill style, just above the earlobe. Rhoda constantly complained about her boring brown hair. She was on the Pom Pom squad and sang in the choir.
We dated for 4 months our junior year. After a date we would go to her home and chat with her folks for an hour. Being from the South and Southern Baptists I guess they were checking me out for matrimonial reasons. What did I know Rhoda being my first girlfriend and all?
After 4 months she dumped me. She said she did not want to get serious. We were only 18 and I was college bound. But her folks were 21 and 18 when they wed so her thinking process was different than mine.
I took the break up hard. We barely talked after that. Life moved on.
After high school I saw her one time. I was working at Dillard's the summer between undergrad and grad school. She blew through my department. Rhoda probably did not notice me.
The next time I saw her was at our 10-year high school reunion. She looked great. Rhoda's body had not changed. Her boring brown hair was gone. She was sporting shoulder length blonde hair curled at the end. She was wearing a Spring formal type dress. I figured this was her outfit for the college formal she never had. At the time I did not know she earned a college degree part time.
She came up to me and we hugged like we were dating again. Her husband Gary was with her. My wife Rae was with me. We sat together at a table. The four of us chatted away like old friends. It was great.
Our high school class reunion was held every 5 years in a ballroom at the Marriott on East Kellogg. Going forward we attended without spouses.
We always chatted at every reunion. Catching up was fun. At the 20-year reunion she pinched my butt as we moved on to other classmates. There was something special about that.
She was always happy, positive and upbeat. At the 35
th
reunion Rhoda was different. She was sad, subdued and distant. Something was wrong.
An hour and a half into the reunion I had touched base with everyone I wanted to see. I saw Rhoda sitting in a chair by herself with her head tilted at a downward angle staring into space.
I sat down on a chair to her right.
"Rhoda, something is wrong. Care to talk about it? My late wife told me I was a good listener."
Rhoda looked at me for a moment, like she was peering into my soul. She blurted out "Gary left me for another woman."
"I'm sorry to hear that." I replied.
"Thanks Mike."
Her whole body tilted to the right, resting on my left arm. She began to sob.
"Can I get you something to drink?"
"A glass of red wine."
"Dry or sweet?"
"Dry I guess." She was not used to drinking.
I went to the bar and got her a glass of merlot. The bartender had a box of tissue. I asked for and he gave me three. I returned to Rhoda, giving her the merlot and tissue.
"Thanks, Mike. Thanks for everything."
Rhoda then started to tell me her post-high school life story 3 times during the course of the evening. After being a secretary for a year after high school she began attending Wichita State parttime. She was a Marketing major. She met Gary while going to school. They got married a year before her graduation. Their married life began. They had 3 boys. They left Wichita. Gary got a great job offer in Cleveland as a sales manager. The boys were raised and gone. Then Gary was let go in a corporate purge.
That's when things started to head south in their marriage. Gary got another job in Akron. It was for less pay and benefits. She got a marketing position, but their combined income was lower than before. Gary became disinterested in everything and distant.
Then he filed for divorce and left her. The divorce was finalized a couple of months ago.
Every time she finished her story she began to sob. Rhoda kept asking for more wine. I got her water between glasses of wine. She did not appear to notice.
After the third time through her story, she said "Mike, you've been great listening to me talk. I really appreciate it. Can I ask you for one more thing?"
"Sure." I replied.
"Help me get up."
I did so. Rhoda had the coordination of a new born calf.
"Can you help me to my room?"
"Sure."
We left the meeting hall. Elevators were close by. Her room was on the 4th floor. I was staying in a room on the 5
th
floor.
We were alone on the elevator. I held her up. Her right side leaned on my left.
She was wearing a fashionable blue floral summer dress. The dress was sleeveless. It had a v neck that showed a tad of cleavage. The dress stopped a couple inches above her knees.
At the door Rhoda fished around in her left front pocket for the room key. She pulled the key out. Rhoda was too tipsy to slide the key in the slot.
"Mike, can you open the door and help me in?"
"I'm glad to."
The door opened. I grabbed her right arm and let her to the bed.
"You've been such a great help. Thanks so much."
She fell back on the bed.
After a couple of seconds Rhoda said "I don't feel good. The room is spinning around."
She was about to throw up.
"Let's hurry to the bathroom."
I grabbed her by the right arm and dragged her to the bathroom.
We just got inside the bathroom and she began throwing up.
