"In the spring a young man's fancy lightly turns to thoughts of love", so said the author, Alfred Lord Tennyson in his 1842 published poem, Locksley Hall. It must be true because all the birds, bees, flowers and trees do it in the Springtime. And so, it was between Pat and Jay. Although, technically, it was lust with a twist of maybe-love certainly pretend love -- but lust just the same. In a way, their attraction was like wetting one's pants in a dark suit. You get the warm feeling, but nobody notices. She wanted to keep it that way.
The redbud trees were budding pink, the magnolias were blooming white, and the clean fresh air of the deep green countryside wafted into their lungs. The day was sunny and warm enough for Jay to put the convertible top down on his shiny, white antique Jaguar XKE. The sun warmed the red leather seats, but there was still a slight chill driving under the shade. Jay kept the heater blowing for the extra comfort.
Pat's short blond hair blew in the wind. The unlimited sunshine brightened her smile. The steady hum of the Jaguar's engine was minimal as the sound system played romantic music from the old days -- songs they both related to. It helped set the mood as they drove the country roads with nowhere in particular in mind to go. They just wanted to be together in a springtime frame of mind -- birds and bees, remember? Pat took off her shoes and wiggled her pink painted toes. She wasn't aware of Jay's slight fetish for women's pretty feet. She turned sideways in her seat and tucked her knees underneath her short skirt, exposing those toes to Jay's view.
"Mmm. Uh. Have you ever heard of a singer named Michael Franks," Jay asked.
"No, I don't think I have."
"He's listed as a jazz singer. On his 1976 album, 'The Art of Tea', he wrote a song called, 'Popsicle Toes'. I have the album. It's one of my favorite songs from that album. Watching you wiggle your toes just now made me remember it."
"So, what is the song about? Besides toes. Is it freaky or something?"
"No, not at all. It's just a song about a guy's appreciation of his girlfriend's body all the way down to her toes. You know, 'popsicle toes are always froze' type of thing." He reached over to her tiny feet and cupped the toes of her right foot in his hand. "Yep. Popsicle toes. You got 'em too."
"Well, where does the popsicle part come in? I don't get it ... unless."
"Yeesss. What are you thinking?"
"What are you telling me?"
"C'mon. Think back. I'll bet your parents have at least one baby picture of you trying to eat your own toes. Babies put everything in their mouths."
"Sure. Yeah. I guess so. It's a baby thing."
"Well ...?"
"Well, what? Are you telling me you never grew out of that baby phase? Do you still eat your own toes or something?"
"Not mine, but I do like yours. Is that okay with you?"
"Well, it's certainly different. Wouldn't you say?"
"I don't know. It's such a little thing. Would it bother you if I did?"
"Well, I'd certainly want to wash them first. Especially if I'm going to be kissing you later."
"I'd appreciate that."
The conversation lagged for a while as they continued their Sunday drive. Pat was thinking about Jay's foot and toes thing. Jay was thinking about Pat's toes. The music from the car's sound system played and the Jaguar engine hummed. They would soon reach the reservoir. Jay had prepared a little impromptu picnic for them. Nothing fancy. Snacks mostly and a bottle of wine. Jay spotted a place where he could park the car and follow a trail down to the lake. He pulled over.
"I've got a surprise for you. I packed us a light lunch. Hungry?"
"I could eat a little bit."
"Put your shoes on, we're going on a little hike. Are you up for it?"
"Sure. Let's go."
Pat slipped into her low-cut tennis shoes and tied them while Jay opened the trunk (boot) and pulled out shopping bag and draped a fuzzy blanket over his arm. "Ready?"
Together they strolled along trail, breathing in nature's best scents of early spring without the bother of too many insect pests. They reached a small plateau overlooking the lake and spread their blanket over the level spot. Pat sat down and Jay unpacked the shopping bag. There was a vegetable platter, a meat and cheese platter, a roll of paper towels, a bottle of Pinot Grigio and some small plastic cups. "Aren't grocery store delis just great?" Then he withdrew a 3" tall round candle in a jar and a ring of silk flowers to go around it.
"Aww, Jay. You think of everything. Don't you?"
"It's all for you, my sweet. It was then he quoted Tennyson. 'In the spring, a young man's fancy ...'. I'm sure you know the rest." He stopped short of quoting the entire line so that whether she finished the quote aloud or in her own mind, she'd get the message without actually saying it.
"You really are a romantic, aren't you?"
"Hey! It's spring. Birds and bees. You know."