It's been many years since I've seen Julie. On occasion we write; less frequently we call each other. Having grown up as neighbors and friends, we still have a great fondness for each other and probably always will. I have so many good memories of our times together that I could spend days pleasantly paging through them. One of them stands out more than the rest.
It was Thursday, the third day of Julie's three week visit from the west coast. Julie and my mother and I had spent the better part of the day not buying any of the clothes we looked at. As we left the shopping center and headed home, my mother asked what we would like to do that evening since she and my father were going to Boston. Since Thursday was half-price at the new video store we decided to get a couple movies and have pizza and popcorn.
Julie and I both love mushroom pizza so my father picked up a large one on his way home from work. Dropping it on the kitchen table as he came in, he headed upstairs to change while we fed our faces.
I love mushroom pizza but I'm a light eater. Julie, on the other hand, eats like a horse and a pig at the same time. She had finished four pieces and I was still working on my second when my parents came down on their way out. A quick kiss from each of them for me, and well wishes for a nice evening for both of us and they were gone.
My last bite filled me up, and after putting the leftover couple of pieces in the fridge we went to the living room to watch Don Knotts in his Shakiest Gun movie.
Now, I love comedies but after fifteen minutes I realized I just wasn't in the comedy mood. I found my mind wandering but thought I'd just tough it out through the rest of the movie so Julie could enjoy it. But then I noticed she didn't have her mind or attention on the movie either.
"Hey Julie."
"Yeah?"
"It doesn't look like you're interested in this now either."
"Nope."
"You want to find something else to do?"
"Sure. Something quieter."
"Anything in mind?"
"Yeah, I'd like to hear you play."
"Really?"
"Of course. The last time I heard you -- other than over the phone -- was when we were five."
"All right," I said, let's go upstairs."
I had been playing violin for a long time. I loved it, and I still do. I love the sound and I love being able to make my own music. And I've been fortunate to have good teachers; they've helped me to relax and taught me how to be both gentle and forceful.
On the way to my room I asked, "Do you have any requests?"
"Anything peaceful."
"Good, I'm in that mood, too."
I got out my book of favorite pieces, setup my stand, got my violin, readied my bow, and tuned up. Julie laid down on my bed, propped herself up on my eight pillows, and waited for me to start.
The whole time I played we didn't talk. I knew Julie enjoyed it because I could see it on her face. I saw her dreamy expressions when she would close her eyes during certain passages. It seemed to me that she was feeling the music as I have so often felt it.
After about a dozen pieces she extended her arms to me and half said, half whispered, "Come cuddle with me."
At first I thought she had meant it sexually and then I wasn't sure. There was just a moment of confusion on my part but a number of thoughts quickly ran through my head. I had done sexual things with my mother but never with any other girl; the idea had intrigued me at times but I hadn't had any urge to look for it myself. I also thought that I might be reading too much into what she had said, or maybe I was just hoping. We have always been very close. We have always hugged and touched each other very easily and naturally and casually. Of course that was when we were very much younger, but I still felt that we were really close. As soon as I felt my wetness I admitted to myself that I wanted her to have meant sex.
I put my violin and bow on the dresser, turned off my stand light, went to the bed. As I had been approaching the bed -- and her, of course -- she had opened her arms to receive me, so as I laid down I really ended up in her arms. She hugged me and said, "You're the best. Thanks for playing. It was so nice." We were laying side-by-side, knees touching, eye-to-eye.
I still didn't know for sure if she wanted to "do it" but I knew that if she did, I was willing. "I'm glad you're here, Julie."
"So am I."
And then there was quite a pause. We stared into each other's eyes, and we smiled at each other. As we looked at each other I imagined her thinking the same things that I was thinking. I remembered the times we spent swinging each other or playing teeter-totter or jacks or jump-rope. I remembered the few times we spoke on the phone. Her letters came to mind.