Where have the years gone? Paul sat in the back yard in the shade of the 100 year old magnolia tree. He sipped from his glass of Jack Daniels old no. 7 while watching his grandson Nick play fetch with his golden retriever, Buck.
His thoughts drifted back over the years to the night he met Bettie, his wife of 32 years.
It was the summer of 1960, just prior to starting their junior year of high school. They were only sixteen years old with a lifetime ahead of them.
Paul was having a smoke on the deck outside the building where the church youth group was having a weekend retreat. They did this every year to plan for the coming years activities.
Suddenly there was a gentle tug on his sleeve. He turned to find himself looking into two beautiful dark brown eyes which peered at him from the cutest face he had ever seen. The little pixie attached to all that loveliness spoke saying "will you dance with me?"
Most people don't honestly believe in love at first sight but it happened to Paul that night. Before Bettie even spoke those words he was hooked. He said "sure", flipped his cigarette away, took her tiny hand in his and they walked into the hall.
She was wearing a white cotton crew neck sweater and a dark brown pleated skirt. The combination outlined her hour glass figure and highlighted her perfect breasts.
She flowed into his arms pressing those soft, firm breasts against his chest. She was so light on her feet it was like dancing with a cloud. They were cheek to cheek and the light hint of her perfume filled his nostrils.
They danced to several songs, the first being "Wonderland by Night," before going outside to rest and share a smoke. Everyone smoked in those days.
She told him her name was Bettie and he learned that she lived not far from him with her aunt, uncle and little brother. Her aunt and uncle had taken them in after her parents died in a terrible car accident.
She also told him she was "going steady" with some guy named Mike. Even though Paul too was in a relationship he knew that it was over and that Mike could consider himself single again.
They spent the rest of the evening dancing, sipping cold soft drinks, smoking and chatting. He knew and he was sure Bettie did as well that they would soon be together.
They both slept fitfully that night. They were anxious for the morning so they could spend time together again. After breakfast they worked on projects for the group until noon then headed for home.
The next day Paul broke it off with his "Steady."
He located Bettie at a dance the following weekend and found that she had done the same with Mike.
From that moment on they were a couple, joined at the hip for the rest of their high school years. When anyone spoke of them it was always Paul and Bettie or Bettie and Paul never just one or the other. Both being from families of strict religious background, they refrained from any sexual activity prior to marriage.
Two weeks after graduation they were married in a small ceremony with family and close friends.
During the first year of marriage they both worked for a large manufacturing company that produced radio equipment for the military. For financial reasons they lived with his parents who didn't mind at all since they loved Bettie. She represented the daughter they never had.
Elvis was King, the Viet Nam war was in full swing and protesting of the war ran rampant on almost every college campus. Fortunately, working at the factory provided Paul with an exemption from the draft.
Although they never requested it, Paul and Bettie paid his parents a small room and board while scrimping and saving every other cent in anticipation of soon buying a place of their own.
They both felt that renting was a waste of money. At the end of thirty years they would have bought a house for their land lord and have nothing to show for their money but rent receipts.
By the end of the year they had saved enough money for a down payment and closing costs to purchase a duplex. They lived in one side and had long term tenants in the other side paying enough rent to cover the mortgage. Paul and Bettie were left with only utilities, taxes, insurance and food expenses.
They continued their frugal ways and two years later were able to purchase a small three bedroom, one and a half bath home.
The house came with two acres of land with woods all around which afforded them almost total privacy. Their nearest neighbor was a half mile away.
Ten months later to their delight their son Frank arrived. He was a healthy 8 pound, curly haired hunger machine.
For the next five years they worked, played, continued investing in real estate, enjoying life and raising their son. Grandma, being retired, insisted on babysitting so Bettie could continue to work part time.
Bettie never lost her petite, hour glass figure even after giving birth. She stood five feet four inches tall and weighed between ninety-five and one-hundred pounds depending on the season and time of the month. She had long, dark brown hair generally worn in a pony tail and perky "B" cup breasts. Wherever she went wearing a tight sweater and jeans, she made heads turn.
Paul never tired of looking at her whether dressed or naked. She even had a strip tease routine she did for him some times while getting ready for bed.
Paul stood five feet eight inches tall and weighed one hundred sixty pounds. He had played football in high school and after graduation his job at the factory loading trucks kept him in great shape. His dark brown hair almost matched Bettie's. Everyone who knew them thought they made a beautiful couple.
Bettie's cousin, Tara, was about the same size as Bettie. The two of them had been more like sisters than cousins all their lives. They were very close and shared everything. Tara had long black hair, blue eyes and "A" cup breasts.
Paul liked Tara and teased her unmercifully when she was visiting. It did frustrate him at times when the two of them would be off to themselves whispering and giggling like school girls.
Tara had a boyfriend named Sam she had been dating for a while. The four of them spent many weekends together at one or the other of their homes. They even took one beach vacation together.
Paul thought Tara was very attractive and even though he and Bettie had a great sex life, he sometimes fantasized about her. Tara sensed his interest and didn't hesitate to tease him. When they were at the beach on vacation, she taunted him by parading around in the skimpiest bikini she owned. Once, she "accidentally" had her top pulled off by a large wave when she was standing right in front of him.
