Nothing like pure fantasy. There is a lady after whom Sandy is modeled, and she is every bit as described. Everybody's 18, and none of it's true. The names have been changed to protect the adored.
*
I was thrilled when I answered the phone.
"Hi, Bruce, it's Sandy!"
Sandy!
Sandy had been a photography student for several years, starting when she was a freshman in high school, and all the way through. The summer before college, however, we had parted ways. I had thrown her out of my darkroom for acting irresponsibly, making appointments to print in my darkroom for a show she'd gotten at a local restaurant, and then not showing up. She left angry. I was heartbroken. She was now almost out of college, 22 and grown up. I hadn't seen her in four years.
She was 5'9", a gymnast, with a delightfully slim body, taut muscles, small breasts, and a beautiful face framed by long brown hair. She was the most naturally sexy woman I had ever met, ever since she was 14. I remember her lying on my floor one weekend class, hands behind her head, which pulled up her sweatshirt to expose a lovely tummy, telling me that she didn't have the faintest idea what I was talking about, smiling a smile that would have melted steel. She oozed sex appeal. But even more, she sparkled as a human being. She was joyful, energetic, intelligent, artistic, enthusiastic...and did I mention sexy?
And me? Now 53, I was carrying more weight than I should, living alone and lonely, a photographer and photography teacher. I had always dated women my own age, including marrying two, but had never lusted over young ones. I noticed and appreciated their beauty and young charm, but that didn't translate into being a drooling, dirty old man.
I remember visiting her the summer after high school when she was sick. We were friends to where I would get "Sandy hugs," which were incredible. She had a way of melting into me; we touched from head to toe. I took plenty of opportunities that visit to hug her as we talked, my arms wrapping completely around her and ending up on the sides of her pert little breasts that were braless underneath her T-shirt.
It was nice, and I'll admit that for once I had some fantasies, but would never have thought to act on them.
But Sandy had been MIA for her four years of college, still holding a grudge, I guess. I was friends with her parents, and always asked after her when I saw them. She had gone on to major in photography in a prestigious college program. I missed her liveliness and loveliness.
Now she was on the phone. "Let's have lunch," she said.
"I'd love to," I replied, "How 'bout tomorrow? We'll go to Luca's."
"Luca's? Wow!" She replied. Luca's was a pretty fancy place. "Great!"
"I'll pick you up a noon," I said.
I was thrilled to remake the connection. I wasn't going to let her get away from being a friend.
Sandy, in her prior time with me was congenitally late -- usually at least an hour or so. I arrived at her house at noon the following day, and let myself in, as always. I went to the stairs and called up. To my surprise, as I was walking back towards the kitchen Sandy caught up with me, tapping my shoulder. I turned and the breath sucked out of me. It was a fantasy of a certain kind come true. She wore a short, loose black dress, exposing miles of lovely leg, straps exposing smooth shoulders. She wore a tan wrap sweater loosely. Her long hair was up in a comb, and her smile still raised the planet's temperature. She melted into me with the familiar hug. I still couldn't breathe. I whispered "You look fabulous!" She smiled and thanked me.
I drove my red Miata, in remembrance of a day trip we had made years ago on a similarly warm summer day. Miatas are made to be adorned by beautiful women, and Sandy filled the bill. She climbed in when I opened the door for her, exposing even more miles of perfect leg. We chatted on the half-hour trip to the restaurant. I was concentrating on my driving when I heard a "Whoops!" I looked to see her bra exposed -- she had been trying to take off her sweater wrap, and had pulled down the black dress's strap, too, exposing a cute purple bra covering her left breast, right where I got a good view. She was only marginally embarrassed, if at all. I tried to be polite and keep my eyes on the road, but I kept stealing glances as she put herself back together.
Lunch was wonderful, and sad. She told me of the tough time she had gotten in her college program, mean, nasty professors who didn't respect who she was, and rather tried to mold her to their ideas. She had to do her senior photography project during the coming year, her schedule having been thrown off by taking a semester off her sophomore year. We both had steak with pomme frites. At one point, Sandy gave me some of her meat. "You have it." She said. Her liveliness was still fully in evidence. She was utterly charming.
"You're not my mother," I said in mock anger. She laughed and told me she couldn't eat it all. The lunch was relaxed and familiar. It was like four years hadn't gone by. My heart was pounding. She was so beautiful in so many ways.
"Will you help me with my project?" she asked, looking deeply into my eyes. Her brown ones sparkled. Was I going to say no?
"Of course!" I said. I really wanted her back in my life. The smile in reply melted my toes and my heart. I realized how much I loved her. But it felt mostly as a daughter or little sister. "I want to see your portfolio to know what you've been doing the last four years. Then we'll take it from there."
"When can I show it to you?" she asked.
"Is tomorrow too soon?"
"Can I come at ten?" We made a date.
When I dropped her off, she thanked me for the lunch, and as best she could in the convertible leaned to give me a Sandy hug. As we hugged, she said, "I'm so glad I called you!" and kissed me on the cheek. I responded by kissing back, except my lips were near her neck. Oh well. I pecked her neck. "Me, too," I said, "It's the best thing that's happened to me all year, and it's been a great year!"
Sandy's pictures were disappointing. Four years in a photography major and six images were worth keeping. Her high school work was better. I didn't quite say that.
"You need some work, but it's all pretty straightforward," I said. We were in my work space, her prints on wall racks under good lights.