First Date
I didn’t waste any time and called her that next Friday. My hand shook when I picked up the phone and I hadn’t even dialed the number yet. Maybe this wasn’t a good sign and I’d better not call. On second thought, it’s been a week, it’s already Friday and I‘d better call now before she forgets about me. I dialed the number, put the phone up to my ear, and Phyllis answered on the second ring. I recognized her voice right away.
“Hello, this is the Kremer residence.”
“Hello, hello, is this Phyllis?”
“Yes, it is. And who might this be.”
She sounded so formal. I’m nervous and start to sweat. “It’s Albie! Hum, you remember, we met last week and I asked you to go to the Sedgewick theatre with me. I just wondered if Saturday would be alright.”
“Oh, Albie, yes, I remember you. I’d love to go, but I’ve already made plans to go to the Record Hop at the Tumble Inn.” There seemed to be a very long pause. I held my breath. But then she said,” You can join us if you’d like.”
Well, this would be almost like a real date, and my chance to shine with Phyllis, so I said, “Sure, I’d love to go.”
We all met at the Tumble Inn and it was obvious that Phyllis was the center of attention with many friends talking to her at the same time. When she saw me she quickly introduced me to a few of her friends, but singled out one, Sue, who she referred to as a special friend. I looked at this Sue and she was nothing like her friend Grace; in fact she seemed quite the opposite with short brown hair, slightly overweight and not very attractive. I also noticed she was sort of looking after Phyllis, doing little things like brushing lint from Phyllis’s blazer, keeping her in sight, and quickly picking up her eye glass case that fell off a table. It was pretty clear that Sue idolized Phyllis.
Most of the boys were older, around sixteen and seventeen and a number of them had driven their fathers’ cars to the Record Hop. It was decided by the boys that “this place was boring” and suggested we all drive to this newer and more exciting place near my high school in Erdinheim. The drivers assigned most of us to various cars except Phyllis’s homely friend, Sue.
Phyllis spoke up immediately, “You forgot to assign Sue to a car!”
The lead boy, Gary, said, “There’s no room for her, she can just as easy take a bus.”
Phyllis strongly objected but Gary said, “Ah come on Phyllis we need you and nobody needs her.”
Tears immediately welled up in Phyllis’s beautiful eyes, and she started to cry. Sue patted her on the back and said, “It’s okay, please go, I don’t want to, I have work to do at home anyway.”
Phyllis composed herself and without mincing words told all the boys, “Don’t you ever dare insult Sue like that, you can all go, but I’m not going. I’m staying here at the Tumble Inn.”
With that two of the lead drivers, Gary and John went immediately to Sue and apologized, then escorted Sue and Phyllis to one of the leader’s cars! I knew right then, I was madly in love with Phyllis.
*****
We made a date that night and two weeks later we went to the movies. Phyllis wanted to see A Song to Remember, staring Paul Muni as Frederick Chopin’s music mentor. The film’s lead song, Until the End of Time was hauntingly beautiful, and set the stage for some theatre romance. While Phyllis was engrossed in watching the film, I kept stealing glances at her beautiful face, the perfect small, straight nose, soft pink cheeks, and silky blonde shoulder length hair.
I could hardly believe that I was so fortunate to have found the love of my life at my age. I moved my hand onto the armrest of her chair. Then, without turning her head she slowly moved her hand close to mine. My heart skipped a beat when I took her small hand in mine, large enough for two of her hands.
For the first time in my life I knew what real paradise must be like. I held back tears of joy. What would she think; I was a wimp if I cried just holding her hand. I got carried away in thought.
I felt like standing up and shouting, “Look at me, I’ve just found real paradise!”
Before Sundown 
Well done, Christine!!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sammy D. for reading and liking First Date. It’s a WIP, and this section got some new lines added. More fun for me in writing it. Christine
LikeLike
I especially like your dialogue – crisp and believable 😊
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Sammy D. I’m working hard on the dialog. My coauthor of this book seems to think I must have been in their gang back then to come up with what he actually said or what he would have said in some scenes. That’s the fun of it! And I knew Phyllis well, and think I have captured her voice. Christine
LikeLike
I like it, I like it! I especially like the tension you build around Phyllis and Sue’s relationship. In the first scene, it looks like they might be, probably are, lovers. But then Phyllis goes out with the boy, and shows physical interest in him! Where will this go? I’m looking forward to the next installment!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks Laura for reading, liking it, and making a comment! It’s a true old fashioned love story and it progresses with humorous surprises and life’s tragedies! Stay tuned! Christine
LikeLike
Very nice, Christine. Phyllis is a keeper !
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you Van! Believe me Phyllis was quite a handful; humorous, energetic, inquisitive, and creative. She makes the story come alive!
LikeLiked by 1 person
Christine, this is wonderful writing! I can just see them sitting there holding hands. I’m totally into the story.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Christy! The story is literally writing itself. Just put yourself in that seat in that theatre with the love of your life next to you, and you’re what? sixteen! Probably as the dates go on, they’ll be in the back of the theatre smooching away!
LikeLike
I love Phyllis ! … I wonder what will happen next … Delightful writing as always Christine and the flowers are perfect too . Love xxx
LikeLiked by 1 person
Meg, thank you so much! Love those flowers! I see them all the time on my desktop! Phyllis is a force to reckon with, and I’m having so much fun bringing her character into this book. Christine
LikeLiked by 1 person
I would have loved to punch Gary’s and John’s faces!
LikeLike
(laughing) J.Gi., thanks for your feeling comment! They probably deserved a punch! 💛 CE
LikeLiked by 1 person
THEY DO!!! I mean, DID!!!! Dunno what Phyllis was doing with the likes of them, actually.
LikeLiked by 1 person
It will be a great story, Christine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thanks, Valentina! It’s still a WIP. My coauthor lives in Lugano, Switzerland, and he’s old & in poor health. I’ll no doubt be finishing it myself, and turn it into a novella for the family. 📚🎶
LikeLiked by 1 person
We all have different timing and speed. One time, a friend asked me to write a book, I agreed to do it. In less than a month, I had the back cover done, came up with an intriguing title, I wrote 10 chapters corroborated by my photos, the acknowledgement page, all the copyright phrases and wrote my bio. He had done zero and actually got intimidated. He stopped in no time. Writing requires diligence and perseverance. 😀
LikeLiked by 1 person
Oh my! That’s an unfortunate circumstance! I had one coauthor who did exactly the same! It was a psychiatrist & we were writing a nonfiction book. I did everything and he did the minimal. I was smart enough to not continue with the project! 📚🎶
LikeLiked by 1 person
I never believed in partnership in any fields.
LikeLiked by 1 person
I commented on the post. However, you might not have gotten it. I agree, many partnerships don’t work. One did for me as a coauthor with my best friend (who died). We matched energies in writing her book! Unfortunately, it’s still a WIP. 📚🎶 Christine
LikeLiked by 1 person
I am sorry to hear it Christine.
LikeLiked by 1 person
Thank you, Valentina! 🎶📚
LikeLike
That might be for many partnerships. I was lucky to have a very engaged coauthor for a book about her life. It’s unfinished because she died. She was also my best friend! We had a positive connection and matched energy to write! 📚 Christine
LikeLike
When that happens, it is fun.
LikeLiked by 1 person