April Showers:

Graduation was coming up soon that year. I was going to kiss high school goodbye. My high school years had been a pleasant time. I had some experiences over time. Met some unforgettable people. Some of which I would never see again. I thought Jim would be one of those people. We came from different circles. Our relationship wouldn’t last.

Or so my first thought went.

On the afternoon before out graduation, I got a knock on the door.

Hm?, I thought. Who’s that? I peeked out the peep hole to see. Your grandfather stood on the other side grinning. I rolled my eyes as I opened the door.

“What?” I asked. Jim yanked me out the door.

“Hey!” I yelled. “What are you doing?!?”

“Just come on,” he said.

“Why?”

“Don’t ask questions! Just come on!”

I lowered my shoulders. “Let me get my shoes first!”

Your grandfather groaned. “Fine, hurry up!”

I dashed into the house and got my pink flip flops. Jim frowned at me.

“Ready now?” he asked.

“Depends,” I replied.

“On what?”

“Where are we going?”

“You’ll see, just come on!” He grabbed me by the wrist and dragged me with him.

“Okay, okay!” I complained. “Slow down, will ya?” Your grandfather didn’t listen as he dragged me out of the neighborhood.

He took me out into the park. I frowned at me surroundings.

“The park?” I asked. “Really?”

“Will you shut up and come on?” he replied. “We’re just resting.”

“Resting?” I repeated.

“Yeah,” Jim said. He turned back to me. “Ready to go?”

I blinked at him. “What? Already?”

“We still have a long ways to go,” he said. “Come on.” He took me by the wrist and led me further into the park. We walked down a dirt path to a chain fence. Your grandfather climbed over first and then helped me up. I probably should’ve worn better shoes that day, because my flip flops fell to the grass below.

“Oh,” I whimpered.

“It’s okay,” he said. “We’ll get them later. Just come on.” We made it over the fence and continued on the path. Jim pushed through the branches and bushes as we walked through.

“How much further?” I asked. “My feet hurt.”

“Just a little bit longer,” he said. “We’re almost there. Hang on.” I sighed aloud.

“Look,” your grandfather insisted. “It’ll be worth it.” I still frowned at him.

“Promise?” I asked.

“Yeah,” he said. I sighed and rolled my eyes.

“Fine!” I grumbled.

“Good white girl,” he said. I sneered at his words.

“Please stop calling me that,” I mumbled.

“Say what?” Jim asked. I shook my head.

“Nothing,” I lied. We finally came up the hill.  Jim turned to me, smiling.

“Okay, here we are,” he said. I looked at the view from the hill. My eyes widened in surprise.

“Wow,” I mouthed. Your grandfather grinned at me.

“Well,” he said. “What do you think?” I leapt forward and kissed him on the lips. I felt him smile as he kissed me back.

“I knew you would,” he told me. Your grandfather playfully tackled me to the grass. I pushed my tongue into his mouth. His hand trailed from my breasts down to my abdomen. His fingers danced down my shorts and panties to my privates…

What? Why are you making that face at me? Your grandfather and I were young once too. Can’t we prove that we were alive sexually then? There’s nothing wrong with that! Okay, okay, I’ll spare you this time.

Anyway, as Jim and I made out on our hill, I came to realize something. I didn’t want to lose your grandfather after graduation. I held him in my arms and leaned in close to his ear.

‘Don’t leave me,” I pleaded with him.

“I won’t,” he whispered back with such fire in his voice. “I will never leave you.” He would never leave me. I hung onto him with all of my being from then on.

1984