I was turning 15 on September. I had already skipped adolescence, sick and tired of so much growing pain.He turned 23 on April and was my literature teacher at secondary school. Needless to say, I thought he was as old as Methuselah. But he was completely different from the herd.
I loved his freckled face and blond reddish hair. He had that irresistible bohemian intellectual look. Nobody but him could cope with my mental gluttony and eagerness to learn, read and write.
We used to talk about everything during school recess, while the boys played football in the schoolyard and the girls gathered to chat about boys.
We started dating secretly on Friday afternoons, after the class was over.
On our first rendezvous he invited me to see Pink Floyd’s “The Wall” at a local movie theatre. On our second, he gave me “Poms Penyeach” by James Joyce, and wrote this dedication on the first page:
“To a girl who will be a wonderful woman in just a few years”
I smiled at him, not knowing what to say.
- It will be unbelievably nice to be with you when you become an adult. –he said-
He walked me to the bus stop and sat on a bench beside me, as we waited for my bus to come.
- You’ll probably hate me for saying this, but if you were just four years older, we would have no choice but to be lovers. –he said, devouring me with his eyes-. I’m now too troubled by our 9-year age difference.He gave me a hesitant smile and kissed me soft and long on the lips. Happily stunned and almost in shock by his words, I rushed off without even saying goodbye and got on the bus.
My mind floated blissfully through space. My heart was beating like a machine gun. I sat on the side of the bus, looked at him through the window and smiled.
He stood there until the bus moved. His eyes were beaming at me.
How I wished I had been a grownup that day.
"Sweet child o'mine" (Guns and roses)
15 dreams:
Well at least you survived ...
(*falls off her chair as she reads the first comment*)
WOW! I can't believe you're finally talking to me!((Don't know if i'll be able to survive this!))
(*heart beats like popcorn machine now*)
Hm... (*behaves and whispers*)
Welcome, Mutleythedog... and nice to meet again. ;)
A nice post, Leni. It´s strange to think in these kind of situations. I´ll follow in spanish. Son los desencuentros. Cuando era más joven solía argumentar que estadísticamente y matemáticamente es difícil enamorarse y salir victorioso. Eliges una persona entre todas las demás (estadísticamente ya estás hecho polvo)y esa persona tiene que enamorarse también de tí y además hacerlo al tiempo... Es difícil. Amor, estadística, matemática, corrdinación, oportunidad, posibilidad.... Uff... Hablaremos de ello un día de verano.
TRANSLATION FERNANDO/ LENI:
A nice post, Leni. It’s strange to think of this kind of situations. I’ll follow in Spanish.
These are misses. When I was younger I used to discuss –statistically and mathematically- that it’s real hard to fall in love and succeed. You choose a person among the rest –you’re now done for- and that person needs to fall in love with you also, on time… it’s hard. Love, stats, maths, syncronicity, chances, possibilities… fffff…. We’ll talk about it on a summer day.
Fernando,
Cierto. Requiere mucha puntería y aprovechar las conjunciones planetarias. Cuántos romances habrán terminado sin saberlo antes de empezar sólo por un cambio repentino de opinión, un autobús que se escapa, una tormenta inesperada o en nuestros días, un inoportuno fallo de internet?
Aún así, no creo que todo esté en manos del azar o las matemáticas. No creo en las medias naranjas, sino en un mundo lleno de mandarinas… y sobre todo, en luchar por lo que uno quiere -aunque sea improbable-, lo cual siempre amplía el horizonte bastante.
Un tema muy interesante para que lo hablemos este verano, frente a la playa, en la bahía. ;)
Cuídate. Buena semana.
TRANSLATION LENI/FERNANDO
Fernando,
You’re right. It needs to take careful aim and to take advantage on planetary conjunctions. How many romances must have been over before they even started, just because of a sudden change of mind, a missed bus, an unexpected storm or –more common nowadays- an untimely internet failure?
Even thought, I wouldn’t leave it all in the hands of luck or mathematics. I don’t believe in a better half for everyone; rather in a world of many suitable better halves for everyone… but more than anything, I believe in fighting for what we want –even if it’s real hard-, which always results in wider expectations.
This is an interesting subject to talk about, on a summer day, at the beach, on the bay. ;)
Take care. Have a nice week.
I'm so glad you kept it a secret, these innocent romances often end in tears because of some accursed nosy parker.
Hey Leni! How did the story end??? I’m very very curious.
Yes! How did the story end? And I loved his language de amor: "It would be unbelievably nice to be with you when you become an adult...we would have no other choice but to be lovers." Yeah! Who wouldn't want a guy that talks like that? I hope you picked up where you left off once you became 'legal!' *big sigh* Nicely done Len...
Welcome Mr. Bananas! Thanks for leaving the jungle for a while and stopping by. :)
I kept it a secret for our own good! –it would have been a scandal of huge proportions at school, even if the innocent Lolita (me) wanted it badly-. Not to mention accursed nosy parkers.
Really tricky stuff!
Maxi,
This innocent romance ended that same summer (14-23), when I moved to another town with my family.
We were in touch via snail mail for another couple of years, more or less –and met on my trips back as well-. When I finished this post, I googled his name in a fit of curiosity –you know what I am like-.
And yes, he was there in the net; he’s not a literature teacher anymore, but a specialised professional on cultural events-.
And no, I didn’t phone him.
Hi Rebecca!
(See my anser to Max, about the end of this story, thanks).
It was so so so romantic that it had to end like this. His love language was beautiful indeed -made my teenage self esteem gain momentum big time-.
Unfortunately, I could never pick up again when we were 'legal'. I never went back to that city and one day our correspondence started decreasing (the long distance relationship didn't work, others arrived, life went on...)
(*sighs too*)
((abrazos))
Leni,
Hi again:) First off, hope you don't mind my a bit late arrival on your sweet corner. Have been a busy bee lately, then a summer upon my hat here and I'm.. going crazy, remember this girl a very addicted to summer passion:)
Well, one cierto thing is how I missed reading your unsual but very logic lines. Most recent 2-posts are to give me real good alarms, ta daaa:)
You see it's always in my mind and we're always on the lookout for both external and internal talent, isn't it. I were fighting as well. And we can't afford to fail it. But my life experiences taught me this 'Look, let's scale it back, if I want it.' So I had to reduce my speed.
Oh cheers Leni! Very like me, ya too are a careful thinker, very cautious and conservative on planetary movements and stars. For this reason, outer planet transits are frequently experienced as being quite intense. That's why we should take advantage of our increased physical vigor and involve. So be careful not to act in an overbearing manner:)
One thing on my agenda, no worries about the plane ticket:) If I raise good money from my blogarage sales then your tickets will be ready both for my Barcelonian sweet friend and also Darla in N. California:)
Hope your having a nice weekend in fruitful transitions under stars. Maybe it's not correct to advice this to someone who's a really Star -I mean you:)
((Abrazos)) Until then, take care cara.
Hi Nihal!
No worries, I know you’re busy with work and art and this wonderful pre-summer in Istanbul!
I manage to follow the planets and stars transitions, as best as I can –oh my I’m not a star, dear, rather a humble author (*blushing*) and very proud to have so wonderful readers. ;)
((Yeah I’m one of those who should reduce their speed too, but there’s so much I want to do!))
One day I’ll travel to your beautiful city –that’s for sure!-
((abrazos 4 U 2, sweety! And have a hell of a nice weekend!))
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