Anticipation...

Walk on the Ocean…Step on the Stones…

I sang along with my neon yellow Sony walkman on a muggy summer night. The rain had just stopped following a thunderstorm and the fog was gently settling in as dusk loomed.

I was sitting on the porch swing drinking in that sultry sweet air, balancing my flash light with my book Francine Pascal's My first love and Other Disasters, on my knees, my headphones dangling in the late summer breeze.

It was one of those summer evenings that feel like anything could happen…magic.

Summer was nearly over and I was still an innocent just turned sweet sixteen and never been kissed.

I sighed as I turned another page. Would I forever only read about romances?

Summer was my favorite time of year and of all the romances, a summer one seemed most amazing to me and I dreamed of being kissed under the moonlight and stars.

I pursed my lips and imagined him tall and dark bending over to me with my spiraling chesnut curls and flowy white gown spilling onto my ample bossom swelling with desire.

Ok so maybe that wasn't what I looked like but I was finally somewhat pretty after years of being awkward and though I had braces the bad had perm grown out and I finally fit into my nose. The bosom was to come later.

Anyway we were in some kind of clearing where he held me in his arms and was sweet and gentle and didn't mind it was my first time and he laid me down on the grass so green and lush…

Suddenly the phone rang waking me from my reverie and mom popped her head outside dangling the tan rotary phone cord.

“Anna, it's for you!” She held the phone out to me with a smile.

Although I was fairly popular in school I didn't really hang out with friends outside of classes. Most of my friends didn't have licenses and lived far from me as this was a rural town and kids came from different schools miles away so I was surprised to get the call.

I was pretty sheltered growing up in the Central Pennsylvania hills and the bible belt. I went to church with Mom and Dad every Sunday and out to lunch and shopping. I needed a life aside from family though.

I didn't drink or smoke or anything. I was however not against trying anything, and I was curious.

I twirled the phone in my hand my heart beating fast. “Hello?”

“Anna? It's me, Hailey! Sooo guess who I just talked to? Guess who's coming over?” She spoke very fast.

Suddenly I felt my stomach quiver. “Jimmy?” I breathed.

I was in love with Hailey's cousin. Although he wasn't muscular and dark like the faceless handsome man in my fantasy, he was pretty tall and cute in a goofy skateboarder way with one of those shaved on the sides haircuts boys wore in the 90s with long ginger strands hanging down. I dug him.

I met him over Thanksgiving break. Hailey had invited me out with her and her boyfriend. She had originally wanted me to meet some older guy who worked at the pizza shop in her town. My friends were forever trying to fix me up with no luck.

We stopped at her Gram's house and that's when I saw him her cousin Jimmy standing there looking adorable.

“Anna, this is Jimmy! He's coming along.”

“Hey,” He murmured and brushed my arm as we got into Hailey's boyfriend Jeff’s car. A tingle ran through my body.

I didn't think Jimmy was interested in me as most of the boys at school weren't so I let it pass. But I did feel his eyes on me and he was being so sweet.

But later as we pulled into Dairy Queen Jeff whispered “He likes you…” when Jimmy was getting out of the car.

And Hailey chimed in, “Yeah he does!”

My stomach flipped in a way I’d never experienced before and I thought I might throw up. But I liked it.

I never had a boy who I liked who liked me too, well not since grade school.

Once inside the restaurant I pulled Hailey aside, “He really likes me?”

“Yes! He was trying to hold your hand!”

And I remembered him staring at it weirdly in the car.

“What do you want to order?” Hailey was asking.

I shook my head. I couldn't even think about eating but Jimmy got a huge ice cream sundae and wolfed it down.

Anyway I could barely eat all weekend let alone that night though nothing happened and he went back to his hometown which was over an hour away.

Months passed and I hadn't heard anything from him. But I thought of him often.

Finally he was here for a few days over the summer and apparently wanted to see me!

“We’ll come pick you up!” Hailey sang.

Suddenly I didn't know what to do or what to think. All I knew was this was my moment. I just knew I was going to be kissed.

I fluffed up my hair and put on some makeup though I was still not great at the application. I hoped I was dressed ok, casual but sexy. I hoped so anyway.

It took about a half hour for them to come get me. It felt both like minutes and hours.

A yell from Mom, “Anna they're here!” confirmed it.

My smiles grew as I saw Jimmy sitting in the car waiting for me. I stumbled outside hoping I wasn't awkward but I was shaking.

It was still humid and the air smelled sweet.

My whole body shook and once again my stomach was doing that rolling thing but I felt alive. Never had I ever felt so alive before just imagining what was to come…

…Don't even have pictures just memories to hold. Grow sweeter each season as we slowly grow old…