Story Two

The summer I turned seventeen, I didn't have any plans, other than to laze around until school started again in September.
My best friend, Lynda, who was far more worldly than I, pounced on me with her idea one hot afternoon, in late July. We sat in the shade in her backyard, sipping iced tea.

"How about if you and I hitchhike out to the Okanagan?" she suggested. "We'll get jobs picking fruit."
"Now that sounds like an adventure!" I said. "A lot more interesting than doing nothing much around here."

It took a lot of convincing to get our parents to even consider the idea. Of course, we didn't tell them about the hitchhiking part. [These events occurred in the late 60's, when everybody hitchhiked.] Lynda turned on the charm, and eventually my parents, and hers, agreed to send us out to Kelowna on the bus. We had to promise to be careful, and to keep in touch by phone.

Well, we rode the bus, alright - as far as the next town, where we cashed in our tickets for the money. Then we hitchhiked to Calgary, catching a ride with a guy from Texas, who drove a bright red Firebird. He dropped us off within the city limits and then Lynda and I caught a city transit bus that would take us to the western outskirts of the city. From there, we planned to hitchhike again.

We'd been riding along on the city bus for quite some time, when Lynda said, "Let's get off here". She and I got off the bus at the next stop, and looked around. We were on a city street, mostly residential, with storefronts beginning a block or so away.

Lynda rarely admitted she was wrong, but this time she did. "I don't think we rode far enough," she said. "I don't know where the highway is from here."
I didn't either, although I'd visited my older sister in Calgary many times. I didn't know this part of the city at all.

We saw two guys walking toward us. As they neared, I saw that they were about our age. One had blonde hair, and was quite tall and rangy. The other boy was shorter, with wavy black hair, and the most beautiful grey eyes I'd ever seen. This guy was gorgeous! I'd heard of love at first sight, and now I believed in it. I couldn't stop looking at him. I'd been a big fan of Paul McCartney's - until now, I'd thought he was cute. This boy was far better looking.

We introduced ourselves all 'round. The guy I had instantly fallen in love with was named Kevin. The blonde boy was Scott.

We fell into step, Lynda and Scott walking ahead of Kevin and I. As we sauntered along, under the hot sun, Kevin asked me if Lynda and I were sisters.
"Oh no. Just good friends," I told him.
I explained that we were traveling to Kelowna, to pick fruit, and make some money.

"Wow, I wish I could do that," Kevin said. "But I can't leave town. I was really stupid. I'm on probation for shop lifting."

We came to a fast food restaurant. We all went inside. The welcome coolness of the air conditioning hit us, as we entered. We ordered milkshakes, and sat down at a table.

"How did you two end up in this part of Calgary?" Scott asked.
Lynda told him, and then she explained that we were looking for the highway so we could travel farther west.
"I can show you," said Scott, "but hey, why not come camping with us now? Then you can go on with your trip tomorrow."
"Okay, sure," Lynda said. She didn't ask me what I thought, she rarely did.

She and I waited in the cool of the restaurant, while Scott and Kevin went off to gather up some camping supplies from their homes.

In a short while, they were back, carrying sleeping bags, and a bag of food and supplies.
We headed towards the river. There was a path through the woods, off a residential street, and we followed it. The path led to the river's edge. Eventually, we had to wade through some shallow water, to reach a sandy bank. Here, we set up camp. The boys made a small fire, and we roasted wieners. After we had eaten, Lynda and Scott went off together.

Kevin and I chatted, and I found that he had a witty sense of humor. Then he asked if I'd mind if he turned on his transistor radio. There was an important baseball game on, and he didn't want to miss it. "Sure, that's fine," I said.
What could I say? I guessed that maybe he was just bored with me!

I sprawled along side him, on the sleeping bag he'd spread out, while he listened to the game.
Well, the game finally ended, after what seemed an eternity.
"I hope you don't mind that I listened to the game."
"No, it's quite alright," I lied.
"Now we can get to know each other," he said, switching the radio to a top 40's station.

Over the next several hours, we did get to know each other. Kevin explained that he had moved to Calgary from one of the Maritime provinces a few months before. We talked about his home, and mine, and about the parts of Canada we'd seen. He told me about the friends he'd left behind, when he'd moved here with his family. He loved flying he said, and dreamed of becoming a pilot. He wanted to go to Scotland someday. We discussed life, and dating, girls likes and dislikes, boys' interests, our parents, books we'd read, and many other topics.
Kevin been brought up as a good Catholic boy, and he wouldn't dream of taking away my virtue, he told me. Later in the night, he began to ask me if I'd go all the way with him, but I said, "No". Never mind that I'd never seen anyone so very attractive, or that I thought he was the nicest guy I'd ever known, I wouldn't dare go all the way. I was scared I'd get pregnant.

At last, Kevin told me something very close to his heart.
"My older brother, Darryl, died in a car crash two months ago."
He began to cry then, and I comforted him as best I could. Kevin had been so cheerful and funny, that I had had no idea how much he was grieving. Then the radio died - the batteries had given out.
A rosy, golden dawn was beginning to break as we fell asleep in each other's arms.

Lynda and Scott woke us mid-morning.
Everyone went swimming in the river, then we ate a breakfast of canned beans and fruit.

When I'd finished eating, I found some paper and a pen in my purse, and I copied out a poem I'd written some time ago. I thought that Kevin might like it, and feel inspired to fulfill his dreams. Perhaps live his life successfully, as his brother could not do.

"What's this?" Kevin asked, when I handed him the paper.
I explained that it was a poem I'd written some time before, that I thought he might like.
"You wrote this?" he asked, after he'd read the poem.
"Yes. I felt very sad one day, and it came to me."
"Maybe it's a message from Darryl," said Kevin softly.
I didn't think that was possible, but I didn't disagree, either. Who was I to say for sure?
"It must be fate - we were supposed to meet," he said.

Then Lynda called to me, "It's time we left for B.C."

Kevin took me aside. "Please stay," he said quietly. "I feel like I've known you forever, and I don't want to lose you."

I was torn. Kevin was the most wonderful thing that had ever happened to me. I knew I was very young, yet I felt as though I was truly in love. "Why, oh why," I thought, "couldn't I have met Kevin last? I'm just starting out in my quest for adulthood, and a place in life! He couldn't possibly be the one for me, could he? Lynda would be furious with me, if I chose to stay with Kevin!"

If you think I should explore my feelings for Kevin further, choose this link.

If you think I should go on to B.C. with Lynda, choose next for the third story.