<!DOCTYPE HTML PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD HTML 4.0 Transitional//EN">
<HTML><HEAD>
<META http-equiv=Content-Type content="text/html; charset=iso-8859-1">
<META content="MSHTML 6.00.2726.2500" name=GENERATOR>
<STYLE></STYLE>
</HEAD>
<BODY bgColor=#ffffff>
<DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2></FONT> </DIV><FONT face=Arial size=2>
<DIV>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
Standing in front of my bedroom mirror, my critical eyes stared at my
semi-clothed image.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I didn’t like
what I saw.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I wasn’t pretty or
shapely like most other girls of my age.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>At fifteen, dressed in sensible cotton underwear and a push-up bra, I
resembled a pale-skinned beanpole with freckles and wispy brown hair.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>Most of my classmates were, as Mom said, more ‘<I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">developed’</I> than I was.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Although I hated the word ‘<I
style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">developed’,</I> I sure wished it would
happen to me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I wanted to be the
same as everyone else: I wanted womanly curves; I wanted to date; and I wanted
to tell my friends all about my first kiss – if it ever happened.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoNormal style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; TEXT-INDENT: 0.5in"><FONT
face="Times New Roman" size=3>My dog, Tippy, a spaniel cross, watched from the
bed as I buttoned up a pink cotton blouse and zipped up my jeans.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Every few minutes, he whimpered.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Tippy was a worrywart, just like me, and
when I felt excited or nervous, he did too.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He sensed that something was
up.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
I sat cross-legged on the bed and dumped the contents of my makeup case onto my
lap.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Using a small hand mirror, I
applied black eyeliner and mascara, foundation, rosy blush and pale pink
lipstick.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>By the time I finished
with my face, I felt good about how I looked, in spite of my boyish figure.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> I smoothed
Tippy’s silky ears.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“What do you
think?” He furrowed his brow and tilted his head sideways.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>His tail thumped against the
mattress.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> My large,
emerald green eyes – my only good feature - studied my reflection once
more.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I puckered up, imagining a
boy’s mouth on mine.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Finally, I
applied a coat of lip-gloss to my never-been-kissed lips.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I was ready.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> “Patsy, you’re
friends are here!” Mom called from the kitchen.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> “Coming!”
</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> Linda,
a school friend, and her boyfriend, Eddie, waited on the back porch.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As promised, they’d brought along a boy
for me.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
“Hi,” Linda said, passing me her carryall.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>I had invited her to stay overnight, and we planned to sleep in the tent
pitched in my backyard.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Eddie, his
arm draped over Linda’s shoulder, nodded his greeting.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> “This is
Wayne.”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>As Linda introduced the
stranger, she watched me closely, trying to gauge my reaction.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> “Hi,” I said
with a polite smile.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> “Hello,” he
replied.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Our eyes met and lingered
as we quickly appraised each other.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>Wayne loomed over me.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He was
heavy set with a square jaw and short dark hair. <SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A flourishing field of poppy red pimples
covered his face.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He wore well-worn
jeans and a white tee shirt that showed off his tan, muscular arms.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I didn’t find him attractive.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> In spite of my
disappointment, I decided to make the best of it.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Except for my brothers, I had little
experience even talking to boys, let alone dating.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>This would be good practice.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And who was I to judge him?<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Skinny and shy, I looked more like a
twelve-year-old playing grownup, than I did a girl in her middle
teens.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
Tippy bounced around the visitors, barking and wagging his tail.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>“This is Tippy,” I said, bending down to
pet him.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> It was a
beautiful summer evening, a perfect night for a stroll.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Linda and Eddie linked hands, and Wayne
and I walked next to each other, arms by our sides.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Wayne pulled out a cigarette, lit it and
drew heavily on it, then passed it to me. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
“Want a drag?”<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> “No,
thanks.”</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
He slid it back into his mouth and smoked as if he really enjoyed it - long,
deep inhalations and snail-slow exhalations.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He blew smoke circles overhead, watching
my face as if he expected me to be impressed.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>But in my mind, he had already struck
out.<I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal"><SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN><?xml:namespace prefix = o ns =
"urn:schemas-microsoft-com:office:office" /><o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
Later, beneath a dim, yellow streetlight in front of my house, it was time to
say goodnight.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Linda melted into
Eddie.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Their parting kiss went on
and on.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I could hardly bear the
silence.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> As I stared
longingly towards home, Wayne pulled out a tattered billfold.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
“I’ve got something for you,” he drawled with a mischievous grin, and passed me
a rumpled business card that read: <I style="mso-bidi-font-style: normal">If you
keep this card, you owe me a date.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN>If you return this card, you owe me a kiss. If you throw this card away,
you owe me both. <o:p></o:p></I></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
I passed the card to Linda.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>She
read it, showed Eddie, and handed it back to me.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Three smirking faces waited for my
response.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
For a moment, I didn’t know what to do; I felt trapped.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>A date was out of the question; I wasn’t
interested in Wayne.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Then, my
curiosity took charge.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Heart
hammering, I passed the card back to Wayne and stared up at him, uncertain what
to expect.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>He stepped closer and
hugged me so tightly I wondered if he could tell I wore padding in my bra.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>Bending down, he firmly planted his lips
against mine, and to my disgust, passionately probed my virgin mouth with his
tongue.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
Tippy, not only perceptive of my moods, seemed to sense what was on Wayne’s
mind.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My dog, my best, most trusted
friend, jumped on my leg and made a frenzied attempt to mate with it<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> “No!” I shouted.
</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> I broke away
from Wayne’s repulsive smoky tongue and shook my leg frantically to dislodge the
highly aroused dog.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>It wasn’t easy.
I kicked with all my might – once, twice, three times before he finally let
go.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>My cheeks flamed; my stomach
churned.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I turned away from the
light to hide my shame.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> “I’ve got to
go,” I muttered and escaped up the driveway with Tippy leading the way and Linda
hurrying to catch up. </FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman">
Much later that night in the tent, I listened to Linda’s slow, rhythmic
breathing as I tossed and turned.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>I
relived my humiliation countless times as Tippy, forgiven, slept soundly at the
foot of my sleeping bag.<SPAN style="mso-spacerun: yes">
</SPAN></FONT></FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT face="Times New Roman"
size=3> Nothing could
have prepared me for the nightmare of my first kiss.<SPAN
style="mso-spacerun: yes"> </SPAN>And nothing and no one could ever make
me tell.</FONT></P>
<P class=MsoBodyTextIndent
style="MARGIN: 0in 0in 0pt; LINE-HEIGHT: normal"><FONT size=3><FONT
face="Times New Roman"> <o:p></o:p></FONT></FONT></P>###<BR>
</FONT></DIV></BODY></HTML>