OUR LOVE STORY. PART ONE. STORY THREE.

BUSTED WITH A BOY IN THE CAR.

Turning 16 was magical. Not only did I get my driver’s license and a surprise birthday party but I got a little box that held a key to my very own 1971 baby blue Volkswagen Super Beetle. June 5, 1987. The Kennedy boy and I weren’t hanging out much by then. In fact, he had a pretty steady girlfriend. We still saw each other often at church and once in awhile he would come by my house {meeting up down the street of course} because although he wouldn’t admit it in high school, but has since admitted, he secretly still liked me.

With the freedom that came with the shiny baby blue super beetle came some very strict rules that had ‘months’ involved in them. But first, may I share a little detail about that screaming beetle. Although it was perfect in almost every way, there was one thing that car was missing……a radio. I mean c’mon though I couldn’t complain…I got a car, but no radio. I had the perfect solution. A boom box! That would do. I would load up with batteries and place it on the floor board of the passenger side of the vehicle. Picture it now….me getting into my cute little car, reaching over to the passenger side of the car…pushing play and turning up the volume. Yup…the music boomed from the floor! Real safe? Not really. I’m not sure what my parents were thinking. I actually almost hit an old lady walking in a crosswalk while I was rewinding the boom box to listen to “It Should Have Been Me” by Tiffany one more time! I stopped just in time to not hit her but she did actually came up to my window with her cane and yelled at me….something about being a teenager and not paying attention. My heart was thumping so loud I was sure she could hear it. But back to my list of strict rules that involved “months”.

First Rule – Do not run out of gas. If you run out of gas that shows lack of responsibility and your car will sit for ONE MONTH.

Second Rule – Do not get a ticket. If you get a ticket your car will sit for ONE MONTH.

Third Rule – No friends are allowed to ride in your car for ONE MONTH. You need that time to pay attention and learn to drive safely. {Never mind the boom box!}

I got my driver’s license on my actual birthday. I passed with a 100%! School ended a week later and with it, a tragic car accident that involved a fellow classmate. We lost one of our own. She was a friend to everyone - just one of the “nicest girls around.” A group of us girls went to the funeral and then we were all invited to the cemetery. It was a sad day. A horribly sad day. The Kennedy boy was there at the cemetery, but his girlfriend was out of town. We actually held hands….you know…because we were sad and supporting each other. But I’m almost positive his girlfriend would have had a fit if she knew. But I didn’t care. It was a chance to touch that Kennedy boy and it had been awhile. Although we had both moved on with new love interests for me and a girlfriend for him, that crush never fully went away. We were all getting ready to leave the cemetery after the services, me in my car all by MYSELF and my girlfriends in another car following behind. Dave casually mentioned that he needed a ride home. And you guessed it….I jumped all over that one. I quickly told him that I could take him home. How would my mom or dad ever find out? My dad worked out of town and my mom did day care in her home. There was no chance they would find out.

I drove that Kennedy boy home that day {against rule number 3}….boom box blaring a little Depeche Mode with Kennedy boy at the controls. I seriously thought I was cool, dropped him off at his house and headed home smiling through the sadness.

Walking through the back door of my house, still glowing a little from the closeness shared with the Kennedy boy, the conversation went like this….

MOM: “WHAT BOY WAS IN YOUR CAR THIS AFTERNOON?”

ME: {thinking ‘are you freaking kidding me’} “WHAT? WHAT ARE YOU TALKING ABOUT?” with a smile on my face…a scared smile…but I couldn’t really lie to my mom.

So I told her that the Kennedy boy needed a ride home from the cemetery and I had to give him one. Do you know what she had the nerve to ask me?

MOM: “WEREN’T THERE OTHER GIRLS THERE THAT COULD GIVE HIM A RIDE HOME?”

ME: “MOM…C’MON…I WASN’T GIVING THEM A CHANCE TO BE WITH HIM.”

So my ONE MONTH with no friends in my car was extended to TWO MONTHS with no argument from me….because I knew if I argued it would quickly be THREE. But I still had one question left for my mom.

ME: “MOM, HOW DID YOU KNOW? DID YOU GO OUT WITH ALL THE DAY CARE KIDS TO THE STORE OR SOMETHING?”

MOM: “NO. SWEET AUNT LORRAINE CALLED ME ALL EXCITED TODAY TELLING ME THAT SHE SAW YOU DRIVING YOUR NEW LITTLE BLUE BUG AND THAT YOU HAD A REALLY CUTE BOY IN THE FRONT SEAT!”

Damn you Aunt Lorraine. You got to love her though. She really was excited to see me driving….and besides she thought the Kennedy boy was REALLY CUTE!