Jane was my first girlfriend.
***
I had to be in bed before dark
and she lived at the Country Club.
She was – I don’t know,
Grandma might’ve called her – “fast.”
***
Remember I got invited to her thirteenth birthday party.
I was her only guest. Thought that was unusual.
I was also nine months younger.
And she had… she had… breasts.
Her Dad worked in the big city
and drove a black Thunderbird convertible.
I always thought she was special.
We were going to be together forever.
***
Used to tell everybody her parents gave her a choice,
the boy or the horse?
Never saw her again.
***
Until yesterday.
***
One of those movie moments
when a man and a woman look across the room
and see each other and see someone
strangely familiar.
Is that you?
Oh, my God!
Lot of shit can hit the whirling blades
over a half century.
Sounds like sometimes it’s easier being a man.
***
Why didn’t you kiss me back?
So many answers.
Told her I was scared. Didn’t know how.
I was stupid, I guess.
That’s got to be it,
stupid.
***
Paid for her drink,
Beefeater straight up.
And kissed her goodbye.