Christmas and New Year’s vacation was over. I was back in school facing the prospect that it was months before warm weather would really be back and even longer before I wouldn’t be required to get up, brush my teeth, put on clean clothes and go to school five days a week. I liked hanging out with by buddies okay but I had recently noticed that the girls in my class actually smelled better than my buddies. They were softer and sweeter and there was one, Amber, who seemed to be softer and sweeter than the others. I began to think of Amber as my (gasp) girl friend. I sure wouldn’t have wanted my buddies to know that but there it was.
One day the teacher, Miss Sherman, set a large box that was covered in red paper and had white hearts on it in the front of the classroom. She began to explain Valentine’s Day to the class. She told us about St. Valentine and about Roman and Greek mythology…or something like that. I really wasn’t paying much attention until she said that Valentine’s Day was a day to tell people that we liked them. “Ah Ha,” I thought. “Here is my chance to let Amber know that she was my girl friend!”
Miss Sherman passed out those little heart shaped candies to the whole class….the ones that have words written on them…and lo and behold…I was holding the perfect way to let Amber know that I was her boy friend. The little heart I was holding said, “Be Mine”. Perfect! This was just what I needed. I stuck the heart in my pocket so I could pass it to Amber later when my buddies wouldn’t know. All day I carried that little heart around in my pocket and then finally, just as the school day was over, I got my chance. I walked by her desk and set the heart right there in front of her. She took one look and screamed! “WHAT IS THAT?” The heart was a tad worse for the wear after living in my pocket all day.
That was my first experience with trying to tell a girl that I liked her. I’ve gotten a little better at it over the years…at least I hope I have. I, of course, grew up and married Amber. I still give her a slightly melted candy heart every year but there are always roses, candy and a nice piece of jewelry included. See…I did get better!
