First Kiss

Eighth grade dances, stolen glances
A time when baseball took second place
To a tall redhead’s lovely face
Too young to drive, but still contrive
I borrow my landlord’s ’57 Ford
Driven by a man all too familiar to me

The dance forever changed my priorities
From sports to sororities
And defined new beginnings for a young lad
Too scared to dance or even romance
Sweaty palms, awkward arms
Try to embrace without a disgrace

The night drags on, too many a song
Boys instead of men, shuffling in a gym
Searching for meaning, without overweening
Starched shirts and wool pants, trying to dance
Looking the fool, while trying to be cool
The gym once so familiar, now a trigger

The girls so inviting, the night exciting
For a young boy without any clue what to do
His date politely waiting, so captivating
Alluring and demure, so self-assured
The boys haven’t a chance at this dance
We’re out of place, girls setting the pace

Finally a reprieve, I’m ready to leave
Dad brings the Ford around, I then bound
Inside the back seat with that redhead so meek
We drive to her place at what seems a slow pace
I politely ask dad to drive around the block
While I steal a kiss from my miss

To my surprise, he chooses to terrorize
My girlfriend and I while being so sly
To let us accompany him around the block
And returning once again with us still in
That ’57 Ford before I can open the door
And that treasured first kiss was no more