It was the first day back to school after Christmas break, and nothing much seemed to have changed. The same girls stood not far from the same boys that were smoking, pretending they weren’t on school property. Tom parked his red T-Bird in the first available spot next to the teachers parking lot. The girls were huddled trying to keep warm, rather than go inside one minute sooner than they had to before the bell rang. Tom stood with the “hoods” and swapped Christmas legends, all except any that involved Renée that is. The girls wondered if their romance had survived the long break as any number of them would have given up just about anything to be seen with the good looking rich kid that drove that magnificent car. There was an audible collective gasp heard when the “rag doll” got off the school bus. Thanks to the generosity of Lydia Brownstone, Renée looked like a million dollars when she walked up the steps toward the front door. As if she hadn’t heard, Renée walked by with only eyes for Tommy. He left the group, and took her books from her arms. They checked their schedules, and found they could walk to some classes together, but best of all was they shared the same lunch hour this semester.
Morning classes were uneventful. Tom waited for Renée by the pillars at the cafeteria. They stood in line together, and as usual, Renée bought her carton of milk and carried her sack lunch to her usual spot by the window. Tom sat down across from her. “Would you like a hot lunch Renée?”
“Not really Tommy, but thank you. There has never been anything that has smelled very good to me.”
“Well, your sniffer doesn’t lie! That’s for sure.” They made small talk about their classes, and watched some birds fighting over a bread crust out on the lawn. “Are you going to be able to stay for practice tonight Renée?”
“Yah, I wouldn’t miss it for the world.”
The day couldn’t go fast enough for Tom. He shot a few hoops at home on vacation, but he missed the competitive edge of being in the gym up against the other boys. Renée’s last class of the day was Phys. Ed. so she was already in her Keds, but had changed back into the outfit she’d worn to school that day. She sat on the bleachers alone waiting for the boys to come in to start their practice. Tom was first in, and he grinned widely to see the pretty face of his girlfriend already there. He dribbled the ball as he paraded by her then quickly turned and said, “Think fast!” as he gave the ball a toss. Renée caught the ball, was on her feet, bounced it two or three times, then gave it a long shot. The net barely moved as the ball slipped right through.
“Holy moley! You weren’t kidding when you said you could play basketball!”
Renée just grinned.
“Ericsen! You make that air ball shot?” The coach yelled.
“Uh, uh. No Coach. Renée Jorgensen made the basket.” Tom was still amazed.
“Well, you and the rest of this rag tag team could take a few lessons from the girl. Pay attention, or she just may replace one of you!”
Renée took a seat on the bleachers again. The squeak of sneakers on the wood floor was soon drowned out by the bouncing of a dozen or so balls on the floor as they all loosened up, taking practice shots at various speeds and angles across the gym. Soon the coach blew his whistle, and the official practice began. It went well, and the coach was satisfied with his team. Before long, it was time to hit the showers. Tom moved fast to be able to get out to spend some time with Renée. They were no sooner in the car, when they started to kiss. “Come on, let’s get out of here, I don’t want to get in trouble on school grounds.” Tom drove out to Rattalee Lake Road, and parked the car. They kissed and kissed, and Tom was pawing at Renée’s sweater. She didn’t fight him at all, but she did stop him when he slipped his hand under her skirt, and reached for her “venusberg”.
Holding his wrist firmly she spoke. “Tommy, no. Not at this time of the month.”
“What?”
"It is my time of the month. I have a visitor.”
“Renée, I’m afraid I don’t have a clue what you’re talking about. What kind of a visitor do you have that you won’t let me touch what we both enjoy?”
“Tommy... I have got my period.”
“Oh.” Tom thought a minute. “Okay, I’ve heard of first period, second period, lunch period, etc., using a period after a complete sentence, periods after all abbreviations, and a waiting period, a periodic table, and a period of history. How do you get a period? What are you talking about?”
“I don’t know much about it except that my mother told me I would get a period once a month until I am old. It is terribly messy, and the cramps can be quite severe at times.”
“Baby doll, you still haven’t told me anything that makes any sense.”
“Tommy, once a month I, well all girls bleed for a week. We have to wear big bulky cotton pads inside our underpants, and it is very difficult to keep clean down there. I hate it, and I wish there was something I could do to make it stop.”
“Okay. So what you’re saying is... Oh, yuk! I don’t even want to think about that!”
“Neither do I Tommy. I don’t want to think about it at all. I want to be together with you again, but not until this period is over in about three more days.”
“Well, I suppose if you have to wait that long, I will, too. I don’t want to be with anyone , Renée. Can I touch you above your waist?”
“Yah, have you not been playing there already?” Renée laughed.
Tommy sighed as he loosened her bra, and kissed her tenderly. After a few moments he stopped, hooked her up, and covered her bryster with her sweater. “You are beautiful Renée, just beautiful.”
“And, you are handsome. You are as handsome and strong as a Viking sea roving pirate.”
“Ohhhh, bay-bee doll..."
“Animal look, I’m sorry. Coach says I can’t stand outside talking to you guys anymore in the morning before school starts, or I’ll get kicked off the basketball team. What I do, and who I hang out with off school grounds is none of his concern. It ticks me off man, but I can’t blow my chances at a basketball scholarship. I want to get out of this place, and as far away as possible from my parents as soon as I can.”
“Gotcha Ricsen. Can’t imagine leaving my family though. Hey how ’bout you invite Lydia to the game on Friday? Getting it off on Delores is fine, but I miss my gal. Mama has been asking about her, too. She can’t get over that Lyd’s mother doesn’t cook with her daughter.”
“Imagine what she’d think if she found out Lydia’s mother doesn’t cook at all. Glad your folks like her, and that she’s blending in with your family so well. My folks won’t give Renée a chance. All my father thinks is if I’m not dinking her already, I should be.”
“She is beautiful, Tom. It would be hard to not want to diddle with her. But, I know what you mean.”
“Yeah, I want to get married as soon as I can legally. I know my parents would never sign for me to get married to anyone, and especially not to Renée. I’ll call Lydia tonight to make a date for the basketball game. I just didn’t want you to think that now that school is back in session that I don’t want to be buddys anymore. It’s my coaches rule.”
“Not a problem.”
Friday finally arrived, and Tommy was all excited about the first game of the season. There had been a pep rally after lunch, and it made Renée sad that she wasn’t on the cheerleading squad so that she could be at the game to see her sweet Tommy play. The practices would have to be enough until she got another babysitting job to be able to buy a ticket to his next game. Tom was unaware. He watched her board the school bus, and didn’t give how she was going to get back a second thought. He went home, ate dinner, picked up Lydia, and got back to the gym. Animal had hitched a ride over with another one of his buddies, coolly walked into the gym, and sat down next to Lydia. The band was playing from the bleachers, and the cheerleaders were hyping up the crowd. The team came running in, and the home crowd were on their feet with applause. After saying the “Pledge”, all were seated. The centers from the opposing teams went to the middle of the floor, and awaited the Coaches whistle. He tossed the ball in the air, and stepped back. Tom had noticed that Renée was not there yet, but he gave the game his all. The coach was annoyed at the lack of team play. It seemed his boys were ganged up against Tom, as if they were playing keep away rather than going for the win. He gave them a talking to during the break, but that seemed to only make matters worse. It was obvious now that Renée wasn’t there, and probably wouldn’t be coming this late in the game. His heart wasn’t into playing, and Tom had no concentration at all. The team lost their first game of the season. Morale was low, and Coach was furious.
“In case you all have forgotten, basketball is a TEAM sport! I never saw such a poor sense of team spirit in all my days coaching as what you bunch of self centered losers displayed tonight! If you had spent as much time keeping the ball from the other team as you did keeping it from Ericsen in the first half of the game, we might’ve stood a chance. And before you think you are off the hook, Ericsen, what was the matter with you tonight? Don’t answer! The way you kept your eye on the bleachers it’s obvious you were more interested in the crowd than what you were here for. Keep your mind on the game, and forget about your jock strap! From now on, all of you, either play to win, AS A TEAM, or get off the team. I’d rather coach 6th grade girls than be embarrassed by the likes of you again. Hit the showers.” The coach went in his office, and slammed the door.
Tom showered as fast as he could, and caught up with Animal and Lydia. “Hey Lyd, gimme the keys to my car. Just stay for the dance, Lydia. I gotta go find out what happened to Renée tonight.” Tommy got in his car, and peeled out toward the Jorgensen’s house. He took the steps two at a time, and knocked rapidly on the door.
“Hello, Tom. Won’t you come in please.”
“Hello, is Renée here?”
“Yah, she was over with Lumpy for a while, but she is in her room now.”
Tom felt awkward, but neither of her parents called out to her, so he walked over, and tapped on her door. “Renée, it’s Tom. Will you come out and talk to me, please?” He felt nervous, but didn’t know why.
Renée appeared with a big smile. “Tommy! Did you win tonight?”
“No Renée, we lost. 67 to 32. Are you mad at me? I missed seeing you in the bleachers. I hardly scored at all, and made more fouls than I ever have in all time practicing.”
“I am not mad at you Tommy. Why did you play poorly? It is so not like you to not play well.”
“Renée, I missed you! I kept looking for you, and you weren’t there. Is Lumpy that important that you would rather dance with him than be with me?”
“Tommy? Have you flipped your lid? Lumpy is a cute doggie, but you are my boyfriend! How could you think something as silly as that?”
“Because you weren’t there! Why?”
“Tommy, I, I didn’t have enough money for a ticket. I could have gotten a ride back to school with one of the neighborhood boys, but I would have had to sit in the hall until after the game was over.”
“Ohhh... Renée, baby doll, I am so sorry! I tried to get everything organized so Lydia could get to school to be with Animal. It never dawned on me that you needed a ride, and a ticket in... I’m so ashamed. Forgive me. Baby doll, can you put something real pretty on, and we can get there in time for the dance?”
The night was fun, and really tricky to get all four of them into the T-Bird delivering everyone to their doorstep. Tom wanted to park with Renée, but there was no way he could deliver Lydia home safely with Renée in the car. He kissed her at the door.
Tom was on restriction all day Saturday for losing the basketball game. He was ordered to spend the day on the court at home, or risk getting put back in private school. Tom could hardly call playing basketball all day a punishment. Sunday he was free to pick up Lydia. They went to pick up Renée, and drove on to the Miltonelli’s. From there the four teenagers walked to the neighborhood church, and attended Mass. After that, they walked to the Burger Barn, and hung out until late afternoon.
First thing Monday morning Tommy was in the school office purchasing a season ticket for Renée so she never had to miss another game. At lunch, Renée asked Tommy to meet her over at Mrs. Hansen’s after practice. She winked, “My period is over. Mrs. Hansen will not be home until tomorrow.” Tommy winked back, told her to get comfortable, he’d be there as soon as he was dry from the shower.
They couldn’t get enough of each other, and played much too late into the evening. Tom broke curfew on a school night. His father didn’t even bother to ask where he had been. Tom didn’t care, he didn’t feel like telling his dad the truth anyway, so it was easier to just accept the beating. In his opinion, the pain he suffered was worth all he endured from his father’s belt to be one with Renée’s body again.
