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The giggles of my youth
Moments of pointless banter, crushes, and notes passed during class
Left much to be desired in my burgeoning adolescence.
Thoughts of him rouged my cheeks.
I knew there was a transitional rite of passage awaiting me.
The corners of his mouth held a secret no one else could tell and I wanted to know it.
I’d heard of kisses riding the melodies of songs on the radio,
Sounding butterfly soft and intriguing,
Passionate exchanges proving climactic in made for television dramatic scenes.
Friends whispered of their firsts as prizes for winning co-ed party games
Mine came in the hallway between class bells
Among rows of lockers
Caught off-guard, one hand landing awkwardly on left cheek,
And other remaining in the hand used to snatch me
Away from silly things, momentarily…
And for that moment
Time stood still
I teetered between girlish giggles, knee socks, metal lunchboxes
And
Womanhood…
Our faces one
I tasted, for the first time, lips that weren’t mine
Knowing why smiles hid behind them
Their skin
Warm and soft like crocheted afghans on weekend winter mornings
Promises solidified in each crease
Home of his boyish speech
For that, brief moment, time stood…
Still…
Breathing ceased, eyes sliding from startled wide to awestruck shut.
I inhaled his exhales for what seemed an eternity
Until…
Tardy bell rang,
And I found my… self…
Flustered… flushed… blushing…
As I resumed
The giggles of my youth
Moments of pointless banter, crushes, and notes passed during class
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