After a third lemon ice, and probably another hour of trading notes and stories we realized that it was getting late in the day. Since we both were going to be meeting Jules at the teachers’ house in the morning we decided that maybe a good night’s sleep would be a good thing. We walked to the entrance arm in arm till we were outside. Michelle turned to face me she looked up into my eyes and smiled.
“This has been fun Jim. Thank you for inviting me out.” She told me in a soft voice.
“Yes it has been fun, and very educational as well,” I told her, “and thank you for coming out with me. It wouldn’t have been the same without you.” I said with a smile. I debated fiercely in my mind whether I should take her into a hug or not. I wanted so badly to sweep her up into my arms and just squeeze her. Before I could make a decision what to do however it was made for me by Michelle. She literally leapt onto me throwing her arms around my neck burying her face in my neck at my shoulder. My own arms wrapped around her out of reflex but in a heartbeat were holding her tightly to me in a gentle but firm bear hug.
“I was told that you might be too much of a gentleman to make the first move, I guess it wasn’t wrong.” She whispered into my ear. “Be bold I was told… I hope I’m not being too bold.” She added as she pulled back just enough to allow us to look one another in the face.
“Not at all.” I told her, “I’m not offended or scared off in any way.” I smiled then swallowed a nervous lump in my throat. “Would I be too forward if I asked to maybe try that exercise again from the other day?” I asked and unconsciously licked my dry lips. Michelle bit her bottom lip and nodded her head with a nervous bob.
“As long as you’re not afraid that I might eat your lips off your face or something.” She said with a grin.
“I’ll take that chance.” I said with a smile as I leaned in closer. Our noses brushing lightly along one another just before our lips connected with a soft collision. My eyes were half closed but I could have sworn I saw fireworks in her eyes, or rather eye as we were so close her two eyes appeared to be just a single eye from my perspective. But there were fireworks in it, those golden flecks standing out against the blue green background of her irises. My perceptions were soon overwhelmed and swept away by the sensations I received from my lips however. Those tender moist pliant lips that I had been dreaming of were dancing on mine, a gentle hesitant exploration. Her lips traded pecks and brushes with my own as we nipped and pulled at one another’s lips. There was no tongue action in this kiss, but there was a promise of things that might be. Pulling back once more we looked intently into one another’s eyes seeing a new fascination and understanding, and yes desire in each other. Michelle licked her lips and smiled impishly.
“That was nice… but I think we might need to practice that some more in the near future.” She said in a low soft voice.
“I agree.” I said as I tilted my face down and let my forehead touch hers gently. “In the near future.” I added. Michelle grinned and released her arms from around my neck and we reluctantly parted. She walking off with a bouncing halting gait swinging her arms in that oversized baggy sweater glancing back at me numerous times smiling with that big radiant smile. I tucked my hands into my back pockets just to keep from waving my arms around like a windmill with all the excitement coursing through my body. I wanted to shout to the world and howl like a wolf. I watched Michelle till she climbed into her car and drove off. I then turned to go to my pickup truck and head home myself.
I got home to the farm just after sunset that evening. Early for me for any day of the week really and it was another one of those rare occasions that I could sit with my dad and this time my mom as well on the back porch and spend a little time with them. Mom of course wanted to know all about my ‘date’ but she didn’t ask a single question other than if I had had fun. Dad just smiled and stayed quiet about it. I knew that I had to offer up at least some small bits of interest for my mother so I gave her a rough outline of meeting with Michelle and the movie we saw, I told her about buying lemon ices and us sitting and watching people go by as we ate them and talked about school and stuff. I also mentioned that I was going to be starting on that painting job in the morning and would be leaving early. That seemed to be enough for mom so she was happy when she said good night and went inside to check on my siblings before getting ready for bed. My dad finally broke his silence after the mom went inside. He told me the lemon ice was a nice touch. He told me to remember that little things like that would mean the world to most girls and he smiled knowingly as if remembering things from his past.
“Did you get a kiss?” He grinned and gave me a sidelong glance as he sipped his tea.
“Yeah… wow…” I said softly with a smile sitting there in the dark on the back porch but in my mind I had my arms wrapped around Michelle and her lips were dancing on mine.
“Good…” was all my dad said as he took another sip before he stood up to go inside. He patted me on the shoulder as he stepped past me. “Goodnight.”
“Goodnight dad.” I said as I sat there on the back porch watching the moon rise on the horizon. My eyes were seeing the moon but my mind was seeing two blue green eyes with little gold flecks. At some point I got up and went in the house and to bed.
Up early the next morning and tended to the animals, before having breakfast with my siblings. They started back to school today, I’d be starting classes in a little over a week myself at the university. After breakfast I hopped in my truck and headed to town and to the teachers’ house to meet with Jules and Michelle to begin the painting job in the apartment. On a whim I stopped by a doughnut shop that was near my old neighborhood and picked up a dozen assorted doughnuts and pastries. Pulling up to the house I saw that both Jules and Michelle were already there. I grabbed the box of doughnuts and went to the front door and rang the bell. Almost before I could pull my hand back the door opened and I saw a smiling Maggie who ushered me inside. She was dressed today, not normal house dress but in a dress suit, a light wool jacket of light grey over a white blouse and a light grey skirt that fell to just below her knees. She had on stockings of course and some low heels in black. Maggie’s hair was in a bun but not her usual loose pinned style but rather a bit more refined with some sort of beaded cage wrap to secure it instead of her chopsticks as I had come to know them. Her glasses hung from her neck on a gold beaded chain. Her nails were the same wet looking glossy red that I had seen two days ago, and they were as usual, flawless. I noticed that Maggie had put on makeup too, a dark plum lipstick highlighted her thin lips and a modest amount of eye shadow made those golden copper eyes just pop! I was momentarily speechless openly staring in admiration. Maggie smiled perhaps a little self consciously as she realized that I was staring at her.