Chapter 2: Introductions

Paula had prepared Connie to meet Jimmy. Just before Gail brought him over, Connie had been dressed in one of Paula’s wrap-around dresses and coached to leave her glasses off. Likewise, Jimmy had been reminded that her sight was very limited, and not to embarrass her about it.

“Connie, this is my cousin Gail Wilson and her nephew Jimmy Dawes. My niece, Connie Lanier.”

Connie stuck out her hand. Jimmy hesitated, but before Connie could get nervous, he gently took her hand and then shook it with a gentle squeeze. Then, the formality of the situation evaporated.

“You’re beautiful!” Jimmy blurted, then immediately flushed bright red.

“Oh!” Connie pulled her hand back to cover her mouth, giggling.

Paula nudged Gail.

“We’ll be out on the back patio so you two can chat, c’mon, Gail.”

“That was nice of you, Jimmy. But I need to wreck your illusions and put on my glasses before I walk into a door or something. Here, see what I mean, they’re horrible.”

“I don’t know. I saw a photo of a movie star once, it was back in the 1950s I think, and she was wearing glasses like that. Behind your glasses, I’ve seen your eyes now. My opinion is the same.”

Connie suddenly felt woozy. Not once had she heard this kind of compliment. From a guy! It lowered some inhibitions.

“Now that I can see you, you’re beautiful too, Jimmy.”

“Oh, no, not ‘beautiful.’ I’ll accept ‘handsome,’ although I don’t feel like either word fits me.”

“Too bad. You’re both. Beautiful and handsome. Look, can I ask? I feel weird looking up at your tall self and using a little boy’s name. Between us, can I call you ‘Jim’?”

“Call me any dang thing you want, as long as you call me. Let’s mate our phones so we have each other’s numbers.”

“We just met, and you’re talking about mating? Well, OK.”

“You’re teasing me! But, wait, you said, ‘OK’?”

Jimmy, now Jim, regained his red flush. Connie giggled again.

“Maybe not today, Jim. But think about it, please.”

“I won’t have any choice. But I don’t have any experience.”

“I don’t either. But I’m willing to learn. We can figure it out together, if you’re willing, too.”

“Does the Pope shit in the woods? I mean, yes, yes, yes!”

He was almost bouncing on the balls of his feet, he couldn’t believe his ears. But then she smiled, and the room seemed to disappear around them. It was his turn to be woozy.

Meanwhile, Connie had shocked herself by being so direct.

“Mother would lock me up forever if she saw the last ten minutes. How did she have me without having sex?” she wondered.