Chapter 1

It was prom night, 1977. My girlfriend and I couldn’t have been more excited! Nicole and her mother spent hours in a beauty parlor the day of, getting herself made up and getting her hair done. Her hair was put up on top of her head, with several wispy curls framing her beautiful face. Nicole was blessed with the deepest brown eyes that you ever saw. She’d developed a very curvy figure, although I’d never seen her nude. All I know is, she was breathtakingly beautiful.

Being that I was a senior and

she was a sophomore, her father wasn’t happy that I was taking her to the prom. Evidently I wasn’t good enough for his little girl.

Nicole had “spent the night” with friends on many occasions since I’d met her. That was the only way that we could be together. It was so bad that, on that fateful night, she had to drive herself to our high school and meet me there. Seems that her father didn’t want me to pick her up like every other guy had picked up his prom date since

proms were a thing. It was a rite of passage. The guy showed up at his date’s home after spending hours washing, waxing, vacuuming and otherwise polishing his car before he showered and put on his tuxedo. Then he’d head over to her house, corsage in hand, and after carefully pinning it on her dress, pose for countless photographs before finally leaving.

So, after doing all that to my car, I had to wait in the high school parking lot for Nicole to

arrive. I wish, oh how I wish, that I’d been allowed to pick her up.

Finally, she arrived! When I ran to her car and opened the door for her, I almost forgot to breathe. She looked like an angel. After she got out, we kissed several times, and they were all amazing.

She finally looped her arm through mine, and we walked into the school’s decorated gymnasium. The lights were low, the mood was romantic and, I don’t know ... somehow... magical.

We danced a few fast songs

that were popular in that era, with a live band providing the tunes. But then they started playing a slow song; “ Main Street”, by Bob Seger. Thirty seconds into the song, I could have sworn that she and I were the only two people in the entire gymnasium. Her perfume, Ariane I think she called it, enveloped me with a subtle, wonderful aroma. We only had eyes for each other. As I was holding her close, she put her sweet lips to my ear, and whispered, “I’m going to give you something very

special tonight. I love you, baby, and there’s only one person on this Earth that I trust enough to give it to. In fact, I packed a blanket in the trunk of my car. I thought maybe we could go down to Miller’s pond and make love under the stars.”

I pulled my head back so that I could focus on her eyes. They were filled with tears, and soon mine were too. I whispered, “But ... I thought ... we agreed to wait until our wedding night, especially since we’re both virgins. Wait. That is what we’re

talking about, right?”

She kissed me deeply, then whispered back, “Baby, we love each other with all our hearts. You’re the one I want to spend the rest of my life with, the one whose babies I want to have, and the one that I want to grow old with. I’ve never been more sure of anything. I don’t care if Daddy approves of you or not. Momma can see it in my eyes how much I love you. This is the perfect night. I know you’ll be gentle and take care of me, and I’ll do my level best to make sure you don’t

regret it.Tonight is going to be so special, a night neither one of us will ever forget!”

Those words would haunt me for the rest of my life.

Nicole and I stayed at the prom for maybe another half hour or so, then she kissed me on the cheek and whispered, “Baby, it’s time to go. I’ll just leave my car here. Okay?”

So that’s what they did. What neither of them noticed though, was that Nicole’s father had parked in some shadows on the

edge of the high school parking lot. He saw his daughter retrieve a blanket from the trunk of her car, and toss into the back seat of Eric’s car.

He watched Eric walk beside his little girl and open the passenger door. They kissed passionately before she sat down on the seat. Seeing him defile his daughter made his blood boil. He said out loud to no one; “That will be the last time you ever touch my daughter, you low life punk! THE LAST TIME!”

He threw the, by now, empty

vodka bottle into the back seat.

As Eric and Nicole were pulling out of the parking lot, Nicole turned on the car’s radio. Not a minute later, “Main Street” started playing. She scooted over as close to Eric as she could ( remember bench seats? ) and snuggled up tightly beside him, then said “That’s the song that was playing when I told you what I had planned for us. How perfect is this night, baby? I really love that song now.” He glanced over at her, then said, “I

think that officially makes it our song.” She snuggled up tighter, then kissed his cheek. “I think you’re right, baby. I think it’s perfect.” Right after that, Eric shut off his headlights as he pulled onto the gravel path that lead to Miller’s pond.

It was a clean, spring-fed little pond, who’s water was crystal clear. Eric had been fishing here with his dad and several friends over the years, always having good luck. Mr. Miller only asked two things of anyone who fished

there; whatever you bring in, please take it out with you, and please release any fish you catch. That way, there would always be fish to catch, ensuring fun for lots of people for years to come. Little did Eric know, Nicole had stopped by the Miller place and asked Mr. and Mrs. Miller if they’d mind if her and Eric spent their after-prom in the quiet solitude that surrounded the pond at night. Both Millers exchanged knowing glances, grinned at the young lady and gladly gave her permission,

saying no one would bother them. Kind old Mrs. Miller said, “We were young once. You two kids have a wonderful evening.”

Soon, Eric parked his car, got out then went around to the other side and graciously opened Nicole’s door. “Such a gentleman”, Nicole said.