Chapter 5: It Erupted In A Frenzy

‘Now I want you to carry on telling me about your date with Ben the night after he had invited you to the prom.’ Lewis told her. ‘It was a school night,’ Mavis began, ‘So we had arranged just to go for a walk. He called for me at home and we went for a walk in the big park that was near to where we lived.’

‘We chatted as we walked, I asked him what he was going to do when he left school. ‘I’ve got a sports scholarship at a college down south,’ he told me. ‘I leave school in two weeks, then two weeks after that I go south.’ I felt so disappointed to be losing him so soon.’

‘As we chatted, we discovered that neither of us had had any relationships. He told me he had been too busy with his sport and training and hadn’t wanted to get distracted. ‘This is the first time I’ve been out with a girl.’ he told me.’

‘It’s my first time with a boy too,’ I admitted. ‘I’m so glad.’ he said. Then as I looked at him in surprise, he realised what he’d said. ‘Sorry,’ he told me, ‘I didn’t mean I was glad you haven’t had anyone to be with. I meant I’m glad we’re both the same.’

‘Both new to dating and nervous about putting a foot wrong. At least I am.’ he said smiling at me. ‘I know exactly what you mean.’ I agreed. We came to a bench, so we sat down in the evening sun. Ben told me he lived at home with his mum and dad and a younger brother age ten.’

‘As we chatted, Ben asked, ‘Would you mind if I put my arm around you?’ ‘Go ahead,’ I told him with a smile, ‘That would be nice.’ He put it round my shoulders, and I moved close to him. ‘That feels lovely,’ I told him. ‘Yes, it does, doesn’t it.’ he replied sounding very happy.’

‘I’m scared of doing something that might upset you,’ he confided in me, ‘But at the same time, I’m scared of not doing something you might expect me to do.’ ‘I feel the same,’ I told him. ‘Well how about we agree that if one of us does something we don’t like, we tell them to stop but we don’t get upset about it.’ I suggested.’

‘And if one of us feels the other should be doing something they’re not doing, we tell them. Again, without either of us getting upset about it.’ ‘That sounds good.’ he said with a big smile. We got up and walked on. He took hold of my hand as we walked. I smiled at him to show that I thought it was ok.’

‘When he saw me home, we stood at my front door, and he seemed nervous. ‘Are you worrying about how to say goodnight?’ I asked him. ‘Yes.’ he told me. ‘What have you done in your dreams at this point?’ I asked. he went very red.’

‘I grinned at him, ‘You don’t need to tell me all of your dream,’ I told him, ‘Although from the colour of your face it must have been a good one. Just the bit where you said goodnight on your first date will do.’ ‘I put my arms round her and kissed her.’ he answered.

‘I would consider that to be quite acceptable for a first date.’ I told him, ‘I would like it if you did that. Especially if I could kiss you too.’ We smiled at each other, moved into each other’s arms and kissed each other on the cheek.’

‘We went out twice more that week, then again over the weekend. The following week we went out a couple of times, then on the Saturday night we went to the prom. By then we both felt very much at ease with each other and linked arms or held hands without hesitation.’

‘We had a lovely night, and I even thought that some of the girls looked enviously at my date. Even some of the boys seemed to be eyeing me up. But that might have all been wishful thinking. When we were ready to leave, Ben took me round with him and introduced me as he said goodbye to all his friends.’

‘Then he walked me home. ‘You’re very quiet,’ I said. ‘I’m excited about going away to college,’ he told me, ‘But I’m sad about leaving my family and all my friends. But I’m also sad that we didn’t get together sooner.’ ‘I am too,’ I told him, ‘But I don’t suppose life always goes the way we want it to.’