it’s been said that women have long memories
and oh how they like to remind us men
but as the saying goes “everything happens for a reason”
and occasionally the equation justifiably works out
in the opposite direction

and so to set the stage for this lesson in life
it was 1976 and at eighteen years old
I was a part-time pack boy at the local A&P supermarket
earning a little pocket money
to get me through my last year of high school
before moving on to what would hopefully be better things

one Friday night while at work
the buzz was all about the big dance
at my alma mater Gloucester High School
Kim Mitchell…at the time front man for an up and coming band
called Max Webster was going to be on stage

minding my own business
this very pretty cashier from another high school
who I’d worked with several times
though had paid me little heed and likewise
was suddenly all over me
flirting to a degree few girls had shown me before

at first I was caught off guard…alarm bells sounding
but teenage hormones being what they are
I was flabbergasted…delighted at the attention
amongst customer check outs
we talked excitedly about going to the dance together
and as one of my buddies had a car
transportation wouldn’t be an issue

at eight o’clock our shift ended
a bunch of us including the cashier and me
making our way to the dance a couple of miles away
my imagination running as to what might happen
in the hours that followed

upon entering the doors to Gloucester
to my complete shock and bewilderment
my date’s pretty smile and warm demeanor
changed to one of cold stone
as without warning she quickly left my side
waving hello to another guy
who had apparently been waiting for her

dumbfounded
I watched as she greeted him with the same affection
she had shown me only moments before
no words could express my disappointment...hurt and anger
least of all embarrassment at having to explain to my friends
what had or hadn’t happened
a lesson in the fairer sex I’d never forget

six years later found me indeed moved on to bigger and better things
well paying employment in the public service
job security and fringe benefits
happily married with child on the way

one Friday night my wife and I
deciding to take in a couple of movies at a local drive-in
and so during intermission as both of us were feeling peckish
I headed over to the confection building
to get us something to eat

I’ve never have a good memory for names
but faces I never forget
and as I walked through the door
upon scanning the room
quickly recognized someone from my past

to my astonishment
there behind the food counter stood that same girl
who had picked me up then dumped me so suddenly
all those years before
dressed in a uniform not unlike the one she wore
in those days at A&P

whether she remembered me I couldn’t tell
a blessing in disguise considering the sudden wave of nausea
come over me…instinctively suggesting I turn around and leave
as the sight of her brought on a flood of unanswered questions

if she had just needed a lift to the dance
then why didn’t she say so in the first place?
rather than the mean charade
she had inflicted upon me without provocation
how many other guys had she hurt between then and now?
or had I been an isolated case?

as I made my way to the front of the line
thankfully to be served by someone else
in-between the pangs of reborn confusion and bitterness
a certain clarity emerged
as I thought to myself
"after six years is this all you’ve amounted to?"
mixed with dark satisfaction…
“yeah you’re exactly where you belong
working a drive-in cafeteria
serving lukewarm hot dogs to unsuspecting guys”

and realization
as I walked back to the car with a tray full of food
a big smile for my wife and baby to be
in vindication...
“the Lord works in not so mysterious ways”

© 2006

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09/04/2006

Author's Note: I've always enjoyed reading Rusty Arquette's story poems, and how he illustrates the various characters and related experiences that have influenced and enriched his life. One recent posting about Kathy the Cheerleader, reminded me of a girl and experience in my own past, and so thought I'd try my hand at Rusty's style of writing. Thanks RCat!

Posted on 09/04/2006
Copyright © 2024 Chris Sorrenti