My First Kiss

'Twas the fall of my Freshman year of high school. I had been cast as Jonathan Harker in Norwell High School's production of Dracula.

It was a leap of faith for the director. My previous stage experience was as the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz in 8th grade. To go from that light, comic romp to one of the main protagonists of a dark, horror story...well...I must have just been a better reader than the others at the auditions. 

I certainly didn't LOOK like the groom-to-be of a fair maiden who succumbs to a bite from the Count. At the age of 14, I didn't look like much of anything except a 14-year-old.

Topping off my list of concerns about the role was the presence of a scene in which my character kisses his fiance. Up until that time in my life, my kisses had been reserved for my mom, my gramma, and my dog.

The first time we rehearsed the scene, my co-star immediately jerked away, wiping her mouth and saying, "You don't have to slobber all over me!"

I was in desperate need of some real-life experience.

Enter the Older Woman, a curvy Junior with a slight overbite who sat with me on the school bus. We talked and laughed and secretly held hands on those bus rides...and I was convinced that this fine young woman, who I had nicknamed Sam, would soon fulfill my need.

The opportunity for me to be educated in the ways of the smooch presented itself one evening when Sam gave me a ride home from some event. We pulled into the circular drive of my homestead. Sam put her car's gearshift into Park. She turned slightly toward me. I turned slightly toward her. I thanked her for the ride. She leaned forward. I leaned forward. Somehow, our lips found each other.

The entire known universe dissolved into oblivion and I could feel absolutely nothing except the soft warmth of our lips pressed together.

And like a fool, I quickly said goodnight, practically stumbled out of the car, and rushed into the house, like some silly co-ed in a 1961 beach movie.

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"If you could go back in time and tell your younger self one thing, what would you say?"

Woah! What's your hurry? Get back in that car, young man!