First-date dilemas

I felt so excited,
about meeting her that evening.
6pm at the bus stop, halfway between where we lived

I remember playing ‘Holiday’ by Madonna while getting
ready before I left. As it was a favourite of mine back then.

I arrived at the bus stop at 550pm.
It was summertime and the evening was bright
and warm. Gardens overflowed with colourful shrubs,
and lawns were cut to perfection.

It got to ten past six, and no sign of her. I felt a little anxious.
But she promised, and swore on her cats life (peaches, who she adored)
that she would be here, so I know she wasn’t lying.

(easy to think - I wish I had a mobile, I thought as I
was writing my tale but they didn’t exist back then)

only landlines and hope.

I crossed the road to a phone box opposite.
panes of glass has been broken, and it smelled like chips and urine,
as I stepped inside. I always felt claustrophobic when the door closed,
so I would wedge my foot to keep it ajar. I sifted through the pages of the thick, musty
telephone book.
Looked up the name Harris. Hundreds by that name, but eventually I found her street.
I lifted the receiver, the line crackled and was out of order.

Twenty past six.
I wasn’t sure whether to worry, or whether to go home or, or...
the list of ‘whether to’ was endless.

I decided to walk to her house. Just to put my mind at rest.
So many thoughts of the unknown;
All the ‘what ifs’ that I felt alone with
At fifteen, I felt an emotional wreck
was I in love? Surely not! I felt a fear-
of the uncertainty; apprehensive; intrigue. A little sensitive too!

I arrived at her house, and walked up the driveway.
As I approached the door, I saw her through the window watching television.
drinking cola from a can, as if nothing had happened.
On the door was a twist-bell, that made a racket;
a sound like lots of tangled bells grinding against metal echoing in a dome-
when I turned it.

She opened the door with an expression of surprise, covering her mouth with her
hand, and in a gasp said “ i’m so sorry I forgot”

I felt like a toilet being flushed, with my evenings efforts gushing away.
Not only that, but I thought about her poor cat!
But I didn’t mention that,
nor much else, and I ambled back down the driveway for the long walk home
ahead of me.

The reason what prompted me to tell my tale, is that I bumped into her a few weeks ago.

We had a little chat, and I reminded her of that time way back when we were at school.
Sure enough her exact words were-
“oh yes, I remember now... i’d forgotten all about that” and laughed off an apology.
( funny statement in truth )

I did ask “ I remember you had a ginger cat”

“Peaches! Yes that’s right, she died years ago”

Anyway, we went our separate ways, and I had to quietly giggle,
the poor cat probably lost most of its nine lives, on first dates as by default of its owner!

... and maybe for all it was worth, I got off lightly.