First Kiss , First Girlfriend

First Kiss , First Girlfriend

Julie C.


5th grade,
Mrs. Price's Class,
"Where the Red Fern Grows"
We had to spirit read
I recall Julie C, the shyest of all just behind me,
At our desks.
Passing notes.

Julie read the Hit Parader,
Pics of Billie Joe,  Dexter Holland, Rivers Cuomo,
We played
Weezer Blue and Nirvana In Utero,
During Share Time.

It was
Under the green table
Where she placed a kiss
Upon my cheek.
Then we kissed on the lips
very quickly.
Everybody laughed.

Mrs. Price wanted to talk to us,
after class.


We were going steady for about a month.


It was then that the boys joked with me,
Julie, wants to marry me.

All the boys said
that it would be cool to dump a girlfriend
Before you are the dumped.
No matter what
don't 
get dumped.

I even said, "I have to dump you, Julie."
She sobbed, face rosy red.
She spent recess in
the girl's bathroom.

I remember feeling regret.
Sad, stomachache.
Weezer "Holiday" did not sound like it once did
that kiss day.

After school
I went to Julie C's house
To apologize.
We watched MTV
on the couch.

I said, "I love you, Julie C,
Always, we'll be friends,
But we can't be husband and wife."