My parents were very strict, and even though I had just celebrated my 18th birthday they still insisted on me being home, where they considered me safe and sound, before 8 o'clock in the evening, and I took a lot of teasing from my girlfriends about that. It often seemed to me that they had complete freedom and could be out until all hours of the night, but I guess that was an illusion born out of my own frustrations at being house bound so often.
I'm sure they had restrictions too, they just didn't seem as harsh as mine. So, it was with very little expectation of success that I asked mom and dad if I could spend the weekend at my friend Amanda's house, even though I produced a letter from her dad saying that it was ok and that I would be well supervised and he would appreciate it greatly as Amanda really needed a friend at this time - her mother had passed on suddenly about 9 months ago, and she was still very upset.
Imagine my surprise, therefore, when after a long consultation in the kitchen, they came out and said I could go, as long as I promised to abide by the same rules there as I had here in relation to not being out late, and that I did whatever Amanda's father told me to do - my parents were very big on obedience and responsibility! Well, I couldn't wait to ring Amanda and tell her the amazing news, and she was every bit as shocked as me, and laughingly asked me if I was drunk.
Actually I felt that way a bit, intoxicated with this new freedom, but I held it in check around mom and dad, as I didn't want them to see how excited I was. The weekend couldn't arrive quick enough for me, and time seemed to hang like never before, but finally it arrived and mom carefully packed some clothes in a bag for me and somewhat reluctantly walked me over to Amanda's house, a couple of blocks away. I almost giggled as it seemed so much like my first day at School all over again with an almost tearful mom walking me there and telling me if I needed anything to ring, and not to do this and not to do that.
But eventually the door of Amanda's house opened and there stood her dad, a tall man with a grin a mile wide on his face and the most amazing twinkling eyes, I swear my mom was almost simpering as she handed over my bag to him and thanked him for his invitation and for looking after me, and if there was anything..... at that point he grasped her hand and kissed it, thanking her for allowing me to come and he told mom how pleased Amanda was going to be and how he could see from meeting her that he would have absolutely no problems with me, as clearly mom was a class lady. Well, she was like butter in his hands after that, and as I watched her walk away, I could have sworn there was an extra lightness to her step, an extra swish to her hips, gosh, if I didn't know better I'd swear she flirting a little as she looked back over her shoulders and waved to the both of us standing on the steps.
I heard Amanda's dad chuckle, "Ok, let's get inside before Amanda bursts" he said, and as I turned around I saw his eyes slowly sweep up and down my body, and I felt my face flush, "Amanda's really been looking forward to this weekend, and so have I" he added, and once again his eyes seemed to drink me in completely.
As I walked ahead of him into the house, I could feel his eyes on me and it felt strange, but at the same time nice, maybe I even wiggled my hips a bit too, just to tease him a little. I'd only met him a couple of times before at School functions and had always been struck by how handsome and sophisticated he seemed, now being so close to him and almost alone, his presence was almost overwhelming and I felt my heart begin to beat a little faster. Then I was in the lounge and Amanda was hugging me and we were squealing excitedly, and chattering a million miles an hour, and I saw him smile softly and move away, carrying my case with him. "Oh, we've moved the spare bed into Amanda's room" he said, "So you don't feel uncomfortable in a strange house, you don't mind sleeping there do you?"
"Oh, no, that will be lovely" I spluttered, trying to tug Amanda's hands from around my neck and smile at him at the same time. Then he was gone, and I was able to focus on Amanda, and we literally fell on the couch and hugged some more, then sat back and talked and talked as if we hadn't seen each other in years - although it was only a matter of hours that we'd been in School together. It just seemed so different somehow, being here, being together in a social setting instead of a School setting, and then I was checking out her CD collection, and asking for this and that to be played. Gosh she seemed to be able to play whatever she wanted as loud as she wanted, so different to me at home, and I found myself relaxing totally.
Her dad, who's name was Gerald, moved in and out of the room a few times as he was preparing supper in the kitchen, and each time I felt his eyes on me and felt myself glow, but I tried not to look in his direction in case Amanda noticed. Then he called us in to supper and I was surprised by the array of food, all of which Amanda told me proudly, her dad had cooked. It looked delicious and it tasted delicious and I think I may even have made a bit of a pig of myself, but it didn't seem to matter, there was a lot of laughter and witty repartee flying around and I watched in awe the incredible interaction that Amanda had with her dad, so totally different to me and my dad who tended to be a little on the somber side and certainly didn't believe in frivolity around the dinner table, they were like friends more than close relations.
It wasn't long before my own inhibitions flew out of the window and I joined in the laughter and the jokes, even when they were at my expense like when Gerald suddenly stopped and looked at his watch then looked at me and frowned and said in mock seriousness "Well past your bed time young lady!". We all fell around laughing. It was such a fantastic meal, and it carried on in the same light vein afterwards when we all went into the lounge and sat around playing records.
I was still stunned when Gerald actually got up and danced with us, even though Amanda was giving him heaps for his lack of rhythm, and I couldn't believe my ears when he responded by telling her you didn't need rhythm for this modern dancing, just a tight butt, and he turned and wiggled it at her. Amanda just dissolved into laughter, and pointed out that he didn't even have that! Which I thought was a little unkind, in fact, I thought he had a gorgeous butt, and even as I thought that I felt the color flood into my cheeks, and get even worse when I saw him grinning at me.