I was walking past a line of shiny antique automobiles at the Benton County Fair when I spotted a 1919 Model A Pan Automobile that was manufactured in Saint Cloud, Minnesota. It was very innovative for it's time and had a feature that allowed cross country travelers to fold down the seats into a bed for the night. As I looked into the windshield, I saw the reflection of a tall man with a grey beard, and my mind wandered back to my first automobile that I bought on my 18th birthday.
The sun had dropped below the horizon when I pulled my 1952 Nash Rambler into the driveway of Sandy's house, a couple blocks down the street from mine. There was a full moon, and just enough light to see a tall slim woman, with her hair pulled back into a ponytail, sitting on the doorstep. The light of the moon highlighted the crisp white blouse that flowed loosely from her open sweater, above a full skirt. I climbed out of the car and went around to open the passenger side. She ran up to me and put her arms around my neck and gave me a wet kiss on the mouth. I always enjoy a friendly greeting, but I was startled when I realized that the woman in my arms was not Sandy.
Ronnie, short for Ronele, was Sandy's close friend, and the first girl that I dated seriously. But we broke up over a year ago, when I did not match her fast paced enthusiasm for parties and wild weekends. With a nervous glance, I looked past her to see if Sandy was going to catch us.
Ronnie smiled and gave me another peck on the mouth and said "Hey, relax Bob, Sandy is laid up with the cramps from her monthlies and she asked me to fill in for the night. Besides, I need a real big favor from you, and Sandy agreed that tonight at the drive-in would be just the place."
I was relived that Sandy had started to flow, because the last time we had sex the rubber broke, but I was still confused and wondered what Ronnie had on her mind. I looked up and saw Sandy lean out of her bedroom window on the second floor. She waved and then she threw a paper airplane towards the car. It landed at my feet and when I unfolded the paper I saw a heart drawn around a note in her distinctive handwriting.
The note said " Bob, Honey, I am cool with what Ronnie needs. Have fun, but remember that tomorrow you are mine again. Love Sandy". I looked at Ronnie, and she pointed to the little foil package that had fallen to the driveway when I opened the airplane. It was a condom, which of course back then we called a Rubber.
When I bent over to pick it up, Ronnie squatted down next to me and whispered in my ear, " I need a visit from Doctor Bob." Then she took a deep breath and said " I need to have my cherry popped."
The 15 minute ride to the Blue Moon Outdoor Movie Theater was very quiet. Finally, after I pulled into a parking spot at the very back, I asked her how she had learned about Sandy and I having sex while engaged in a very adult version of Playing Doctor. She leaned over and lightly bit my ear lobe and said " close friends have lots of girl talks."