It was the late 80's. I was 20. After I finished highschool I worked for a year and a half to save money so I could go away to college. My parents wanted me to live at home and commute but I had to get away. They were strict and overbearing which left me naive and inexperienced. I picked a college out of state that was a five hour drive away in a town that my aunt Jane lived in.
Jane was in her early 50's. She reminded me of Tawny Kitaen in the Whitesnake videos, rocking hair, curvy but fit. She was never married, no kids and according to my dad, she had "lovers". As uptight as my dad was, she was the opposite: she did yoga, grew her own vegetables and pot, went on vacation every year, and lived in a modest house even though she was very successful. Basically the opposite of my parents.
I had gotten a room in a house just off campus that I was to move into on the Monday. The plan was for me to go to her place on Saturday, she'd show me around town then I'd get my room. I had an old Delta 88 that I could fit all my stuff in so I loaded it up and headed off.
I was very excited.
On the drive I stopped and bought a pack of cigarettes. I didn't smoke but I figured I should learn so I could look cool and confident. Once I got to town I got brave and stopped and bought a case of beer. Since I was under age, didn't have fake ID and had never done anything like that I was super nervous. Turns out the guy at the counter didn't give a shit, and handed me my change while barely looking at me. Emboldened by this I put the beer in the back seat then walked into a pharmacy across the street, went in and stood there staring at the section with the condoms. I was clueless but finally picked a box and went to the cashier. There were a few people in line ahead of me so it felt like it was taking forever, I stood there sweating and red faced determined not to chicken out. When I got to the counter the cashier was a pretty girl about my age, I put the condoms and my money on the counter at the same time and she kinda laughed and said "anything else?" I shook my head and avoided eye contact. She handed me my change and the condoms in a paper bag and smiled. I rushed out, back to my car, put the condoms in my gym bag and cranked up the air conditioning full blast.
I got to my aunt's and went to her door with the case of beer under one arm and my gym bag slung over the other. After a few minutes of knocking I went around to her back yard and found her working in her garden in cut off jean shorts and a bikini top. When she saw me she greeted me with a warm hug. I was so excited about being there and blurted out "will you have a beer with me?" We sat on her back deck and cracked open beers and started talking.
After a couple beers I unzipped my gym bag, got the pack of smokes and a lighter. I pulled out a cigarette, tapped it on the table (I had seen this in movies) then lit it, took a drag and promptly started coughing. She laughed, took it from me and said "don't start smoking".
She then pointed to my open gym bag and asked "what did you get at the drugstore?"
