Written for Six Sentence Story where Denise
encourages us to get creative in just six sentences
incorporating the word βengagementβ. Hereβs my six.
The idea of my parents chaperoning me to the beach that night was mortifying but I figured I had to suck it up if there was a ghost of a chance of having any fun during this vacation in Surf City, so that night my mother, father and I went for a stroll on the beach, me hanging back about ten feet or so hoping the cool bonfire kids would think I was by myself; music was playing and marshmallows were roasting on long sticks β¦. everyone was tan and blonde and beautiful β¦. and thatβs when I saw him β¦. he looked just like Edd βKookieβ Byrnes from β77 Sunset Stripβ and when he glanced up as we walked by and smiled, I fell hopelessly in love.
Thankfully, my parents quietly observed the group without their usual compulsion to make conversation and, satisfied what they saw wasnβt a remake of βReefer Madnessβ, sat for a while high on a dune delighting in the reflection of the moon on the water; when it was time to go, the three of us walked back to the beach house β¦. but not before I had a chance to look over my shoulder and giveΒ EddΒ a little wave; he grinned and waved back (I was in heaven) and I knew I had to go to the next bonfire β alone.Β
I guess being out in the sun all day must have fried my parentβs brains because, when I nonchalantly asked them the next night if I could walk down to the bonfire by myself for a little while, they actually agreed; all I could think about was seeing Edd again and how relieved I felt that my older sister considered herself βtoo mature for a teeny-bopper beach partyβ and didnβt want to tag along.
The group was friendly and waved me over so, as casually as possible, I headed straight forΒ EddΒ and sat down next to him and someone handed me a cold beer β¦. my first ever .β¦ which I liked quite a bit; the kids were intoΒ Jan and Dean andΒ The Beach Boys β¦. I was aΒ BeatlesΒ girl but I wasnβt going to let that get in the way β¦. and by the end of the night,Β EddΒ and I were holding hands and agreed to meet again the following night.Β
That was the most blissful week of my young life β¦. lots of kissing and petting β¦. professions of love β¦. an βengagement ringβ fashioned from a Bud Lite pull tab β¦. but we didnβt go beyond 2nd base; in all my 16 years, Iβd never been as happy or excited to be with someone as I was with Edd.
At the end of the week we exchanged phone numbers and promised to call each other but that didnβt happened and itβs ok β¦. I never really thought it would …. I’m content with the memory; one thing I’m sure of is none of my friends will ever be able to say they spent a week making out on the beach with Edd βKookieβ Byrnes.
NARΒ©2024
This is a really awful song called βLike, I Love Youβ by Edd βKookieβ Byrnes and Joanie Sommers.
Hereβs the theme song for the TV show, β77 Sunset Stripβ.
All text, graphics and videos are copyright for The Sicilian Storyteller, The Elephantβs Trunk and The Rhythm Section and are not to be used without permission. NARΒ©2017-present.
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