Back in time about a thousand years ago, or at least back in the sixties, when I was still in school, I had friends that I 'Hung out with' almost everyday.  We went to games, our favorite soda bar, walks and almost everything together.

    later in life as I got to be somewhere around the age of dirt, I met up with one of my old school buddies.  This is a colorized and glamourous period for and after that meet. 

   I have been informed by 'Marie' that our story is taking on a flow as to where the people are turning more human.  I hope so.  I write these to give entertainment to 'Marie' and myself.  Hope you enjoy the story as much as I like writing them. 

     CJ

My name is Calvin. I'm some 50 plus years old.  I still have a head full of hair that seems to make some of my friends envious. But I envy them for being able to grow a beard. I still only shave every three to four days. I once tried to grow a beard and it was only three quarters of an inch long after six months. Oh well, so much Indian and Irish combination in my heritage. Someday I'll get to grow one.

Back in high school I had a real good buddy, Steve.  It seems now that we'd done an awful lot of things constantly. I was the one to stay in trouble most of the time and Steve was always covering my back. But when the wheels turned, I was right there for him.

Steve had the most beautiful woman for his girlfriend.  He was good looking also, so they made the perfect couple.  His girl, Marie could have been Miss America. She was so beautiful. The most beautiful woman I'd known. I was envious yet at the same time proud that she and Steve were together. The sun may have rose and sat on her, but I knew they were meant to be as one.  I loved them both. Steve as my best friend and Marie because she was such an honest and sweet person. I'd heard from another buddy that they had gotten married. They were happy as I was for them.

     About two months ago I was on the Internet at a webb site I'd been a member of for a few years. Out of the blue I get a message from Marie.  I was totally shocked.  I couldn't believe it. Marie. It was really she. I later found out she'd joined two days earlier and came across my name. Through our emails I learned she and Steve had divorced. That part hurt me.  But with having gone through a divorce myself, I knew things didn't always work the way we would like them to.

After countless phone calls and emails, we set up a meeting. It was a small mom and pop restaurant that Marie goes to often. Seems they had kind of adopted each other after her parents past away. They love her totally and when they get busy she helps them out.

When I arrived at the restaurant, I stayed in the car and called her on my phone. She'd explained where she was sitting and what she was wearing. I asked her to put her back to the door and not look. I went inside and walked over to her from her behind. I didn't know what to expect. But I was getting teary eyed already. I asked her to keep her eyes closed and to give me her hand. I was shaking like a leaf. I took her hand and at that point I closed my eyes also. She stood up and gave me her other hand. We stood that way for a minute. She said to open our eyes. This most beautiful lady had tears in her eyes. And it made her cry twice as hard when she saw my tears. I pulled her to me and put my arms around her. We just stood there and both cried like babies. Then she said with her head on my shoulder "forty three years Calvin. It feels like it's been a life time". She then seemed to hug me even tighter. She said, "I think I knew back then too". That's when I lost it and really broke down. With both of us crying so hard it was difficult to stand even with holding on to each other for support.

A few minutes later we noticed some people in there were clapping for us. As I finally got to see her, all I could think was she is still the most beautiful woman I'd ever seen. We finally sat down and started talking. We had a lot to talk about, this beautiful woman, Marie, and I.

C.J.Beige

17 Sept 08