Woodwork

6/6/2001

Out of the Woodwork

         After graduation there were of course many parties. But the party everyone went to was at the old wharf one evening. A few of my buds had a band, and they were the live music that night. They were three bookish musicians and one unpopular lead singer; however, they covered every popular song they could think of, and the audience had a blast. Just like on their demo tape, they got one of the cheerleaders to do lead vocals for a Cure song, and that was the high point of the evening - for everyone else.
         I was at that party, wandering around as best as I could in a sawdusty, confined, packed place like that. I was seeking a particular someone to whom I hadn't yet said my goodbyes. I had acquired a girlfriend two years older than me, so it was supposedly safe for that particular someone to talk with me now. Instead, someone else found me.

         A sophomore with dark red Raggedy Anne hair pulled me aside. I recognized her as the little sister of the junior who had a locker next to mine all year. Amy had worked with me at the steakhouse, too, and warned me against the girl I was now seeing. "Walk me home," she suggested. And ain't I so obliging? I did.
         Turns out she lived only a block away. The walk thing was of course a ploy to get me alone. Several times Amy seemed about to say something, but someone would walk by and she clammed up. "Hard to imagine all the seniors will be gone next year," she commented. I agreed. She slowed to a crawl and I realized we must be at her driveway. Alone at last, finally Amy stopped. "You're going out with Michelle now, huh?"
         I confirmed what she already knew. She was still building herself up to something. Her brother was a cool guy, and I had suspected for a while that Amy might be soft on me. But of course girls only come out of the woodwork to drool over you once you're verifiably off the market. And that's what happens in the next paragraph. Oops, did I ruin the ending? Haha.

         Amy took my arm suddenly and stared deeply into my eyes. When she was sure my attention was caught, she told me, "You could do so much better than her, you know." I was moved by the sincerity in the words. That's when I knew for sure that she had a crush on me. It must have been hard on her, knowing that I was dating Michelle and then graduation, and that she wouldn't get a chance with me. So she did this, tonight, to tell me.
         And whatever relief it gave her, it gave my confidence a much-needed boost, just knowing that someone out there was concerned over my happiness.
         I lowered my eyes, not a complete nod but certainly in partial agreement. I knew even then that Michelle was temporary at best. Amy was cute - a rather serious redhead, a flutist as I recall. Lots of big freckles and enough weight that no one accused her of bulimia.

         I began to trudge up her driveway, to send Amy off by delivering her to the front door. She corrected me, and we tiptoed around the side instead. There we stood in the grass outside her bedroom window. She was quiet, only looking at me intensely. Not with bedroom eyes, though - maybe just hoping for a kiss? I don't know, even now. But I did know that, despite my curiosity, I was not about to make out with a sophomore whose big brother was a pal from my soccer team. I gave her a good hug and mumbled something like, "Yes it's too bad I won't be here next year." Her eyes were misty when we parted, but she was not crushed, and for that I was glad. I waved as I walked away. She waved in fair spirits and crawled back into her high school career.

         I came upon the wharf but didn't feel like returning despite the Smiths music emanating from the core of the party. There wasn't anything within those wooden walls as important as the moments of my walk with Amy. I thought about the courage it took for her to approach me and reveal (albeit not in blatantly obvious language) what she felt. I considered how recent it was that I had first been able to do such a thing. I was graduating, and she would be a junior. I glanced to the stars and wished the cute girl well. Then I smiled, thinking, She's already a year ahead of me in the game.