First Date

The one that would always be remembered.

It was another boring day in an endless succession of them. Tommy yawned, stretched, and decided to try another nap. He was just stretching out under the big oak tree when a voice called down from above.

“Did you hear what happened?”

Tommy jerked right up. “Something happened? What?”

“Nothing.” Sally laughed as she climbed down the tree. “What you doing?”

“Not a thing.” Tommy stared up at the endless sameness of the clear blue sky.

“Me either. Mom wants me to babysit for free over at the Gibsons, that’s why I was hanging out in your tree.”

“At least that’s something to do. I’ll go with you if you want. Mrs. Gibson bakes cherry pies. I smelled her cooking some.” Jimmy said.

“We’ll have to ask if it’s okay.” Sally let him pull her up. Jimmy was two years older and usually didn’t do stuff with girls. She was surprised he wanted to.

“You’re really bored, aren’t you?” She asked.

Jimmy stopped with a jerk. A look of surprised wonder etched itself on his face. “I was. Why aren’t I bored now?”

The next moment found Jimmy reaching for Sally’s hand. “You can be my girl if you want to. Just don’t tell anyone, okay?”

“I won’t.” Sally knew Mrs. Gibson was the neighborhood’s worst gossip. She wouldn't have to.

Gale Gibson didn’t say a word when the two dropped holding hands. "Pie's in the fridge. It'll take two of you to handle Terror. That's his nickname. You'll see why."

Gale Gibson pulled out her cellphone to spread the news to Jimmy's mother as soon as she shut her front door. "Did you hear what happened with Jimmy and Sally? I bet I'm the first to know."