Some stories from childhood.

[Bartlebycs]

So I've been going through old photos recently in my moms room (She passed away this April.) And came across quite a haul of old school photos. Thought I'd share some happy memories of those times in this thread, and maybe we can swap stories of young innocent love? I was the opposite of a Casanova, but I kept friendships with many of these people over the years. Some I still talk to today.

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So this one happened awhile back, in 1995/96, but I thought I'd share it here because it was a huge step for me at the time. I have always been shy around girls I didn't know that well.
Her name was Veronica, we were in 7th Grade and the school dance was happening that day. For our middle school, the dance was a casual event that was held in the lunchroom after school. They just folded the tables up and moved them up against the wall, and they just left a few chairs on the other side to sit on. You could dress up if you wanted, but it was easier to go just as you are. Some people would go home and get changed, most of us just headed over directly after class. I had my Tazmanian Devil t-shirt and sweatpants.

Veronica was in two of my classes, English and Homeroom, so I knew her fairly well. I never had a crush on her or anything, but I thought she was cool. She was one of the tomboy dorky girls who never wore skirts, hated wearing makeup, and kept a close-knit group of friends, so she was pretty shy too. She was in Orchestra, and played Soccer. She told awkward jokes that only her friends would laugh at. She and I would talk only on occasion, but she always seemed nice.

I was at the dance by myself, just roaming around the dance floor watching people, not dancing much myself unless it was a song I knew.

I saw Veronica sitting in one of the chairs, her friend sitting beside her, she had her purple quilted jacket on, and she was crying. I should say here that my biggest weakness is seeing a girl cry, I think there's a name for it. I want to be able to help them. I had never seen Veronica cry before. She had always been making jokes in homeroom and laughing at them awkwardly. She didn't seem the type to let anything get to her.
I did walk around at first, but I went back to look at her again. I wanted to talk to her, but my anxiety was really active now. Also it was the slow dance sequence starting up now. I would never have gone up to her if it wasn't just then that her friend noticed me standing there staring. I just didn't want to look creepy, so I approached them. I held out a hand (as we were taught to do in dance class) and asked Veronica if she wanted to dance. Already, I was waiting for her to say no, to yell at me, to get mad. I always expect that kind of reaction.

Her friend had a big smile on her face and she nudged Veronica with her hand. When Veronica noticed me, she still had tears coming out of her eyes and down her cheeks. I remember her friend laughing and telling her to "Go dance with him!" I don't recall the exact exchange now, but it was something like:
Veronica: "I'm crying though."
Friend: "You can still dance!"
Veronica: "omg...

She got up, took my hand and we hugged and swayed to the music. Her face was buried in my shoulder and she was still sobbing, I remember. Neither of us talked much. By the time the song ended she had stopped crying (minus a few sniffles here and there)

We stuck together the rest of the dance, I had to leave early, but she thanked me and gave me a hug. Her friend said thanks, too.

I found out later that she was bullied by some girls in class before going to the dance, and she wasn't even wanting to come afterwards but her friend made her. That's why she had her jacket on, she was preparing to leave.

So maybe I made her night?
Or I was a creepy dude? I dunno
I don't have pictures of her for myself, but I do have my old yearbook where I drew a heart around her:

We hung out a few times after that, just at school, but it still counted. I have stories. She would always sit next to me at our field trips to the theater in the city. I just didn't click with her in a romantic way, so we were always just friends,

[Ashley]

I really enjoyed reading your story. I hope you meet Veronica someday again.

[Bartlebycs]

She's married with children. I talk to her on Facebook all the time.

[Clinton]

This is a touching love story! You just made me cry.

[Bartlebycs]

Since everyone is still afraid to share, I'll give this preview of my first gradeschool girl-friend (A girl who is also a friend) to get the ball rolling some more. Her name was Elaina. In 1st grade I played with her during recess when I saw she was by herself, and we were friends ever since. We lived on the same block, so my mom would always wait for us after school and we'd walk home together. 4th grade onward we were old enough to not need the escort. LOL.

Elaina was little, even today she's a whole foot and 2 inches shorter than I am (I'm 6'3). She wore glasses back in those days, and her hair was shorter than it is now. (Childhood picture upon request, I won't show a current pic) We were friends up to highgschool until shortly after when she moved down south for her career. Elaina's family were good people. They knew us well. I was the first one she'd cry to. During the summer we'd swim in my pool (I had a Kayak Pool in my backyard. I miss it so much.) And for Winter we'd go sledding, or cross country skiing which I hated but the 'rents would drag me to do. I will say she was much more into sports than I was, particularly softball. She was also incredibly shy in spite of this.

There was a big park behind my house, with a picnic area, volleyball, tennis, and basketball courts. Four small baseball fields, a playground, a few soccer fields, a small 10 hole minigolf course and a snack bar that doubles as the golf admission vendor. The park was big, not like huge, but big enough to get some exercise if you walked the full track around it. It was THE park to go for kid and teen sport teams to train and play their games.
It also had a secret spot Elaina found where we would hang out at. Between two fences with the only entrance hidden behind bushes. We'd bring our books to read here, do our homework, play cards, or she'd bring me here if she needed me to hug her while she cried. She'd hold it in until we got there because she didn't want anyone to see her and make fun. I liked these hugs best in the winter because she wore this soft coat with material that felt great on my cheek and hands. She usually buried her face in my shoulder or turned toward me so she could see my reaction while she cried.

In highschool, Elaina ditched her glasses and got contacts, let her hair grow past her shoulders, and grew a whole foot taller We didn't have many classes together other than gym and lunch (Does lunch count as a class?) She got bullied sometimes for her height so again, I'd be her cry hugger. LOL
But it didn't happen too often and she joined a few teams after school. It was a good life. I always had my eyes on a few different girls, so Elaina and I never officially dated. I have no idea if she ever thought of me that way.


If you want stories of her, let me know. Still waiting to hear some of you guys.

[Bartlebycs]

I'll write more about Heather n the Long Distance section, but here's my most memorable story, (that I have a clear memory of)
Over winter break in 8th grade (she went to a different middle school than I did) we went to the Zoo for it's Christmas exhibits.
Emily a mutual friend, was friends with her for a long long time too, so she came with us with her goth friend (Their not friends anymore, Em was going through a phase). Emily didn't want Heather hanging with the two of them though (she thought it'd be like Me+Heather doing our thing, so she and her friend can do theirs) and she told her so to her face later in a not-so-nice way.

I remember because that was when Heather cried her eyes out while I hugged her. And she'll be the first to tell you to this very day that she doesn't cry in front of anyone because she thinks she's a hideous crier. So for her to let me hold her like that was not normal for her even back then.
So anyway, yea, I hugged her for about an hour while she let herself go. Her face was buried in my chest until my shirt was soaked. I had a hand around her shoulder almost the whole time afterwards. She avoided Emily like the plague.


I should add that Emily could really be a bitch back then, but she had a lot of pain too and she confided in my mom and I about a lot of stuff she never told her parents. We shared a crib together and were practically family.