It’s All in the Game
I am 12 going on 13; it was about the same time I traded in my hula hoop for boys
Bathing in the aromas of the forest plant life—resin, pine needles, and leafy branches of an oak tree—awakens memories of my youth at family camp in the Cuyamaca Mountains east of San Diego, California.
.
All us cool cats are in the basement of the meeting hall having a blast, talking, dancing, listening to the latest hits on a record player. The parents are upstairs square dancing, and that makes sense because all the parents are square.
**
“I want to dance with Joey,” I whisper to my girlfriend, Kathy. “He’s a dreamboat.”
“You should wait for a slow dance,” Kathy says, “but he’s been dancing with Sandy.”
“Yeah, you’re right, and he hasn’t paid attention to anyone else tonight.”
I sit quietly hoping he’ll turn his gorgeous baby blues in my direction.
“I’m flat as a pancake and Sandy’s got a classy chassis. She’s so stacked, I can’t compete with her,” I sigh. “Let’s hit it, and go freshen up.”
Secretly my plan includes walking past Joey to bump into him. Accidentally on purpose.
“Whoa girl. Watch where you’re going,” he winks at me. Sandy gives me a dirty look.
“Oh, sorry, Joey,” and I try to look into his eyes as seductively as a 12 year-old going on 13 can. Just brushing against him makes my body tingle. Everything in the room, including the sounds, disappear, and I’m floating in the clouds.
When we get into the restroom, Kathy and I bust up with laughter.
“That was a smooth move!” Kathy says when we stop laughing, “He’s got your number now!”
We reapply our lipstick and pinch our cheeks to give them some color before tucking our blouses into our pedal pushers and walking back into the room.
Rockin’ Robin, by Bobby Day is blaring from the record player. Oh Rockin’ Robin we’re really going to rock it tonight! We snap our fingers to the beat.
“Let’s grab a soda,” Kathy says and moves toward the refreshment table.
I trail behind her and look over my shoulder at Joey. Sandy has split the scene, and Joey is making moves toward me. I turn around to follow Kathy, my heart in my throat. Coming up behind me, he whispers in my ear, “Wanna dance doll?”
My knees almost give out. “Uh—yeah, sure.” I know my stuttering response is nothing close to alluring, but he grabs my arm and pulls me onto the dance floor. Tommy Edwards1958 chart-topping single, “It’s All in the Game,” is playing.
Just as I hear the part he kisses her lips and caresses her waiting fingertips, Joey pulls me close, and I melt into his arms.
Like the song says, it’s all in the game.
