It was 1993. I had just moved to a small town in NSW, and for the first time was going to a non-Catholic school. I was 13 years old, awkward, shy, and wanted to be a spy. My codename was Peregrine.
I was in that grace period of a new school when people were still interested in getting to know the new girl, right before all the girls turn on you because all the guys are interested to see a fresh face, and they think you’re stealing their boyfriends. Sure, I would have liked a boyfriend, but I was too busy learning all the words to Life is a Highway for such things like that.
I had made a lovely friend who was genuine and caring. I used to go to her house and play Monopoly while watching Hale and Pace. We wrote letters to each other all the time, and passed them when we got to class each day. I had caught the eye of a certain young man with a false tooth, a lisp, and a ferret. I’d never had a boyfriend, and was beginning to think I never would (13 is rough, man). Not knowing what to do or how to say no or hell, anything, we embarked on being boyfriend and girlfriend although I was deeply suspicious of the ferret.
Word got round that I’d never been kissed, and it was decided that the deed would be done at the upcoming school dance. I was agonised and excited, and my lovely friend wrote me a letter every single day counting down to the big moment. I slept over at her place a few nights before and we discussed the finer points of lip-locking despite neither of us having any previous experience. We devised a course of action and then talk turned to what we would be wearing on the night.
Dance day dawned and I opened my letter. “Today’s the day!” was written in big words across the top and I felt a flutter of nervousness. I wondered if I’d make it through the day without dying. The whole school new what fate awaited me that evening, and I could barely eat my homebrand oriental-flavoured 2-minute noodles for lunch.
That afternoon I popped on some black tights with denim cutoff shorts over the top. I tucked in my white t-shirt (that had some kind of summery theme on the front, I can’t remember), and my mother’s black ankle boots. I was ready to party.
I’d never slow-danced before and I hoped I wasn’t going to be too much of a goose at it. It didn’t look too hard, but having my face that close to another human, a boy human, was blowing my tiny mind. What was I supposed to do? Did we talk? Was there actual dancing involved? Who knew.
We established ourselves in a slow dance fairly on in the evening, and stayed there for hours, not knowing what else to do. I wondered when the kiss would happen, and when Silk’s Freak Me passed by without incident, I wondered if it would ever eventuate. How does a 13-year-old boy listen to that and not mack the chick he’s dancing with? Turned out he was an absolute gentleman, and was very considerate of my feelings. He knew it was my first time and he was careful not to rush me or make me feel at all uncomfortable. I decided to forgive him for the ferret.
When it got to 10.50 and he still hadn’t kissed me, despite repeated urging from passing friends, I thought with only 10 minutes to go, tonight was not my night. Another friend came by and pushed our heads together, and seizing my moment, I kept my face pushed up against his long after the hand-pusher had retreated. Only I wasn’t doing anything, just smushing my face into his face. He took pity on me, gently said “here”, cupped my face in his hands, and kissed me. And until my mid-20s, it remained the best kiss I ever had.
Polly says
October 7, 2013 at 6:52 amThat is such a sweet story.
Veggie Mama says
October 25, 2013 at 12:37 pmHe was such a lovely guy. Still not sure about the ferret though.
Katie Rainbird says
October 7, 2013 at 8:01 amBlack tights with denim cutoffs – classic! OMG school dances how lame yet totally important. I loved them 🙂 That ferret guy sounds like a dude.
Veggie Mama says
October 25, 2013 at 12:34 pmI hated every other one, they were excruciating.
Liz @ I Spy Plum Pie says
October 7, 2013 at 8:40 amWhat a lovely story! I wonder what ferret guy is up to these days!
Veggie Mama says
October 25, 2013 at 12:34 pmI think he poked me once on Facebook 🙂
Lisa Mckenzie says
October 7, 2013 at 11:54 amWow how beautiful,best story ever Stacey x
Veggie Mama says
October 25, 2013 at 12:37 pmIt’s quite cute, isn’t it!
Sarah@SnippetsandSpirits says
October 7, 2013 at 12:18 pmA lovely story, did you enjoy taking yourself back there to remember all those details? Not sure if I could do that, remember those awkward days. You need to write a book.
Now you have “life is a highway stuck”…. in my head.
Veggie Mama says
October 25, 2013 at 12:37 pmI can’t help but look back at everything with a hilarity filter. I don’t find any of it awkward or embarrassing any more, just outrageous and funny!
Reannon Hope says
October 7, 2013 at 12:34 pmLet me start with- home brand oriental noodles were the best! Occasionally you’ll still catch me eating those suckers.
What a sweet story. Your friend sounds awesome & that boy just too sweet. How great you have an awesome first kids story. Mine is so bloody aweful & embarrassing I can’t even repeat it. Makes me feel sick even thinking about it!
Veggie Mama says
October 25, 2013 at 12:36 pmYes well I have other first stories that fit that description!
MotherDownUnder says
October 7, 2013 at 7:50 pmI hated school dances! I spent most of the time hiding in the bathroom. I would only sneak out once they started playing Stairway to Heaven…always the last song…so I could see who was slow dancing together.
My first kiss was supposed to be during whatever movie that Everything I Do, I Do It For You song was from but my boyfriend at the time asked if I wanted SOL (short on the lips) or LOL (long on the lips) and really I thought the whole thing was so lame that I pulled the plug. He broke up with me the next day.
Veggie Mama says
October 25, 2013 at 12:36 pmha that song was playing somewhere the other day… oh in the doctor’s surgery! it was so painful I couldn’t sing along. I’ll have to download it haha.
I broke up with ferret boy after the second kiss. It was awkward and suddenly I didn’t like him any more…
Lucy @ Bake Play Smile says
October 7, 2013 at 8:40 pmI’m loving reading your confessions! I think you are very brave! Good on you! 🙂
Veggie Mama says
October 25, 2013 at 12:35 pmI’d be brave if I thought it was a big deal to share, but I just think they’re funny now 🙂
Shari says
October 7, 2013 at 9:34 pmLol – 13… I went to a catholic school my entire life. I was sweet 16 and never been kissed, I kissed my first boyfriend (who didnt attend our local catholic school) in the food court on a Friday afternoon in my school uniform, in front of a bunch of girls from the popular group and felt completely embarrassed. My first kiss was definitely not as cool as that.
Veggie Mama says
October 25, 2013 at 12:35 pmIt’s so hard with an audience! at least it was dark where I was 🙂
Miss Pink says
October 12, 2013 at 8:43 amAww I think this is really sweet.
Emma says
December 1, 2013 at 9:48 amJust have me chills x