50's Love

"Hey, honey?" Linda says as she takes the last step on their old creaky wooden stairs. "Look what I found." She smiles as she sits down at their white and cute blue table. Then Tom walks over and sees that Linda is holding an old photo from the late fifties. A group of teenagers are smiling in the picture. One boy is holding a girl in his arms while they smile happily.

Tom grins. "Ah, look at us." Tom says. "I can't believe it's been so long." He chuckles.

"Yeah, that was when you had the legs to lift me up." Linda laughs.

"I could still do it if I tried."

"No, you couldn't."

"Yeah, I couldn't."

Then Linda and Tom laugh.

"I do miss it though." Linda says. "The dances, the music, and just everything."

"Remember when we first met?" Tom asks.

"Of course. It was the week before the Summer Dream Dance...

I was on my way to Charlie's Diner to meet Margaret. The sun was shining its brightest and the birds were singing their highest.

I was wearing my favorite purple and black polka dot dress, with my black Mary Jane heels. As I walked to the diner, I saw Mr. and Mrs. Baker's bakery, Lou's clothing store, and Mr. Sam's grocery store. Then once I walked into the diner, I immediately smelt the delicious hamburgers, ham sandwiches, and crunchy curly fries. I saw Margaret sitting down at the counter talking to Susan from school. Once she saw me, she waved, and I smiled and waved back. "Hey, Margaret. Hey, Susan." I said as I sat down beside Margaret.

Margaret was wearing her black and red striped dress with white heels and Susan was wearing a light blue coral dress with blue heels. "Hey, Linda." Margaret said. "We were just about to order."

"Great!" I said.

Then I heard the diner's door open. I looked to the side and... There you were. In your green button-down shirt and light brown trousers. You froze when you saw me, and I froze too. It was like the whole world disappeared, and it was just you and me.

But then the world came back, and Margaret was poking my arm as she said, "Linda. Linda!" She started to shake my arm.

"Hm? Oh, sorry, what?" I asked, sounding disoriented.

"I said aren't those boys a dream." Margaret said as she smiled.

"Yeah." I said as I smiled at you, and you smiled at me.

"Whoa, check out the girls at the counter." Steve said, then whistled. "Think they'll say yes to being our date to the summer dance?" He asked you.

"Uh, I-I don't know." You stuttered. "Probably not."

"Wha? Why?"

"Cause they probably already have dates."

"Well, we don't know for sure. So, let’s ask them."

Then Steve started walking toward us. He stopped at Margaret and smiled. "Well, hi. What are you two fine ladies’ names?" He asked us.

"Well, I’m Margaret, this is Susan, and this is--"

“I’m Linda.” I said still looking at you. You smile shyly back and then look at the ground. “Um, I’m Tom.” You said still looking down. “And I’m Steve.” Steve smiles at Margaret and she smiles back. “Me and Tom here were wondering if either one of you has a date to the dance.” Steve said.

“Why, no, we don’t.” Margaret said. “Why do you ask?”

“Well, you know, Tom I were wondering if maybe—” Steve begun.

“Would you like to go with… us?” Tom interrupts.

I smile. “Sure.” I said. “We’d love to.” I looked at the ground smiling. “Swell.” You chuckled…

“Well, that didn’t happen.” Tom says as he sits down at the table.

“What do you mean that didn’t happen?” Linda asks as she smiles while looking confused.

“I wasn’t shy.” Tom chuckles.

“Yes, you were. As you asked me to the dance you were looking at the ground shyly.”

“No, that didn’t happen. This-This is what happened…

I walked into the diner, and when I saw you, I said to Steve, “Hey, let’s go ask those girls at the counter if they wanna go to the dance with us.”

So, he and I walked over to you guys and I said to you, “So, you got anyone to go to the dance with, sweetheart?”

"Why, no.” You said as you fluttered your eyelashes flirtatiously. “How ‘bout you take me?”

“I did not do that.” Linda says.

“Okay, maybe you didn’t do it exactly like that, but I’m-I’m pretty sure I’m close.” Tom eyes look to the side. Then Linda sighs. “Anyway...

After we all talked for a while you asked me, “May I walk you home?” You asked with a warm smile.

“Sure.” I said. Then we left the diner. Completely forgetting to say goodbye to our friends.

But as we walked home that beautiful night, the stars were shining brightly, and the warm breeze blew softly. I didn’t want the night to end but then we made it to my house.

“Well, it was, um, very nice to meet you.” You said shyly.

“And it was very nice to meet you, too.” I said. “Thank you for walking me home.”

“No sweat.” You said a little more confidently. “I’d be happy to do it again.” You grinned. Then I giggled a little.

“Okay.” I said. “Well, goodnight, Tom.”

“Goodnight, Linda.”

Then the wonderful night ended...

Linda sighs, then puts the photo on the table.

“Wait. What are you doing?” Tom asks looking confused.

“What?” Linda asks Tom looking confused too.

“Your just going to end it like that?”

“What do you mean?”

“I mean, what about the summer dance?”

“What about it?”

“Aren’t you going to finish the story?”

“You want me to finish it?”

“Yeah.” Tom grins.

“Okay.” Linda chuckles. “Before the day of the dance, Margaret and I went shopping for dresses at Lou’s clothing shop...

“Ooh, what about this one?” Margaret asked as we picked out dresses. “Looks pretty.” I told her.

“Well, I don’t want pretty. I want gorgeous.” Margaret smiles a big smile. “To make Steve weak in the knees.” She giggled, then I giggled too...

“Wait, wait, wait.” Tom says.

“Oh, what now?” Linda says, pretending to look annoyed.

“It’s my turn to tell the story.” Tom smiles. “But my side of it.” He grins again.

“Now, Steve and I had just found some nice suits...

“I’m telling ya, Margaret likes me.” Steve said as we walked down the sidewalk. “And how do you know that?” I asked him.

"Cause we were pretty much flirting all night at Charlie’s Diner the other night.” He told me.

“Wait, you guys went on a date last night?”

“Yeah.” Steve smiled.

“What did you do when you asked her Dad?”

Steve stopped walking and stopped me too.

“Okay, this is what I did.” He wipes his nose. “Okay, okay. I said, Mr. Robinson. I am a responsible guy. I will take care of your sweetheart--I-I mean, daughter, with, uh, care.”

“And he said okay?” I asked, looking confused.

“Right-o, daddy-o!” Steve said as he began walking, but I stayed standing there looking confused.

“Wha?” I said.

But anyway...

“Anyway, now it’s back to me.” Linda says.

“Oh, alright.” Tom chuckles.

“So, anyway...

After all the dresses and suits had been picked out, it was finally the night of the Summer Dream Dance.

The weather was perfect, all the dates had been picked up, and so it was time to go to the dance.

And as I walked into that gym, my eyes widened, and my jaw dropped. I had never seen anything so beautiful. Bright lights were hanging from the ceiling and a band was playing a beautiful slow song. I look at you and you look at me. “Do you wanna dance?” You asked shyly.

“I’d love to.” I smiled. Then I put my hand into yours and we walked onto the dance floor and began to dance.

But as we danced to the softly playing music, the whole world disappeared again, and it was just you and me. Dancing underneath the pretty lights...

“The end.” Linda says while smiling.

“Okay.” Tom agrees.

Then Tom lays his hand on Linda’s. “I love you, Linda.”

Linda smiles and lays her other hand on his. “And I love you, Tom.