First Kiss

The school year had ended and summer was upon us as the Track and Field team emptied their lockers. The summer would be different this year; the track coach had secured a job running the sports and entertainment for Chase Manhattan Bank’s Family Camp. The inexpensive vacation would give bank employees and their families a chance for recreation and relaxation in the great outdoors of upstate New York, and at a manageable cost that included all amenities, meals and lodging. The Track Coach Mr. Ed Jawor, a legend at Mater Christi High School for his track records, had upon receiving the summer job immediately fired the entire staff from the previous year, and offered the positions to his track team.

The old crew had consisted of teenage boys who were into drugs, and caused all sorts of trouble including tardiness, fighting, not showing up for assignments and a generally poor job performance, as well as inappropriate behavior with the daughters of visiting employee families. The boys on the track team were not angels but were respectful and disciplined athletes and scholars for whom poor grades would cause suspension from the track team. I was on the field squad which consisted of the shotput, discus and javelin throwers. For Mr. Jawor, this job provided a perfect opportunity for him to get a disciplined crew who were fit, willing to work, and who knew him and respected his authority. Also, it was an opportunity to keep the boys fit and busy during the summer months and out of trouble. Different subgroups within the team were assigned various tasks and the field team were assigned to be the waiters.

The mess hall consisted of long lines of tables, separated by family or group and were movable. Each waiter had one row of tables and served about 70 people in all. The response to us by the visiting families was comical. They would ask us what had happened to the crew of miscreants from previous years. They were not used to being treated respectfully by clean cut efficient waiters who showed up for work on time with a good attitude. The job was simple as there was only one choice of food, and it was served family style. Anyone who has worked as a waiter can appreciate how much easier this makes serving. We were told that we looked more like the front line of the Jets than a bunch of skinny drugged out waiters. The administration of the camp received glowing reviews from families at the end of their stay and Mr. Jawor was much appreciated for his decision to replace the previous year’s staff.

The waiters were off between meals and we kept ourselves busy rowing, swimming, lifting weights, sprinting up the mountain and running the roads for miles at night. There would be no need to get back into shape when the school year started again and the team would have an advantage in track meets.

Into this Spartan existence came Debbie, a quiet pretty girl from whom I always managed to steal a fleeting glance whenever the opportunity came along. As the week progressed, I did manage to force myself to have a few brief conversations with her, but the feeling of butterflies in one’s stomach was unsettling and confusing. This was a time before the internet and people were generally less worldly at an early age. Finally, Debbie’s stay was ending and I could see her father packing the family station wagon for the trip home. As I stood there broken-hearted, she came over to me to say goodbye. A few words were exchanged and then she stood up on her toes and she kissed me. Although I had tried to imagine what it would be like, this feeling was not at all expected. This was not your mother’s peck on the cheek or a neighbor’s appreciative smack on the far head for raking the leaves! It did not fall into any of the previously designated categories of affection, there was no cubbyhole to file it into. It was a completely different feeling, inexplicable, like falling into the comfiest overstuffed chair imaginable; a wondrous feeling as if the earth had shifted, perspectives changed and the world seemed suddenly seen from a previously hidden view. As lips touched, the feeling of softness, gentleness and femininity was totally alien like I had landed on another planet, encountering a new life form for the first time. Coming from a world of steely, steady, self-discipline, pushing and forcing the body and mind to be molded for strength, speed and agility, this was unsettling, turbulent and rattling. All these insights happened within fractions of a second. The last slivers of light were disappearing when childhood’s door closed. In the distance a new portal was beginning to open, with a glimpse of the future and adulthood yet to come. Something had been awakened by this innocent kiss and life would somehow never be the same again.

Debbie’s father called her then; it was time to get on the road.

I never saw her again.

Fifty pushups and a cold shower would be in order to get me back on track.

Jim

July 2020