Mormons are encouraged not to date until age sixteen. Being fifteen, this put me in a predicament. Any time that Scotty and I spent together was chaperoned. He couldn’t ask me on a date. We couldn’t really do anything together other than show up in the right place at the right time. We didn’t talk on the phone or exchange flirtations because our parents were watching us closely. Scotty’s mom was very strict regarding how much time he was allowed to spend with me. We spent our days casually wandering the neighborhood hoping to run in to each other. His house was conveniently positioned on the route from my house to my best friend Michelle’s* house, so I constantly dragged Michelle from house to house so I could increase my chances of running in to Scotty.

 

In the spring, Scotty graduated from high school. His mom told him that for part of his graduation gift, he could invite me to go to dinner. When the phone rang, I was ecstatic to hear Scotty on the line. He extended the invitation. I got permission from my mom and accepted.

 

I attended Scotty’s graduation with his parents and then joined him with his mom and step-dad at a restaurant called Pardners. I ordered salad because Scotty ordered salad. I tried to have manners to impress his mom. I was nervous and jittery. I refrained from using the bathroom out of embarrassment, and nearly wet myself on the ride home.

 

When we pulled in my driveway, Scotty’s mom asked me if I’d like to come home with them to watch a movie. I accepted but asked if I could run in and change my clothes (read: pee) first. Soon I found myself on Scotty’s couch watching Summer of the Monkeys (very romantic, yes?) As the movie went on, Scotty kept twitching and with each jolt, his hand moved closer to mine. Just when it got to the point where we might have been holding hands, there was a knock at the door and we both jumped a mile high. Scotty’s aunt had come to give Scotty’s mom a cassette tape. The movie was interrupted by the need to listen to a song. The only stereo was in Scotty’s room, so his mom dragged us all in to his room reminding me that under normal circumstances I wasn’t allowed in Scotty’s room. I was thrilled to see where Scotty slept and to take in his smell and to learn more about him. As I sneakily gazed around the room, I noticed some items sticking out from under his alarm clock; the Valentine, a card or two, some candy wrappers, all mementos of our relationship so far, and I finally knew for sure that Scotty liked me and that he had all along.

 

When we returned to the living room to watch the rest of the movie, he grabbed my hand right in front of his mother, and she didn’t even mind.

 

To be continued…

 

*Michelle actually benefited from this because she she hooked up with Scotty’s brother. They celebrated their 4th Anniversary on August 9th!