Have You Ever Been Kissed?(Herm Sherwood-Sitts) Have You Ever Been Kissed?
A short story, By Herm Sherwood-Sitts


Jimmy and Suzie had been out on a date. After the malt shop, Jimmy eased the 58 Pontiac Chieftain into the parking lot, at the football field. He shut off the lights and he and Suzie strolled in the moonlight to the bleachers. Midway to the top, Suzie took a seat and pulled her sweater tighter around her shoulders. It was a cool autumn night. Jimmy got the hint and as any gentleman would do, put his varsity jacket around her.

Jimmy stood in front of her, with one foot up on the bleacher and leaning on his knee, he asked her, "Have you ever been kissed? You know what I mean; not by yer’ mom and dad, or your grandpa and grandma, but by a guy?”

Suzie blushed and put her hands in front of her face. “A girl doesn’t kiss and tell,” she said with a school girl giggle. “Ok, this one time. I was driving home from the library in grandpa’s truck. I came across this guy trying to fix a flat, by the light of the moon. I thought I would be neighborly and shine the head lights and make it easier for him. He came up to the truck and asked if I had a lug wrench. He had a southern drawl and kinda’ spoke out of the side of his mouth. I pawed around behind the seat and found a four way.”

Jimmy watched and listened. He was smiling, because Suzie was making all kind of gestures with her hands to tell the story. He couldn’t help but notice her soft skin in the moon light. Her cute dimples, beautiful eyes and long ponytail, were like a lure to a bass.

She went on to tell Jimmy, “After he finished changing the tire, he told me that he had borrowed the old Buick from one of his band members, Scotty. He had some pretty big dreams," she smiled.

“I’m gonna’ buy me a new Cadillac someday, maybe one for every day of the week," the guy giggled.

“He then said, I only have one way to pay ya sweetheart! He picked me up and sat me on the hood of gramp’s old truck, pulled out a guitar from the back of the Buick and sang me the sweetest song. (She then sang a little of “Love Me Tender.”) He put his guitar back into the car and walked over to me. His face was beautiful and his hair glistened in the moonlight. I put my hands gently on the sides of his face. As he leaned into kiss me, I ran my fingers through his hair. When his tender lips met mine, my heart skipped a beat.”

He then softly said, ”Thank you, thank you very much.”

After a short silence, Jimmy asked, ”What was his name?”

“Um, Evan, or um Everet or maybe Alvin,” she said squinting her eyes trying to remember.

“Maybeeee Elvis?” asked Jimmy kind of discretely.

“Yeah Elvis, that’s what his name was! How did you know that?” she asked with surprise.

Jimmy glanced up at the stars and thought to himself, 'How is a second string fullback, gonna’ ever beat a kiss like that?' It was then, Suzie held his face in her hands and ran her fingers through his hair and Jimmy got his first kiss.

Jimmy is sure, that somewhere along the way, Suzie figured out her first kiss.

It’s been almost sixty years since they have had this conversation. The reason they have stayed together so long, is because Jimmy hasn’t given up trying to match Suzie’s first kiss.

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