He’s exaggerating, trying to make points, like we used to say when I was sixteen. Now I’m 18 and a half, know I am pretty, but not, as he says, the prettiest young lady in all of Baltimore. Maybe I’m about 100 in the line up, but certainly not tops.
Adam is a hunk, a real hunk, and when I tell him how good looking he is, how strong his abs are, he totally believes me. And he should. Four days a week he is with his personal trainer at the gym. He shaves his face smooth twice a day and gets his hair trimmed every Saturday morning. IF he has a skin blemish, it’s in a private place and I haven’t seen it, have no desire to do so.
I’m starting U. Of MD in late August and am running over with excitement. The university is huge, spread on lovely acreage. The choices of curriculum are astounding and a great advantage is, it is only a few miles from my ancestral home in Towson. That is the only home I’ve ever known. Mom and Pop couldn’t be more pleased with my choice.
Adam is happy, too. I explained to my parents that Adam is a Junior at Whartons, U. Of PA which is only one hundred miles from Tortoiseville and Adam can cover that with his eyes shut and one hand on the wheel. Mom turns red, then green and looks like a traffic light. I’m forced to explain, ‘Mom, I was only kidding. I was just trying to make you realize how close we will be to you.’
Thursday Mom and I shop, she more frugally than I hope. Her grimaces at price tags put the skids on me. Yet price is no object for sheets with high linen count, extra large soft terry towels. She wants my dorm to be clean, pretty and special. ‘Mom, stop, will you? I don’t even know how many will be in my dorm, what colors they like, whether we will have pots, pans, dishes. Let me concentrate today on new fall clothes. OK?’ ‘Maybe you’re right, Marcia. Let’s go to Macy’s, get you a few casual outfits, new p.j.’s, and a robe. Your old ratty chenille one will be in your closet when you are home. The day disappears much too fast as do Mom’s checks. I hug her almost to death. ‘My god, Mom, it’s almost dark already and Adam is taking me to dinner at seven. Let’s get a move on.’ I drive maybe a little too fast. Mom grips the door handle. I slow down a little. Dad is waiting for us and helps us carry in the loot. ‘Thanks, Dad, I’ll model all my goodies for you tomorrow. Has Adam called?’
I don’t wait long enough for the warm water to reach the shower. The chill brings out goose bumps but goes away in a few minutes and I sigh to myself. What I want to do is plop down on my eider quilt and sleep thru the night or dress with an oldie that Adam has never seen, think it over and decide to out-do myself for his last night here, cut off the price tags on my new deep blue cashmere sweater and bone swirl skirt. I add my silver earrings with the blue lapis stones. He’s going to take a deep breath and whisper in my ear how beautiful I look.
Dinner is in a cozy corner of La Boheme. Adam orders a rich Bordeaux wine and lets me taste it. The first sip is nice. I have a second sip and that is all Adam will let me have. He drinks the rest from my glass and finishes the bottle before our coffee. I talk almost non-stop thru dinner, almost talk him deaf. My excitement bubbles over. Adam tells me what to expect at college, how to deal with roommates and stops long enough to tell me again I am the prettiest young lady in Baltimore.
We skip dessert. As we near my house he makes a right turn and heads toward the park. ‘Where are we going, Adam? I’m exhausted and ready for bed.’ He laughs and keeps driving.’I’m not letting you go home yet, Marcia. You know this is our last night together before we start school. There are important issues we have to clear up.’ I begin to get nervous. ‘We can talk in my house. I don’t like the park. This place is dangerous even in the daytime.’ I check the doors. They are locked. ‘OK, I’ll stop here,’ he says and pulls over to where one lamp is lit on each side of the road. He takes my hand, leans over and kisses me softly, sweetly. I like it. He kisses me again and again, getting stronger each time. Fear starts to crawl up my legs as does Adam’s hand. ‘Stop, stop it now, Adam!’ And he mumbles, ‘I can’t. Relax, Marcia. Relax.’ I push, push him hard and he bangs into the steering wheel. The horn begins to blow. I have seen more than I want to see. In the lamplight a big birthmark on his backside is more than I bargained for.
I unlock my door and step out onto the road.
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