The Summer I Met Nina: Part 2

Walking in the bright moonlight back to the bunk house, thinking about Nina and how after days of our feeling attracted, we had crossed a precarious threshold. I wondered where this would lead, how would we act tomorrow, how would we hide from her parents, what would happen when her fiancé arrived tomorrow, was this more than a hot, clandestine relationship? How would I get through a day of waiting on tables after four hours of sleep? I had no idea and knew this would be an hour by hour experience of not knowing where all of this was heading.

The next morning I made it to the dining room, fifteen minutes later than usual, having trouble waking up and not responding to Gary shaking me or his words, “Where the hell were you last night?” I remember lifting my head then crashing back to the pillow. Everyone looked at me when I came in the back door of the kitchen when usually I’m one of the first to arrive, moving efficiently, getting my station ready, being the model waiter.

Let me tell you, restaurant kitchens are their own world and can be pretty intense and crazy. The Pocmont Lodge kitchen was a madhouse made up of people who had worked there for years and like many dysfunctional families there was a tense affection that fluctuated between joking and yelling. The chef, George, a tall black guy who wore a white sailor hat rather than a chef’s hat was captain of the ship and gave me a dirty scornful look, his assistant, Tony, a curly haired Italian glanced at me and smiled, knowingly. He knew about female guests and waiters. He didn’t say anything, but when he handed me my first order, smirking, “You got some last night didn’t you,” he said then laughed.

Julia, a tiny old Russian Jewish woman in her seventies, who had been the baker there for twenty years, liked me and always smiled and knew I liked her cinnamon rolls. She always buttered one and handed it to me, even though she wasn’t supposed to. That morning she said, “You look tired, are you sick, drink some tea.”

The dining room didn’t open until eight and once our stations were ready, we could sit at a table just off the kitchen and have coffee, scrambled eggs, bagels and talk about this or that. I always sat with Catherine and we often had stimulating conversations. She was a news junkie, I suppose because of her days in Washington, and she informed me of current events and what she thought. I enjoyed our many discussions and learned a lot from her. I was an English major in college with a minor in history and she knew I wanted to be a writer. We avoided talking about the previous night in the bar, acting as if it hadn’t happened. I know she was embarrassed and what was there to say. We let it pass.

I managed to get my act together and though tired, served my guests with my usual flair, but kept glancing at the empty table where Nina and her parents usually sat. The dining room served breakfast until nine thirty. Around nine her parents sat down but Nina’s seat was empty. Gary served them and I went about my business wondering where she was. Did she sleep in, was she avoiding me, what was happening?

I noticed her father reading the paper while her mother read a book. They ate and drank their coffee, but unless I missed it, they hardly spoke to each other. I glanced up at the clock and saw it was nine-twenty five when Nina came in, rushed to her table, greeting her parents then waved Gary over. I noticed her hair was still wet from a shower and she was wearing a short denim skirt and a t shirt. She glanced over at me while I served a table then looked at her parents. Our eyes met briefly, no smile or nod, no acknowledgement and I wasn’t certain what that meant.

Gary brought her a cup of coffee and a glass of orange juice. All of my guests had finished eating. I helped my bus boy, Jason clear the dishes then I changed the table cloths and began setting up for lunch. Nina’s father handed her a section of the newspaper and she read, sipping her coffee, hardly speaking, except at one point, I noticed her mother saying something to her and an angry look crossed Nina’s face. She said something back to her mother who looked startled and sat back, obviously upset. I wondered what that was about.

When her parents got up to leave, Nina remained seated, nodding goodbye to them and continued reading. I decided to go over to her now that her parents were gone and discreetly picked up their plates, pretending to be helping Gary, curious about what had happened. I glanced around to see if anyone was noticing and she looked at me then leaned forward and whispered, “Meet me in the barn at ten.” I nodded and she went back to reading the paper, taking a sip of coffee and I put the dishes on the bussing tray.

I was finishing setting up, glancing at the clock. The dining room was now empty except for the bus boys sweeping and the other waiters and waitress setting tables. Lunch went from noon until one-thirty but we had to be in the dining room by eleven-thirty then out on the ball field by two for the afternoon softball game.

The funky, dilapidated barn housed several old horses and was up the road past the bunk houses. Horse back riding was one of the activities provided but arrangements had to be made for Larry, the assistant manager, to get them saddled and help the guests. Few people rode horses so the barn was usually quiet and the old horses had a leisurely life of munching grass in the fenced in pasture and an occasional apple someone fed them.

When I entered the barn, it was dark except for the morning sunlight coming in from cracks in the roof and an open door in the hay loft. I looked around and didn’t see Nina then heard, “Up here.”

I saw a ladder in the middle of the barn that went up to the hay loft and climbed it, smelling the hay and then saw Nina at the other end sitting on a hay bale. When I reached her, she stood up and we wrapped our arms around each other, hugging and kissed. She lowered her hands to my ass and I did the same, loving how her ass felt in the short denim skirt. I pulled her against my already hard cock and felt her grinding into me, spreading her legs slightly. Our kissing grew harder then I pulled my lips from hers, both of us gasping.

“You were kind of cool at breakfast,” I said.

“I know. Mom said she heard something in my room and asked if I had company.”

“Uh-oh,” I said, nodding.

“I got annoyed and told her I didn’t have company but even if I did, it was none of her business.”

“So that’s why she looked so upset.”

“Right, I’m fucking sick of pretending to be their good little girl and being watched like a hawk. Dad has made me his little precious jewel. I’m an only child and he has my life planned: business major in college, minor in political science then law school and join his old firm. He’s a judge and wants me to follow in his footsteps.”

“And they're really into you marrying Fred,” I said.

“Yeah, he graduated from Princeton Law School and has been a clerk for Dad and it’s all mapped out. My dad’s world revolves around law, tennis and playing Bridge.”

“What about us?”

She looked at me, took my hand and shrugged her shoulders, “I don’t know. We hardly know each other but damn, I really loved how we were last night.”

“What are you going to do when Fred comes up today?”

“I don’t know. I don’t know anything. I feel like I’m trapped and it’s hard for me to hurt people, mom, dad, Fred.” She chuckled. “It’s not easy being me.”

“I understand,” I said, putting my arms around her, rubbing her back, feeling her anguish and pain. I just wanted to soothe her.

She sighed deeply into my chest. I felt her relax and she put her arms around me. We didn’t speak but just held each other for several minutes then I felt her slowly grinding into me again, moving her hand to my ass and squeezing. I did the same, lifting her short skirt, putting my hands on her warm soft ass, realizing she wasn’t wearing panties.

“You are daring,” I whispered rubbing her bare ass.

“I have to be otherwise the real Nina would smother to death. I told you I’m honest, but I have to always be two steps ahead of my parents to be alive and not the little paper doll they think I am.”

Pulling me harder against her, grasping my ass, both of us grinding, she looked into my eyes. “I’ve always wanted to fuck in a barn. That’s why the short skirt and no panties.”

Suddenly she grabbed my hand and pulled me over to several hay bales and pushed me so that I was sitting, leaning back against another pile of hay. She got down on her knees between my legs, unbuttoned my pants, pulled down the zipper and took out my hard cock then started licking, moving her tongue up and down the underside, then over the sensitive head which drives me insane then she went to town sucking me, moving her lips up and down, slurping, swallowing and growling as she devoured my cock. I held her head, wrapping my fingers around her long hair and started thrusting into her warm wet mouth. She then pulled her mouth away gasping and quickly climbed on me, straddling my body, grabbing my hard cock and came down hard, impaling herself, yelling, “Now I want to ride my stallion!” She leaned forward, her hands on my chest, coming down hard again and again while I lifted my ass thrusting into her.

“Come on take me for a ride,” I yelled, grabbing her hips, lifting her and pulling her down harder and harder.

“Oh yeah” she screamed. “You like fucking this cow girl!”

I looked at her sitting straight up, her hair flailing, her tits bouncing under her t shirt, her pussy gripping my cock as she galloped on me faster and harder, taking me deeper with each thrust, screaming incoherently. I felt her body tensing, trembling as she moved even faster and harder, “I’m there, oh fuck, oh my god fuck me fuck me ohhhhh yeah don’t stop, ohfuckkk, I’m cummmmming,” she screamed and suddenly exploded in a huge orgasm, shaking, her juicy wet pussy gripping and cumming all over my cock, her whole body in violent convulsions.

I bucked up and grabbed her hips and flipped her off of me to the hay covered floor, onto her back, spreading her legs, putting them on my shoulders and pounced, driving my cock deep and hard, fucking her savagely screaming, “Fuck me! Fuck me!”

“Come on give it to me,” she yelled. “Harder, Fuck me harder, damn it. Harder!”

Her screaming made me thrust as hard as I could. Feeling her pussy gripping me, sensing she was about to explode again, urging me to thrust harder, pounding her with all my strength, leaning over her, driving my cock in and out like a hot piston faster and faster, harder and harder, deeper and deeper until suddenly both of us erupted in huge wild ecstatic explosions, my cum gushing like hot lava from a volcano. Writhing just above her I then collapsed onto her panting body, feeling her strong legs wrapping around my back holding me deep in her, unable to budge.

Still wearing her skirt, now above her hips, the t shirt cushioning her from the rough hay, I lay on her gasping, panting, moaning desperately taking deep swallows of air. I had never fucked anyone harder in my life.

While laying on her, I heard the barn door squeak and someone enter. I looked into Nina’s eyes, both of us trying to hold our breath, listening to the footsteps below. “Anyone in here,” I heard a voice, wondering if it was Larry’s or someone just wanting to see the horses. I put my finger to my lips, indicating we had to be quiet and still.

“Anyone here,” the voice shouted again then I heard the squeak of the barn door closing and whoever it was walking away.

“That was close,” I whispered.

“That’s all I need is to be caught with you,” she said then sighed. “Fuck, I’m tired of sneaking and hiding who I am.”

I nodded, sensing Nina was on the verge of shaking up her life, “Do I dare disturb the universe,” I said, quoting a line from T. S. Eliot. “Have you ever heard that line?”

“I have. That’s from J. Alfred Prufrock,” she answered, then took a deep sigh, looking into my eyes. “I have a feeling my little world is going to get rocked and badly disturbed.”

“What do you mean?”

“I can’t marry Fred. The wedding is coming up in September. Invitations are about to go out. They’re already printed. The caterers have a down payment.”

I listened, looking into her eyes, nodding. She looked up at me then closed her eyes as if shutting out the horror of her thought. I shifted on the hay to lie next to her and took her hand, kissing it.

She sighed deeply. “I can’t go on like this. I have to stop pleasing other people and pretending.”

“What are you going to do? Is there anything I can do to help?”

“You already have.”

“What do you mean?”

“You woke me up. And though we just met, you made me realize what’s possible in a relationship. I can’t explain it. I just know I can’t marry Fred and follow the path laid out for me. I’ve got to do what I did with you.”

“What’s that? What did you do with me?” I asked fascinated but not sure what she was saying.

“I took the bull by the horns. I wanted you and I made it happen. I’ve never done anything like that before. I mean I did sneak out and do things my parents didn’t know about but never anything quite so brazen.”

“I’m glad you did because I wanted to meet you and get to know you. I was definitely attracted, but I’m not always able to take the bull by the horns like you did.”

“I know,” she said then looked at me and smiled. “But you certainly became a bull in bed last night and in this barn and that’s what woke me up. I felt your passion and that’s what I want in my life, passion. I think you’re amazing.”

“Thanks,” I said then suddenly realized I had to get back to the dining room. I wasn’t sure what time it was, but we had been in the barn for close to an hour and I didn’t want to be late for the lunch shift. I leaned down and kissed Nina. “I think you are pretty amazing too, but now I have to get back to the dining room.”

“I know and I have to get ready to play tennis with Dad,” she said. “But I think I’m about to disturb the universe.”

I got up, standing, buttoning and zipping my pants. Nina also sat up and smoothed her skirt, brushing away several pieces of hay and I picked some out of her hair. “I’ll leave first and you should wait a few minutes before leaving.”

I kissed her and then we embraced before I climbed back down the ladder and headed back to my bunk house before going to the kitchen. Gary and Jason were just getting ready to head over to the dining room. They looked at me.

“What’s going on? Where have you been?” Gary asked. “I was looking all over for you. I even went up to the barn.”

“I took a walk. I have things on my mind,” I said and went into the bathroom to take a leak and avoid any more scrutiny.

It was Friday and the dining room was crowded with new guests arriving for the weekend. I had a several new people to serve and greeted them, introduced myself telling them that I would be their waiter. I noticed Nina and her parents take their seat in Gary’s station and saw she was wearing her tennis outfit and had her hair in a pony tail.

We briefly glanced at each other but that was all.

Lunch went well until I had an embarrassing accident, me the model waiter had a big order to carry out to one of my tables. All of our dishes were covered by shiny metal tops to keep them warm and also allowed us to put platters on top of them. I had eight dishes on my tray and since we served vegetables family style, I had a bowl of stewed tomatoes balanced on top. The tray was heavy and as I carried it to the table, the whole dining room noticed. I walked slowly, gracefully, but when I turned to lower the tray onto my tray stand, the bowl of stewed tomatoes fell on to my head, dripping down my face and my red waiter’s jacket. The whole room gasped and I picked up the bowl from the floor, wiped myself off quickly with a towel I had on the stand, said, “Opps!” and continued serving, almost as if nothing happened.

I saw Nina’s eyes open wide and then laugh trying to stifle it with her hand. Our eyes met and I just shrugged my shoulders and walked back to the kitchen with my empty tray, changed my jacket and quickly brought the table another bowl of stewed tomatoes.

After lunch, I played softball as usual and later saw Nina going to the pool wearing her black bikini. The game was almost over, but I saw her swim a lap then get out and take her seat on one of the lounge chairs. She had a drink on the table next to her. When the game was over, I took off the jeans I played ball in, my bathing suit already on, went to the pool and just before diving in, I saw a tall balding man wearing slacks, a white short sleeved shirt and blue tie lean over Nina and kiss her. She put her arms around his shoulders and returned the kiss then held his hand as he sat down on her lounge chair.

Seeing that took my breath away. Fred was here for the weekend and I had no idea what would happen. I dived in and swam underwater and came up at the edge of the pool where they were seated. When I came up and brushed the wet hair out of my eyes, Nina looked over Fred’s shoulder at me and bit her lower lip.

Though I had no right to feel jealous, that’s what I felt. I wanted to be holding her hand. I wanted to kiss her. I wanted to be her one and only. Our eyes met as she listened to Fred and I didn’t know what to do as a barrage of emotions swept over me and I wondered if I was in love with her or crazy. I swam back to the other side, got out of the pool and looked back at Nina. She was smiling at Fred, nodding, listening to him then glanced over at me on the other side of the pool then back at Fred. Talk about feeling like a fish out of water. That was me standing in soaking wet anguish.

It was painful at dinner, serving my guests, being cordial, smiling, joking and trying to give that little extra. Every time I looked at Nina’s table, I noticed how her father and mother were so focused on Fred. Nina’s eyes met mine each time I passed her table but it was excruciating. I wondered if Nina would be able to “take the bull by horns” like she intended. What could she say? What could she do? I could feel the dilemma she was in.

When dinner was over and they left the dining room, I saw Fred take her hand and thought about them being in bed together, wondering if he had a separate room for the propriety or did her parents not care about that. I didn’t know but the thought of them sleeping together was unbearable.

I was tired after not having much sleep, a full day of serving and playing ball. I wondered where I would get the energy to work in the lounge that night. It was a busy Friday night with a lot of new guests hearing Jack Kramer and his band for the first time, drinking, dancing and letting loose on their summer vacations.

Around ten, Nina and Fred came into the lounge and took a small table opposite the bar. For better or for worse, it was in my station. Talk about challenges, I had to serve them and act nonchalant. I took their orders, a dirty Manhattan for Nina and a draft of Bass Ale for Fred. I noticed Fred reach for her hand after they ordered and she pulled it away and I overheard him ask, “What’s wrong?”

When I returned with their drinks, Nina thanked me, looking into my eyes and I could see they were having an intense conversation. I wondered whether she was breaking the news to him and thought she was probably smart to do it in a crowded lounge to avoid it getting out of hand, but I didn’t know for certain what was going on or where this would lead.

While serving other tables, I could not help but keep my eyes on them. Nina sipped her drink and I could tell by how animated Fred was in speaking to her that he was angry. He leaned forward while she leaned back then she leaned forward, looking at him and speaking while he shook his head obviously rejecting what she was saying. She then took her ring off, placed it on the table and shoved it towards him. He picked it up then took a big gulp of his ale, slammed the empty mug down on the table and left the lounge.

Nina turned and looked at me carrying a tray to a table. When I finished serving I came over to her. I leaned forward to pick up her empty glass and Fred’s mug, still trying to be discreet.

“I did it,” she said then let out a deep sigh.

“That must have been hard. I saw him leave pretty upset.”

“Now I have to tell my parents. Talk about disturbing the universe.”

“Right, that’s going to be really hard, I know.”

She nodded and sighed. “Listen, you can’t come to my room tonight. Fred will be there, but let’s meet down by the pool. It’s dark. No one will see us.”

I told her I would sign out in a half hour and meet her there at eleven.”

“Cool,” she said and quickly touched my hand.

I continued serving, my mind swirling with what was going on. What would happen when she got back to her room and had to confront Fred, what would happen when she told her parents, what would happen with me and Nina, if anything after she left on Sunday? Somehow I managed to serve my tables but I was on automatic, glancing up at the clock.

When I told Charlie I was signing out and started to leave, he asked what’s wrong, you usually hang out and have a drink. Catherine came over to me while picking up an order and just said, “Watch out.”

“What do you mean?” I asked, surprised that she said that.

“I see how you two look at each other in the dining room. You know I don’t miss much and I saw how that guy left in a huff. Something is going on with you two.”

“Not really,” I answered, wanting to avoid a conversation and get to the pool.

“Not really, huh,” she chuckled. “When people say not really, it’s always a lie, avoidance and denial. You can’t fool a woman who has been around the block like me.”

“I have to go,” I responded. “I’ll tell you about it later.”

“Okay, but watch out,” she said, reaching her hand to touch my chest. “I see a broken heart coming.”

Catherine’s words alarmed me, but I shoved them aside when I arrived at the pool. There were no lights by the pool but the moon was still full and I could see Nina laying on one of the cushioned lounge chairs at the far end. I sat down next to her and saw that she had tears in her eyes. I took her hand, rubbing it gently then she squeezed my hand. Neither of us spoke but just looked at each other. She wiped away a tear with her knuckle then smiled at me.

“I’m a wreck,” she said. “That was the hardest thing I’ve ever had to do and the worst is yet to come.”

“But you did it.”

“I don’t want to go back to the room. I might just sleep out here. I can’t face him.”

“I’ll stay with you. I can get a blanket.”

“I think I want to be alone.”

“If that’s what you want, I’ll get you a blanket and let you be alone.”

“I don’t know what I want. I don’t know anything.”

I leaned forward and put my arms around her, lifting her so we could hug and not talk or think. She wrapped her arms around me and we embraced tenderly. I moved my hands to her shoulders and held her head to my chest just wanting to comfort her when suddenly she surprised me and pulled me down on top of her. I felt her strength as she held me, spreading her legs and kissed me with such intensity, I didn’t know what was happening. It was as if a dam burst loose and her passion took over flooding her with a sudden need to release all that she was feeling.

I was immediately hard and our fierce kissing bordered on madness, our tongues swirling, our bodies grinding, her hands on my ass pulling me against her pussy, her legs wrapped around me.

“I want you! I need you!” she gasped.

I quickly got up on my knees between her legs and pulled down my pants while she frantically squirmed out of her panties. She grabbed my hard cock and moved the head up and down her pussy lips, taking charge, her desperate need for release more intense then anything I had ever experienced. She was wild. This was not making love. This was raw animal lust. Her tight grip on my cock, her hungry eyes locked on mine, her ass lifting to take my cock did not need words and I let go thrusting into her as hard as I could, driving her back, opening her tight pussy, her yelling, “Harder! Harder! Fuck me harder! Give it to me!”

I moved slightly forward so that my cock would rub her clit with each thrust. I don’t know where my energy came from, but I was pounding her faster, deeper, harder, feeling her body tensing as she lifted her ass and I drove her back. “Harder! Harder!” she yelled.

I then put my hands on her mouth to stifle her screaming which only made her fuck me with more fury. She bit my hand but I kept her mouth covered, my mouth just above hers, my eyes looking into her eyes when suddenly she tensed, trembled then convulsed in a huge orgasm, lifting her ass high, her back arched as she exploded, her screaming muffled by my hand then fell back against the cushion, continuing to shake and shutter, gripping my cock while I continued fucking her, my orgasm rising, my cock swelling with each thrust. She convulsed again and again in spasms as I kept thrusting, feeling every nerve in my body from my toes to my head overwhelm me with exquisite sensations as I erupted in huge gushes, filling her with my cum then writhing in ecstasy before collapsing on her, both of us panting. She wrapped her arms and legs around me holding my cock in her, neither of us wanting to move or shatter this moment.

Her sudden need to release pent up rage and break loose from the pressure to meet everyone’s expectations was like steam in a boiling tea pot.

“Thank you,” she gasped softly.

I lay on her panting body, feeling her tits crushed against my chest, the warm wetness between our bodies. We lay still on the lounge chair in the dark corner at the opposite end of the pool. The only light came from the full moon casting eerie shadows. After a few moments of being quiet, our minds slowly returning to the reality of the situation, I pulled out to lie next to her. I leaned on my elbow looking down at her, seeing her flushed face and disheveled hair. She closed her eyes then opened them and our eyes met.

Suddenly we heard a sound at the other of the pool. We were in the dark and no one could see us. “It’s Fred. He must be looking for me.”

We lay perfectly still hoping he would not come this way. We watched him looking in all directions. He walked from one side of the pool to the other and it looked like he was coming in our direction. We did not budge and held our breaths watching. The thought of him finding us in each others arms sent panic alarms and we stared, watching him. Nina grabbed and squeezed my hand. I glanced down and saw the fear in her eyes and then the sense of relief when he turned and walked back up the road to the main building.

“Whew, that was close,” she said, swallowing.

“Too close. I feel like I’m in a romantic movie except it’s not a comedy.”

“Who knows? Maybe one day we’ll look back and see how absurd and funny it is.”

“Funny?”

“Yeah, here I am the good little girl who sneaks off with a waiter and has a passionate fling, breaks off with her engagement and decides to let the real Nina out. It’s like that movie Dirty Dancing. Did you see it?”

“Is that what this is, a fling?”

“I don’t know what it is. I think you are amazing. I still have to tell my parents what’s happening.”

“I hope this is not just a fling, Nina.”

“Let’s play it by ear. Right now, I have a lot to sort out. I can’t keep on living like this. I told you I’m an honest person except so much of how I am living is a lie.”

I felt my chest constrict, sensing I was getting the brush off. “I can help you sort things out.”

“No you can’t. I need distance, perspective.”

“What about me? I want to get to know you, be with you. I don’t want this to be a fling, a summer romance.”

“I understand. I said let’s play it by ear. If this is meant to be it will be.”

“So you’re quite the philosopher, aren’t you?”

“I don’t know about that. All I know is I need to be alone. Don’t take this personally. This is not about you.”

I suddenly stood up and looked down at Nina. “I’ll go and get you a blanket. If you want to sleep out here and be alone, that’s fine. I understand. I’ll get you a blanket.”

“Thanks,” Nina said. She reached for my hand and squeezed it.

I ran up to the bunk house and grabbed a blanket from the closet and brought it back and covered her. I sat down on the lounge and leaned forward and we kissed deeply and tenderly then I whispered, “Okay, let’s just play it by ear. I’ll see you in the morning. Get some sleep.”

I went back to the bunk house and got into bed but had difficulty getting to sleep thinking about what was happening. I didn’t know if I was being used by Nina. Was I just a summer fling? Would she leave with her family and I’d never see her again? The words, “Let’s play it by ear; whatever will be will be; I need to be alone. It’s not about you.” All these thoughts kept me awake, staring at the ceiling.

The next morning, Nina’s parents and Fred were at breakfast. They looked agitated. Nina’s seat was empty. I wondered if she was still asleep by the pool and went to the big picture window and saw that the lounge chair was empty. The blanket was still there.

Larry, the assistant manager called me over to his table in the corner where he ate breakfast with the owner and his wife. He handed me an envelope. He looked at me as if he knew something I didn’t know but didn’t say anything.

It was a letter from Nina. I was anxious to read it but knew I had breakfast orders waiting to be served. I read the letter anyway. It was short.

“Dear Peter. I left early this morning on the bus to New York and from there I am going to San Francisco. Larry drove me to Stroudsberg and I asked him to give you this letter. I want you to know you are amazing and I doubt I will ever meet anyone like you—even after two days, I know that. I will be in touch but it is important that I be alone and faraway for now. Love, Nina. PS. You were not a fling.

I felt tears swelling as I read the letter then stuffed it in my back pocket. I glanced at Larry then went back to serving my tables.

That summer was twenty years ago. Nina and I have three children and she is now a successful painter and has had several shows. I have been teaching English at a Community College and have published two books of poetry. I still remember that night by the pool when she said, “One day we will look back and see how funny and absurd it was.” It took awhile for her parents to accept me and their disappointment that their plans for Nina didn’t work out. I learned that sometimes playing it by ear is the only way to live. I remember hearing a joke. “If you want to make God laugh, tell Him you have a plan.”