As time went on, Eric and I became good friends. Somewhere along the way, we started spending more time together. There were many days spent sitting on the gray brick retaining wall around his yard, talking. He showed me his foot with the missing big toe. It was missing because his dad had run over his foot with the lawnmower when he was younger. That was the first time he'd talked about his dad other than to tell me that his father had died. He got quiet after that for a bit and I wanted to reach out, hold him. But, as a girl too young, I lacked the finesse to do that without seeming shaky and completely inept. Instead, I sort of set my hand down between us on that wall and said I was sorry. When he reached over and placed his hand on top of mine, and thanked me for listening, I felt the greatest shock run through me. It was unlike anything I'd ever felt before.
It would still be a year before he and I even kissed. That didn't matter. I had to find my way in the big world of high school and in being more confident as a "young adult." Yeah. That's what I remember teachers were calling us kids. Young adults. Meaning, we were teenagers trying out the new responsibilities inherent with edging toward being grown ups.
Days went by. Most of them included a glimpse of Eric, or a wave from him. He knew where I lived at this point because, as it turned out, his best friend lived right around the corner from me. His best friend turned out to be the big brother of a guy I would hang around with occasionally.
One day, my mom was out front with me, working in the yard. Eric drove past, honked, and slowed down. My mom asked if I knew the guy. I told her yes. Eric stopped and said hello, introduced himself to my mom. We told my mom that he was Karyn's neighbor and that we'd run into each other frequently the last year or so. She took this all in stride and just accepted that there was some guy stopping by to say hello to her daughter. It's not like this was the first guy I knew who could drive. He was just the first polite enough to stop and introduce himself. That, as they say, was that. Eric soon became a fixture at our house. I wasn't complaining at all.
It was probably about two weeks later that I was walking down to the grocery store to get some baby food for my cat. He was sick and the vet had recommended baby food to help him get some medicine down. I had the time. I was young. I never minded walking the two miles or so to the store. No big. I got part way down the first street, Eric was coming up and around the corner. He saw me, stopped, heard what I was doing, and said to hop in. We drove up to Vons.
Article comments
1 - -E
Joanie you truly are a treasure to the written word. Thanks for sharing this with the world. I've been raped myself and it never fails to make me teary eyed to hear that someone else has had to deal with it. It happens in all different shapes and sizes and colors and patterns that there is no telling who will say they, too, have survived it. I am glad you had someone you could trust that was so supportive for you in that time.
And I'm slightly jealous. I'm going to be 24 next month and never loved anyone, let alone told them.
2 - Christopher Rose
Fabulous work, Joan.
Thank you.
3 - chantal stone
Joan...what a beautiful story! my heart raced and i had tears in my eyes, reading your heartfelt and honest words. don't leave us hanging....we'll be waiting to hear what happened when Eric came back.
4 - Connie Phillips
Joan,
Thank you for sharing both the horrific and the wonderful. I too hope you decide to share the more about Eric with us.
5 - El Bicho
Very powerful and moving.
6 - sujatha
Lovely, heart wrenching story. Beautiful writing. Yay! for Eric. Hugs.
7 - Scott Butki
Joanie, big hug. This must have been hard to write about but I thank you for sharing it.
Eric sounds like such a good catch. I hope you write about what happens next with him.
8 - Scott Butki
Are you going to write an update or sequel?
I'd love to read it.
9 - Joanie
Scott, I don't know if I'm going to follow up on this one. The rest of it isn't nearly as heartwarming and easy to read.
10 - Scott Butki
Nothing wrong with some negativity.
11 - Will
That was lovely...
12 - poignantisle
After a long time i reaaly felt filled , with your words .. Please write the rest -- Shankar.
13 - rhonz
your story is so interesting, it really cathes my attention and im really touched by it...hope you'll both live happily with each other...
14 - LuLuLzZ
i lulz'd my way through this, best part was when he said he needed more than sex to keep his attention.. LULZZZ my ass dude, i bet he found out he was gay and went to bang his "best friend" in lake tahoa or whatever u said. a dude as emotional as you has to either be gay or on their way... bottom line: SUXXX FOR UUUUU