As we were walking in, I said I needed to find the baby food. He reached over, grabbed my boob and said it was right there. I swear, I think I turned 50 shades of red right then and there. I mean, this was where all the retirees hung out, including a friend's dad. What if they saw that? (I was a very modest girl, once upon a time.)
We quickly made our way through the store, grabbed the baby food (in jars) for the cat and headed back over to my house. I got the cat all settled in and Eric asked my mom and dad if I could have dinner at his house with him, his mom, and his brother. After getting the okay, off we went.
Eric set up the grill and started cooking potatoes. Since we had plenty of time to kill, and since his family wasn't home yet, we went out to the front yard where he proceeded to tinker with the Bug. I was quite used to this routine. I'd been hanging around for so long that we had developed this sort of pattern and were comfortable with it. He gave me a beach chair and I sat down, jamming to the music, occasionally handing him tools. After all, that was my job. One of his cats walked into the garage. This was one I'd heard about but never seen. I called the cat over. Eric said not to even bother, "that cat doesn't like anybody." The cat, having heard me, turned around, walked right on over to me, and crawled up into my lap.
Eric walked over to me and crouched down next to the chair. He pet the cat, looked into my eyes, and stared at me for a long time.
"I can't believe he did that," he said. "He's never liked anyone. Wow!"
At that moment, Eric's ex-girlfriend drove up. In her cute little convertible VW. She honked as she pulled into the driveway, breaking the spell of the moment between Eric and myself.
Eric walked over and talked to her for a minute or so. She condescendingly said hello to me (we'd met brieflybefore). I was dismissed as a silly little girl by her long ago, but I think her seeing Eric and I gazing intently at each other, well, I think it made her snap. She began to yell at Eric and she said some nasty things to me. I picked up the cat and walked into the house, telling Eric that I was going to check the food on the grill. I fought back tears the entire time.
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