A dramatic, memorable and hopefully romantic Valentine's Day story...
Mine is about as romantic as the thin film of kitchen grease on your kettle that no amount of pine-o-clean can eradicate.
With my now 'adult' perspective it doesn't really feel THAT dramatic though when I reflect on it, the scene still always plays in slow motion so I guess that means deep down I'm holding onto the drama of it like a housewife holds on to a neighbourhood scandal.
So what is it that has had me dig my head in the sand every mid Feburary since?
Well, it all started at yr7 camp. I was ten, freckly, able to get away with tagging along to the popular group and occasionally stuffing my bra.
This camp was a week of nature walks, water slides, baked bean breakfasts and our much awaited "free time." It was at the start of the year as it gave the new kids a chance to become in with the old ones, and see who was cool or not.
It also fell on Valentine's Day.
Being a kid in New Zealand at this time, we didn't really pay too much attention to these American holidays, I mean, our teachers never made us make cards or anything, the best they would do is put a heart around the date on the whiteboard or something.
But, we girls knew what it was and giggled and chirped about who was asking who, who liked who and who was "going out" with who.
There were probably about 4 main boys who were hot property. The one I liked, I had actually liked since yr2. We also did gymnastics together and his brother was friends with my brother so I guessed it was meant to be.
Singsongs on the bus, games, late night talking and getting hyperactive had made me lose my voice. I was squeaky and husky in a "I've been at the footy" way rather than "I'm a modern age Marilyn Monroe" way.
It was the day before Valentine's Day, and I decided I'd ask him the next morning. I was planning my script/what I was going to wear to the wedding all day, starting to feel quite good about it all.
During that afternoon's free time, he was at the swings in the middle of the campground, and I was walking from one part to another, about 100m away.
I looked in his direction, and then saw, from the other side of the playground another girl, blonder, newer to school and also more popular than me was being pushed in his direction by her friend.
She was going to steal my Valentine!
So, with the hope of disney movies and the endless dance and drama classes as my education, I ran toward him. Across the campground, with my arms open, yelling his name. Except I was husky and it was like a squeak that prob didn't really make him turn around. So I squeaked "be myyyyyyyyy vaaaaaaalllleeeennnnttttiiinnnnneee" all the way torward him. When I finally got there, out of breath and full of desperation l, I begged him to be my valentine.
I don't remember my exact words, I just remember him turning away from me.
I said one more "please" and watched the other girl, my competition, not even talk to him at all but climb the jungle gym her friend pushed her torward.
A confusion that ended in humiliation.
Luckily, not many other people saw it.
Unluckily, I was imitated and realised my approached looked like a ferrel seagull squarking and hopping with open wings to a coveted chip.
Luckily, the boy who turned me down he is an erotic male dancer (and a good one at that) now so probably wasn't meant to be.
Unluckily, me saying that is going to make him identifiable to my school friends reading this.
So I had a Valentine's memory that I've struggled to forget..... I hope yours will be one you want to remember, whether you are going whole hog with surprises and flowers, or scrolling your newsfeed whilst watching The Block.
Jj
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