Wednesday, September 29, 2010

Summer Of Sam


Rod Stewart’s Maggie May spilled out of the transistor radio dangling from my Montgomery Ward’s Stingray. Samantha Honeycutt straddled its banana seat backwards smoking the filtered half of one of my dad’s Winstons while I smoked the other half spitting little bits of tobacco into the water.  We were at cane pole pond and Sam was telling me how “immature” boys her age were (I was her age). “Maturity” was all of a sudden a major issue with all of the girls in the neighborhood and at school I’d noticed. Samantha informed me that she no longer had time to hang out with “immature” boys and now only liked older, “mature” boys. At least teenagers! she emphasized.  Samantha was wearing one of those braless shirts that were popular in the 70s; basically a pillow case with holes for the arms and a draw string around the neck. It was an orange one I’d seen her wear plenty of times climbing trees or fishing for bream. There was something different about it on that day. When she twirled around on the seat of my bike and grabbed the high rise handlebars, I knew just what it was. I was still only 12 ½ , my birthday wasn’t until December, but I turned thirteen that summer.
From the Thinking 10 prompt: I turned thirteen that summer.

8 comments:

John Wiswell said...

I need to see one of these bras. Not for recreation, just tourism. You look young for 12 1/2, Harry!

Steve Green said...

Ah, Maggie May, One of my all time favourites.

Descriptive, and nicely written short.

Cathy Olliffe-Webster said...

One of my favourite songs of all time, too. And oh, the retro sexiness of the banana seat. Great story, Harry. Now, don't you be pilfering your old man's smokes, y'hear?

Pamila Payne said...

Tender and funny and very true to that stage and time. I remember that awkward transition from kids to something inbetween. You captured that perfectly.

Madam Z said...

Pamila nailed it. That "awkward transition" when our bodies were maturing so much faster than our brains. If Samantha had been more mature, she'd have realized she would be safer hanging out with "immature" boys.

Thanks for giving this "mature" reader an insight to the "immature" boy's feelings.

Harry said...

Thanks alot everyone!

Laurita said...

Whatever happened to the banana seat? This was a nice little peek into that awkward stage.

A. S. Boudreau said...

I have a son this age and another that just turned 14.. gives me a bit of insight.. a peek at least. :)