Our First Date On The Square

“Mom, where did you and Dad go?” Stephanie’s demanding tone called for my attention.  

     I turned around to look into our oldest daughter’s big dark brown eyes, for her

question did not make any sense.

     “Go?” I asked scrunching my eyebrows.

     “Would you describe your first date with dad?” she prodded.  “Did you know dad

would be the one you would marry?”

     “Oh, I see,” I smiled.

     “Yes, Mom, pleeaasssse, tell us!” chimed in our younger two children, Christopher

and Hannah, emphatically.

     At that moment my eyes wandered from Stephanie to Christopher to Hannah and to

Steve.  When I cast my eyes on Steve, our eyes locked together in a sweet and precious

memory we will share forever and ever.

     I sat down at the table with my family and began telling the story….

     Standing in front of the mirror of my room, I breathed in deeply in an attempt to calm

my swiftly beating heart.  I could feel it pounding in my ears.  “This is ridiculous!” I

scolded myself.  I softly walked to my desk in my room and sat down.  I opened a book

and began reading.  This would distract my racing thoughts and calm me.  I read a full

page and I didn’t even know what I read.  Shaking my head from side to side, I closed the

book.

     At the moment I heard the rumble of a car motor and the crinkle of gravel as tires

rolled. As I peered out of my upstairs window, a burgundy 1976 Pontiac Grand Prix

slowly drove past and stopped by the front gate.  Polly, our English shepherd barked as if

to say, “You do not belong here.  Who do you think you are?” 

     Steve opened the heavy and huge door of the car and stepped out.  Polly kept barking

and Steve, ignoring the dog, slowly walked to the front door.  I heard my mother open the

squeaky front door.  I heard her say, “Hi Steve!  Come on in and sit down.  Teresa will be

down in a minute.” 

     I took a deep breath and pretended not to be anxious by bouncing down the stairs.  I

stepped into the living room where Steve was sitting on the couch and my mom sitting on

the recliner.  “Hi!” I said smiling and pretending not to feel awkward I sat down in our

rocker.  We talked for a short time.  My mom joked that we were going out on her

birthday, July 7, 1979.

     Steve said, “Are you ready?  We better hit the road if we are going to make the 7

o’clock showing.” 

     We were traveling to Springfield to the Fox Theatre on the square to see “The Apple

Dumpling Gang Rides Again” staring Don Knotts.  He was always one of my favorite

actors. 

     I stepped out the front door with Steve behind me.  He followed me to the passenger

side of his car and opened the door for me.  After I sat down inside the white interior of

the Grand Prix he gently slammed the door and quickly walked to the driver’s side of the

door.  He started the car and backed up to turn the car around and then we traveled the

long gravel driveway to the blacktop highway.  We turned south on C traveled to D

highway into Bolivar and onto highway 13 to Springfield.

     Since the summer evening was hot and humid, Steve cranked the air conditioner to

full throttle blasting us with cool air.  As we drove along in silence I observed how

bright, green, and beautiful the vegetation was with the setting sun casting streams of

golden light.

     “How was your day?” Steve asked. 

    

     I began sharing about my activities and asked Steve about his day.  We talked all the

way.  We talked about college, church, work, and goals setting.  At the time I was

biology/chemistry/general science teacher at Nixa RII School District.  Steve had

completed an Bachelor of Arts’s degree in history and was currently working at Wood’s

Supermarket in Buffalo, Missouri. 

     As Steve drove around the square in Springfield, I looked around.  The square had

always intrigued me such as people out walking, the middle park, and the tall Heers

building.  We parked the car on Water Street parking lot,.  We both got out of the car and

walked up Booneville Street to the Fox Theatre on the northeast corner of the square. 

There was a fairly long ticket line, but it was moving fairly fast.  Steve handed the clerk a

twenty dollar bill picked up the change and the two tickets.  As we walked into the

theatre, I admired the large polished stone pillars and red cloth seats.  It was the most

beautiful movie theatre I had ever been in.  We found an empty row of seats 1/3 of the

way from the movie screen.  It wasn’t long until others joined in sitting beside us.  It was

a packed house.

     We watched previews and finally the movie started.  Don Knotts and Tim Conway

were as hilarious as ever.  Steve and I both laughed and laughed.  About half way through

the movie Steve placed his arm around me.  Thirty minutes later I wondered if his arm

was going to grow tired.  Sure enough he began moving his arm back on forth.  I knew

circulation was slowing and causing a pin prickling and tingling sensation the one gets

when their arm feels like it is going to sleep.  I smiled and I laughed a little on the inside. 

Steve never moved his arm.  The movie was over all too soon.

     We waited for some of the people to clear out before we left the theatre.  When there

was a loll we stood up and walked out.  As we stepped out onto the street Steve put his

arm around me again.  He opened the car door for me again.  He walked around and got

into the car.  I put my seatbelt on and waited for Steve to start the car.  Steve put the keys

into the ignition and turned the keys to start the motor.  Just as fast as he turned the keys

to start the car, he turned the keys back to stop the car.  I thought, “What?”  Steve turned

toward me and began leaning toward me.  “Uh-oh!  He is going to kiss me!  What am I

going to do?”  I was a little anxious and wasn’t sure I wanted a kiss yet, but it was

too late.  When Steve’s lips met mine, I felt the softness of rose petals brush my heart.  I

was lost in the tenderness of the moment.   

     After all the sweet kisses Steve said, “You are beautiful!  Do you know that?”  I

just looked into his eyes.  I didn’t know how to respond. 

     “Mom, did Dad really kiss you on the first date?  I didn’t think you should kiss until

you get married!” asked Stephanie in shock! 

     Christopher and Hannah giggled, as I nodded my head yes, smiling. 

     “What is wrong with that?” I teased. 

     “Oh, nothing!” Stephanie teased back. 

     “Eeee!” laughed the two younger siblings. 

     “What happened next?” asked Christopher.

     Your dad turned and started the car.  We drove back to Goodson.  I was quiet as

darkness began to fall.  I was pondering.  A flood of thoughts ran through my mind.  I

had never felt this way about someone before.  It was a little overwhelming.  Somehow I

knew in my heart that Steve would be the one I would spend the rest of my life with. 

How can I possibly know this now for I hardly knew Steve?  I am not ready to get

married now!  Nevertheless, I knew.  

     All the while I was quietly pondering, Steve was thinking. “Uh-oh, I have frustrated

Teresa and she probably will not go on another date with me!”  About half way back to

my home, we picked up our conversation again.

     “Did you go out with dad again?” anxiously asked Hannah.

     “Hannah Banana!  Yes, Mom did!” giggled Christopher.

     “Oh, such a sweet story!” sighed Stephanie.

     “There is a lesson here for the three of you!” I informed.

     “Really? What?” asked Christopher.

     “Yes, there is.  Choosing who you marry and spend the rest of your life with is a

major decision.  A dear friend, in fact, she was like a grandmother to me,

shared a wise piece of information with me.  I treasured this wisdom.  Pray

and seek God’s will for the special person God has prepared for you to marry.  Trust God

with your life.  You see, riding home after the movie on our first date I recalled this

wisdom.  I decided to allow our relationship to stand the test of time.  I would get to

know Steve better and seek wisdom from God.”