Back Down Memory Lane,  Part II,

Hot Fun in the Summertime

Dennis, Dennis, Dennis.  Dennis Jordan was every girl’s dream. 

Tall, lean, dark and SO FINE…He was also my best friend, Vickie’s, brother.  On her “real” father’s side.  Vickie had just met that side of the family this particular summer and she hadn’t made up her mind about them yet.  But she did warn me constantly that Dennis was a Playa’s Player

(Play On!). 

But alas, when you’re on a short family vacation and  looking for hot fun during a sweltering St. Louis summer?  When you’re Sweet Sixteen and the neighborhood smooth talker is giving you the bum rush? 

How can a girl resist?

Well, I tell you, it can make a shy, studious nerd, forget all about her proper home-training and do a 360 turn-around as she gathers her girls (sisters, cousins and friends) to do the “chase”.  

The “chase” is a delicate dance: 

He takes one-step; calls her.

She takes the next step; invites him over to meet her family;

She and the girls do a whirlwind housecleaning miracle.

He stops by.

They sit on the front stoop.

Daddy stops by for a quick minute.  Auntie and Uncle stop by.

They all meet HIM.

He smiles and greets everyone, talks about his life plans. 

They grill him about his family history one last time.  Any Criminals?

Anybody prone to “fits” or unjustified acts of aggression? (Wife beaters)

Surprisingly, everything goes well. 

Oops, Baby Sister just told Dennis that he smells funny. 

(Aghhh!  Hai Karate time!)

And then the “chase” was on!

(Did I mention my Grandmother always sat upstairs at the front window, monitoring our visits? Whew!)

Dennis invited me to go to the skating rink for the next night.

I hesitated.  I was the oldest and also the appointed leader of my 9 younger (visiting) cousins, my 2 sisters and a brother. 

Problem:  how was I supposed to get all 13 of us to the rink?

Dennis offered to borrow his uncle’s station wagon to get us there. 

He even managed a ride to and from the White Castle restaurant for all of us.

I fell into Deep Crush.  (The final step just before the “l” (love) word.)  Dennis had just passed The Test.  (Thank God for Jesus!)  Every potential boyfriend/girlfriend had to pass The Test sooner or later.  Our Mamas didn’t raise no fools.