Delightful Stories Part 2

I truly struggled with the title. While I want to continue these stories, that by the way hubby finds wildly amusing, and stick with the theme of delightful stories, the rest of the Paul story does not end delightfully.

However my memories of Paul are still delightful, so I will continue the theme.

I forgot to mention our 8th grade formal. Let me touch on that briefly before moving into the Paul years part two. He wore a suit and tie, I wore a flowery dress. He never left my side. He got me drinks and snacks all evening. Were we together on a "date" at the dance? Not that I knew of. Did his face get red and did he cut in when another guy friend asked me to dance? Yes. Did he refuse to dance with another girl on the last dance, "ladies" choice? Yes. Why? Because he wanted me to ask him. She just beat me to it. She grabbed his hand and walked him out there. He turned to look back at me. I walked over and asked him to dance. He said, "Of course. Who else?" He was so sweet and such a gentleman.

Of course I was obsessive. We were starting highschool in the fall. We had assigned days to pick our schedules. His, thankfully, was before mine. I called another friend and she found out his schedule, very shrewdly I might add. On the day I went to pick my classes I was signed up for all the same classes. Well, actually I was at camp, so my mom signed me up for the classes I'd already selected. Funny. He commented one time on the fact we were in almost all the same classes. I put on my innocent face and said, my mom signed me up for my schedule. Not a lie necessarily. Freshmen had to share lockers. We buddied up with people in our English class. Two of Paul's guy friends asked him to share a locker, he turned around, smiled at me and said, "Nah, I have my locker buddy," with a smile and a wink. My heart thudded right out of my chest. We spent days walking with each other to class. When he bought lunch he always got an extra order of "tots" to share. When I bought lunch I grabbed an extra oatmeal raisin cookie for him. We spent afternoons in the library after school doing homework together. That was actually my best year academically. Did I metion Paul made straight A's in middle school?

We had a long discussion one day about "us". We were best friends, but at 14 he did not want a "relationship". He was pretty mature looking back. He nudged me when he said it and smiled. I knew that I would wait for him to be ready. Ahhh, the dreams of youth. LOL.

My other guy friends, remember the geeky ones from back in middle school. The ones I still love. They all grew up over the summer. They all showed up with deeper voices and longer legs that first day back in highschool. They were not the "hottest" guys around, but in my book still the best catch. Sweet, smart and funny. One guy in particular, Jason, was the sweetest. He and Paul were good friends. He used to get so mad at Paul for not "liking" me. Later, Paul told me he thought Jason had his own crush on me. Sweet boy. See my self esteem was not the greatest. I loved being around these people who were not the most popular or the hottest, because I knew I could be myself and they would still care. Jason and I stayed friends all the way through highschool. He is the last person I expect to see at the reunion, but one of the ones I want to see the most. Another one, Neil will will also reapper later in the Delightful Stories series. He was always trying to make me laugh. It was funny because he was usually so serious. But he liked making me laugh. I would love to see him at our reunion.

My girlfriends through this time were..... well questionable. They were more boy crazy than me, if you can imagine that. They come more into play in the Sophomore year of highschool. Lets just say even being boy crazy I had values and standards. They really did not. I thank God that He watched over and protected me in those years.

Back to Paul. At the end of ninth grade he and I had a rift. I still dont know what it was about. He started backing away from our friendship. I was dejected and hurt. We made up a little bit, but never regained the closeness. I had my yearbook and was going to ask him to sign it one day. He snapped at me and I walked away shattered. I said I would not ask again. On the last day of school I left early. He called me that night to ask why I did not say good bye or let him sign my yearbook. I cried on the phone with him. I felt so dumb. I hate crying in front of people. We met for lunch at the mall not long after. He apologized for being a jerk for the last few weeks. I apologized for crying, and not saying goodby. I never did let him sign my yearbook.

In 10th grade he joined our crew team. He stuck with us for a few more months but eventually the life of crew took over. He was hanging out with new people and new friends. He and I still talked in the halls occasionally. We both ended up in summer school for Algebra 2 after 10th grade. He was...different. Not so gentlemanly anymore. Not rude or wild, just kind of a know it all teenager. Trying to fit in and be popular. Ya know? We had a good time in summer school, but it was more buddy-buddy. One time right before summer school was over he and I were sitting on a bench outside during break. We were sharing a soda laughing at something stupid. He shuffled his feet, gave me his lopsided grin and asked, "What happened to us?" I shrugged, handed him the soda and walked away. I remember that day so vividly.

We shared an AP European History class our Senior year. By then he was a complete stranger. He sat right beside me. I talked to the girl on the other side of me who I did not know from Adam more than I talked to him. He gave me a note one time during one of the teachers lectures. It said, "Hi, I miss you." I looked over to see his lopsided grin. I threw the note away that night after reading it 1000 times. We graduated and I never saw or heard from him again.

I know now what happened to us. God had a much bigger plan. He had a stable Christian guy out there for me to fall madly in love with. God knew what I needed much much more than I did. I needed Roy. I needed him to be strong. I needed him to say,"no" when he knew something was not right for me. I need Roy, so I could be safe and secure that nothing except death would ever seperate us. Unfortunatly as you'll see I had to go through a lot more "heartache" before I realized that.

What happened to Paul?

I heard on our highschool alumni message board about a year ago that he'd committed suicide a few years back. I have asked everyone I could think of for more details. They have none. I still get weepy when I think about him and the tragic end.

What would have happened to me if God had answered my foolish prayer of youth with a yes??? Would I be a widow? Would I have turned from God, because my husband had no faith in Him? Thank you God for sparing me that prayer. Please God be with the family he left behind.

Hey Paul, "Hi, I miss you too, friend."

Delightful Stories

Are you ready for more high school humor? I am.

Lets start with my first "true" love. His name was Paul. We met in 8th grade and he was taller than me. (Very important in 8th grade) He had thick brown hair and puppy dog brown eyes. He was just as goofy and awkward as any 13 year old boy.

Here is a secret: all my guy friends in junior high were awkward and geeky. I loved them dearly and if you stick with me you will see how my love and devotion to them in junior high paid off in high school. They were the nicest group of guys. We sat together at lunch. On one side was Jason, Paul, and my friend Amanda. On the other side was Chris, Me, and Neil. We had a great time. Almost everyday milk would spew out of some one's nose we laughed so hard.

Anyways, I had the BIGGEST crush on Paul. I think he knew. Well I know he knew after Valentine's Day. My friend Amanda spent the night with me the night before Valentine's Day. My mom took us to Eckard's to pick up some candy and cards for our friends. I picked up a small cute box of candy for Paul and a little stuffed bear. Very, Very, Very little. Amanda grabbed a GIANT GIANT GIANT SIZE OF TEXAS chocolate key that said and I quote, "You hold the keys to my heart!" Cute huh? My mom being the wonderful wise woman she was says, "Um, I don't think that's a good idea." Me being the newly crowned know it all teenager of the home said, "Whatever mom. You don't know. Of course its a good idea. All I need is a chocolate key the size of the UNITED STATES OF AMERICA to make Paul fall madly in love with me." Being the cruel person she is , my mom bought the darn thing. Can you believe that?

Well I flounce to school on Valentines Day just knowing that today I will taste sweet love. Amanda had homeroom downstairs with Paul and I had homeroom upstairs. The plan was laid. Amanda would bring Paul to the bottom of the stairs and I would hand him the chocolate key the size of North, South and Central America, and maybe a tiny bit of Europe. He would of course sweep me into his arms and declare that we must be boyfriend and girlfriend forever. So with chocolate key in sweaty palms and butterflies trying desperately to get out of my stomach, I walked rather unsteadily down the stairs. There my handsome prince awaited at the bottom of the stairs. Hand him the chocolate key that had somehow grown to be bigger than the Americas and all of Europe, smile sweetly and await his declarations of love. (LOL I have butterflies just typing this) As I looked into my beloved's eyes......I......I.....FREAKED OUT, threw the GIANT CHOCOLATE KEY at his head and ran blindly back up the stairs. Fortunately he caught the GIANT CHOCOLATE KEY, turned to Amanda who had so graciously fallen onto the floor laughing and said, "She just threw a chocolate key at me!"

I avoided him rather well for the next two class changes. Dreading lunch, which I knew would soon come. Of course first was science class. He sat across the room from me so I figured if I could get in there and get across the room I would be safe. The teacher being in what she referred to as her 200th month of pregnancy gave us some worksheets and let us have free time. I stuck like flypaper to my side of the room. I sat on the wall by the window. Could I have opened the widow and sat outside I would have. Could I have opened the window and sat outside across the street I would have. Believe me. My eyes were glued to the paper in front of me. I don't know what it said, I just knew I could. not. look. up. Then I harbored one small glance across the room to where Paul sat with a group of guys talking and carrying on. Of course he picked just that moment to pull out the GIANT CHOCOLATE KEY THE SIZE OF THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD and show it to "the guys". Then, I know not what he said but whatever it was caused every male head at that table, all 229 of them, to turn and look at me. Paul winked and smiled and I happily spent the rest of the class on the floor under the table pretending to read a book. When the bell rang I sat there for awhile waiting for the room to clear. When I walked out the door, Paul was waiting for me. We always walked from Science to lunch together. Today would be no different. I stared down at the floor. He steered me around obstacles. He kept up a steady stream of talking. Sweet boy. I think he knew how uncomfortable I was. At lunch he kept kicking me under the table. When I looked up he would smile and make a joke. He slid me his cookie. Winked at me and told me Happy Valentine's Day. I survived the "key" incident. Though at the time I was sure I would not. Paul and I stayed good friends through 8th grade. Maybe in some way we were "boyfriend" and "girlfriend". He would always walk me to class, share his notes with me, snitch the food off of my tray at lunch, kick me under the table and smile and wink when I looked up at him. One time when I did not know the answer in science class and everyone was looking at me, he blurted out the answer. We would walk down the hall together pretending to trip each other, but if he ever caused me to stumble he would reach out to steady me.

Tomorrow I will tell you about 9th grade with Paul and our locker sharing experience. And the many times he rescued me that year. I will also share with you the reason God took Paul out of my life. Why he did not answer my heartfelt prayer that we be together forever. God had someone else picked out for me. Someone perfect for me. Someone I love more than I ever "loved" Paul. Paul picked a different road for his life. One that I just found out about a few months ago. I still get a little teary eyed when I think about it.

I hope you enjoyed this. I hope you laughed a lot and awwwed a lot. I hope your heart grew a little warmer thinking about your first crush.

Be Blessed.

Im going to kiss my husband and thank him for choosing me. I cant imagine my life with anyone else.