Chapter 83: Regina Spring

“Can’t explain, something that you’re feeling
For the very first time.”
– Chicago

May 1993 was the end of the college year, and both me and Corinne knew the last day was fast approaching.  Still, I was able to masterfully pull off a pretty cool date.

Regina is an interesting city.  I suppose I have decent memories of the place since I had my first dates with Corinne there.  The art sector is nice, as we both loitered around the museum a week prior with our group of friends.

For this day, I opted to take her for a whirlwind tour of the Space-Science Center.  Complete with me making a full-picnic.  I was able to pull off BLT sandwiches and a black forest cake.  The weather even co-operated!  Just goes to show, a little planning goes a long way.

We were like kids.  Heck, we were kids.  Running from place to place with excitement in our eyes.  I never knew anyone could be so beautiful and it pained me to know the day was coming where I wouldn’t be able to share a plate of fries or laugh about our day.  I just wanted to bottle this moment together and save it.

“What happens to us after this?” she asked me as I made her lunch.

“You probably wouldn’t marry me yet,” I laugh.

“Give it time.  I want to see how well you can cook first.”  She had a point.  Corinne was barely eighteen, but still had the common sense to take things slow.

“Corinne, I don’t want to just say goodbye.  But I need to know what you’re thinking.”

There was a quiet moment.  She always thought before she spoke.  “I want to stay together.  I don’t have a problem waiting until we see each other again.  But I worry you might decide not to.”

I took her hand.  “No.  You don’t have to worry.  If you promise to wait.  Then so will I.”

Her eyes started to tear up and so were mine.

“Did I ever tell you when I first noticed you?”

“I figured it was the cafeteria,” she smiled back.

“Close second.  It was the first day of college.  You and Carl were standing at the back and I thought he was your boyfriend.”

She laughed at the idea.  “Not my type!”

“I wondered who that pretty girl was.  And then I found out.  One thing I know, if there’s a chance we can make this work, I want to take it.”

Our hands came together. “Ok,” she said.  “Then we will.”

“Now, no more sad talk.  I made a feast fit for a Queen!”  For the remainer of the day we walked, enjoyed an IMAX movie, and just were general young pests.

We held hands walking back to the dorm and get to the same fork in the road where we go our separate ways.  I stand there smiling as she turns the corner.  Without question, she had taken hold of my heart.  Then I pause.  In that moment, I suddenly become increasingly self-aware.

I look down, and I am sorting an impressive case of wood.  The kind that could hammer railroad spikes.

I swear on my grandmothers grave, that had never happened with anyone before.  Not even Celeste in the miniskirt…never.

I think to myself, “Well, I guess that’s a good sign?”

It took a few minutes walk it off and to return to my dorm.  Unfortunately, there was only one way to get to my room, and that was past the dorm RA.  Not five footsteps in and he jumps out of his room to greet me.

“John!  How did your date go?”

“Ah, hi!  Good.  Great, thanks!”

He seems oddly cheerful.  “So, any plans for tomorrow?”

I wasn’t liking the sound of this.  “Well, I…”

And then I got another one.  The paper.  The slip.  The ticket.

“Got her home late again, John.”  For some reason I imagine him lighting a cigar and walking away cackling.  Looks like I once again I got busted for getting Corinne back late.  Another three hour penalty to be paid by moving mattresses.  Although to the credit of my sympathetic jailer, I got my fine reduced to two.

Perhaps it was time to get a watch.

NEXT – Chapter 84: The Tearing