Change of Plans

Pete always greeted me politely, but without enthusiasm. Between fourteen and eighteen years is an unbreachable chasm. He was my older brother’s good friend and was often at our place. I flirted with him, teased him and even got into his face. He treated me as kindly as my own big brothers did. I know now he must have thought of me as an annoying kid. As time went on and I grew older, I learned to act with more decorum. To no one did I divulge the fact that I was yearning for him. He invaded all my daydreams and disturbed my sleep at night. I knew that once he noticed me, his arms would feel so right. To me he was as handsome as any beloved movie hero And I vowed that when he came for me, I’d just get up and go. In time my brothers left home and their friends no longer called. I missed my brothers and their friends so much, sometimes I sat and bawled. I thought often of my lost love and of my romantic dreams, but young hearts will heal in time while sweet memory remains. Before too long my heart was mended by a boy with laughing eyes. When he put his arms around me they were just the perfect size. Meanwhile, my Pete had moved away to a very far off state. My brother heard from him sometimes and kept me up to date. He had a wife and family and his life was a success. Hearing how well he’d done without me, hurt a bit I will confess, until my brother told a secret that he hadn’t told before. It was something Pete once told him in those golden days of yore. Teasing him my brother asked why he'd had no girl and kissed her. Pete’s answer quite surprised him. “ I am waiting for your sister”. So though I wouldn’t change a thing in the life I have today, I must tell you since you asked me, “Pete’s the one who got away.