First Hollywood Kiss

My name is Buzz. Friends often call me “the S.O.B.”, referring to the “Sweet Old Buzzard”.

There used to be May Day celebrations in elementary schools and even high schools on May 1st. Are there still? May 1st brings a fond memory.

First Hollywood Kiss

May 1st of 1958, the May Festival at William R. Harrison Elementary in Montgomery, Alabama. Eight girl-boy pairs are standing in a circle around the tall May pole (the school’s flag pole painted pink for the occasion). In one hand, each held the end of a long, pastel colored ribbon attached to the top of the May pole. There were yellow and white and pink and light blue and lavender and light green ribbons. In the other hand, each held the hand of the other….quite an assignment for a 12 year old boy who had hated girls until sometime the previous September….when school started, I guess. That’s when I met Patsy Werner. Gosh, I thought she was “it” at first sight.

Patsy Werner was a little taller than me….many were and are still. She had a long, flowing ponytail and always seemed happy. I liked happy. I was rather a happy child, in terms of mood and outlook; so maybe that was the attraction. I still have trouble with ‘gloom & doomers’. She smiled a lot. Her best friend was Betsy Emmons. Betsy liked my best friend, Jan Keown. He was a taller, good looking kid…especially among other gawky 12 year old boys. He wasn’t shy in the least. Girls had made it clear to Jan, even at age 12, that he had power over them. It had been his idea to give Betsy and Patsy valentines just 3 months earlier. The one I gave Patsy was quite elaborate in appearance – almost gaudy, but the sentiment sounded right as I stood in the Ben Franklin store looking at it and reading the verse. It was expensive too. It had a large, padded crimson heart inside, surrounded by flowers and lace…..and it was scented. If I saw it today, I’m sure I would pass it up; but that day it was beautiful….and perfect. Later, she said “Just loved your valentine.”; Most assuredly, she had received others. I was pleased. I had spoken to her at the Saturday matinee at the Ritz theater, 3 or 4 times since. She was always very nice and talkative...seemed glad to see me. Once she suggested that we all sit together, but we couldn’t find four seats together. Jan and I were glad she didn’t suggest boy-girl pairs.

Anyway, now we’re standing in pairs with ribbons in hand, preparing to dance around the pole while exchanging ribbon ends on every 4th step. This intertwines the coordinated pastel ribbons into a braid of sorts as we dance around the pole. This is not a manly assignment. Guys are looking at each other with that ‘why me?’ look, none feeling any sorrow for the others….only for himself. Suddenly and without warning, Patsy leaned over and kissed me on the cheek. People saw her do it! A lot of people saw her do it! I had no idea how to respond and I could hear a couple of other girls talking about it already. Even Mrs. Parker had seen it. It was most uncomfortable and I felt I should do something. I should do something right now! Just then, as if she understood my torment, she turned and smiled and squeezed my hand. Everything was going to be okay. It was not necessary that I do anything. A great deal of eye-to-eye communication was going on during those moments. She smiled a knowing smile. Since I was not the only guy that thought she was mighty cute, I suddenly felt very good about what just happened. The music started. In just moments, we were to start our dance. Again, she smiled and squeezed my hand; but she could not have known how she inspired me when I suddenly leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. She turned and looked at me with soft eyes, but she was beaming. The circle was ‘abuzz’ (very punny, huh?) with talk of our obviously romantic exchange.

That very evening, Carolyn Davis was having a ‘patio party’ to celebrate her 12th birthday. Several boys and girls, probably 10 or 12 total - you know…the “in crowd” (:-) - showed up for the party, including Betsy and Patsy, Jan and myself. Patsy immediately wanted to dance. I explained that I would try, but was not a good dancer. Actually, I had had a number of lessons; but I was shy about it anyway. Most guys were, but smart guys were not. The first 45 rpm of the night was put on the record player. As its introductory chords began to waft across the patio, Patsy stood close to me, put my arm around her waist, then took my other hand in hers. “Just stand here and move slowly.” Just as I thought to myself, “She understands”, I heard the words on the record say, “…They say for every boy and girl, there’s just one love in this whole world….” (Young Love by Sonny James) and I felt Patsy get closer... and warmer. She smiled a small smile and said, “See? Isn’t this easy?” Yes, it was. This was my first romantic dance.

The next song – I think Patsy told Carolyn to play it – was ‘Dream’ by the Everly Brothers. Another slow dance…but now, instead of holding one of my hands, she has put both my arms around her body and has put both of her arms around my neck and is putting her face sooo close to mine. We looked like the teenagers on American Bandstand. We were suddenly “an item”. A couple of girls started saying that we were …..girl friend and boy friend....just teasing; but as the song ended, Patsy softly, but very intently, looked deep into my eyes and asked, “Is that right? Are you my boyfriend?” Others were watching how we danced and before I could answer, Betsy grabbed Jan and said, “Let’s play Post Office”. No doubt she was trying to take advantage of the mood early in the evening, seeing who else would “pair up”. The kids all started to gather around for the kissing game. Patsy took me by the hand and said with gentle authority, “Let’s go for a walk. That’s a child’s game.”

It was a sultry, but beautiful night. The air was laced with the fragrance of crepe myrtles. We strolled through the grass toward the corner of the house. She was leading me by the hand and talking about the stars and the moon. There was a huge, full-bodied crepe myrtle at the corner of the house…in late spring bloom. It was beautiful and smelled so good. As we rounded the crepe myrtle and were out of sight of the others, Patsy suddenly stopped. She turned and asked point blank: “Buzz, are you my boyfriend? Do you like me a lot?" There was no denying that I did. She didn’t wait for my answer. She knew. I never had to answer that question. Again, as if we were going to dance, she put my arms around her body and her arms around my neck. She looked into my eyes. Again, her soft look washed over me. I was in disbelief and my gut was churning with expectation. With her face so close to mine, she breathed in my ear and whispered, “Open your mouth just a little bit.” I did. She very gently pressed her lips to mine for what seemed a very long time. This was a ‘Hollywood’ kiss…just like in the movies. She broke the kiss, only to begin another. Another looong kiss. Then another. Soft and sincere….and in earnest. We were 'making out!!'

I began to arrive at the moment. Up to that point, this had been a ‘dream state’; but she liked kissing me, and I liked it too, so I started kissing her back. We were learning and enjoying. It was quite a tender moment. She was breathing so hard and holding me so tightly. I’m sure she could feel my ‘boyhood’ by then. Carolyn came around the corner, looking for us. I heard her gasp a little when she found us hidden by the crepe myrtle. She asked if we were coming. She waited and watched for a few moments; but we just kept kissing. After that, it was common knowledge at W.R. Harrison that Patsy and Buzz were an item and that Buzz was a great kisser….as if they really knew what a great kisser was. We sat together at the Saturday matinees…in the balcony and met at other patio parties. On occasion, another cute girl named Jackie would brazenly ask if I would kiss her like I kissed Patsy. She was cutesy and had already told me that she liked me….even more than Patsy did; so, I always kissed her….many times and on several occasions. Just like a man, huh? She never ratted me out to Patsy or any of Patsy’s friends. It was my first extra-relationship affair. Patsy and I were a couple until forced to part by my father’s reassignment to Wiesbaden, Germany in August of that year. No letters. No pictures…not even in an old yearbook. Just a fond memory of my first ‘Hollywood’ kiss.

I wonder if she remembers.

Inspired by this experience:

Do You Remember? by the S.O. B.

Was it really as you remember?
Was it as sweet as you recall?
What was the other’s name?
Do you remember them at all?

Do you remember where you were,
The season or the time of day?
Do you remember how it made you feel
And what next you had to say?

Had you practiced on your hand?
Did you do it right or almost miss?
How often do you think of it...
Your very first Hollywood kiss?

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