Slow to Grow Read online

  Chapter 2

  Lloyd had one genuine girl friend, Karen. For some reason Karen understood him like no one else, she was amazingly mature for her age and saw something in Lloyd that he himself didn=t see. What that was, he had no clue. It was purely platonic and would always be, in a good way. She was like a sister to him. She was pretty and Japanese, not that those are exclusive traits of each other, but that is what Lloyd did. He had to stereotype everything and everyone. You were characterized by something and once that declaration was made in his head that was it. Miss Malone was an egg, The Gym Teacher, Mr. Gerber was a drunk, Laurie Johns was pretty, and Karen was his friend. He never violated that, not even when she offered to go with him to Senior Prom. He wanted to earn it.

  Anyhow, Karen had recently told him that NaSheen Lemkis, the pretty Israeli girl, had a crush on him and that she wanted to go steady. Lloyd never heard that directly from NaSheen, but it sounded good to him. It wasn=t Laurie, but it would do.

  Lloyd overheard NaSheen telling Rick, Nancy, John, Holly, and Lisa, about their plans to go to an afternoon movie at Orchard Theater, and he asked if he could come along, which he didn=t think was too much to ask considering they were going steady. AUh, whatever@ she replied in deep lust, and Lloyd was on cloud nine. AWhat time is it at?@ he asked dreamily, and she shrugged her shoulders. From eavesdropping, he determined that they would be leaving from the park across from the school at 4 O=clock. It would take about 40 minutes to walk there, but hey it=s with friends, and his Agirlfriend!@

  Lloyd went home and put on his best football jersey.

  Should I wear the Chiefs one or the Dolphins one? Does she like Red? Or Aqua? Aqua seems girly, Dolphins it is!

  At 3:57 sharp he marched over to the park for his date with destiny. He was strangely arrogant. That dissipated fast. They were long gone. He was naively undeterred.

  Oh man, she is going to be so impressed If I walk all the way there by myself just for her. I have never walked that far before, but it will be worth it, she will definitely want to hold my hand.

  Oh my gosh Lloyd you walked all the way here by yourself? That makes me swoon. You are just like a real life Danny Zukko! And I am your Olivia Newton John. That is so romantic, I can=t wait to tell all my friends about how cool and sweet you are.

  I draw her face into mine slowly, and plant a long kiss upon her Semitic lips.

  It was no big deal, NaSheen, I knew you would be expecting me, even though you left without me. I am sure that wasn=t your decision, you just went along with the others. That is ok, I am sure you were upset about leaving me behind.

  Oh, I was, it was just awful, I begged them to wait, Lloyd, and I was going to stay behind by myself, but then I wondered if you would show up, because you can have your choice of any girl in the world and you chose me, so I left with them.

  I understand. NaSheen, I totally understand. Don=t feel bad, the hour walk was nothing, especially by myself, I knew you would be here waiting for me.

  Oh, I was, I even left the seat empty for you in the hopes you would appear, my prince.

  Lloyd arrived at the theater exhausted and sweaty, for it was 92 degrees out, but flush, knowing that NaSheen would be agog at his Moses through the desert like devotion. The movie apparently started at 4. He bought his ticket and triumphantly entered the theater, awaiting the glories that were to be bestowed upon him. NaSheen was making out with Rick in the back row. Lloyd quietly sat down in the row in front of them. When NaSheen came up for air she was incredibly annoyed to find the screen blocked by what looked like a giant mop.

  ALloyd, why are you here? And could you scrunch down or something? In the dark your head looks likes Bozo.@

  Lloyd immediately obeyed and slunk deep down into his seat. It was a long, lonely walk home. His only solace would take place 15 years later when Lloyd found out Rick was gay and living in San Francisco with their 8th grade Spanish teacher Mr. Javierito.