Same Old Love

May 30th, 1952

Conrad had finally convinced Caroline to go on a date with him. He was happier than ever. It was the night that he'd be taking her out and he was uneasy. He wore some khaki slacks and a blue plaid shirt to match, along with a darker blue bowtie. He wore his brown dress shoes and his hair was brushed to the side and held with gel.

His hands were clammy and shaking. He had to pick her up in thirty minutes. He planned to leave in about five minutes, and he waited with his ma until it was time to go.

"Stop being so anxious, sweetie. I'm sure it will go just fine. If she's a smart girl then she'll see what a catch you really are," his mother claimed as she proceeded to knit the blanket she'd been working on.

Well of course you'll say that, he thought. She's his mother after all. "I sure hope you're right," he pondered nervously and let out a deep, shaky breath.

When the time came to leave, Conrad gave his ma a kiss on the cheek and grabbed his car keys before walking out the door. He got inside his red Mercury Monterey. He was very proud of this car. He bought and fixed it all up himself. It wasn't a showstopper, but it wasn't a rust bucket either.

He had started to leave, but when his ma came out he stopped. She came up to his window and handed him the flowers he'd bought. "You forgot these, hun."

He sighed a breath of relief. "Thanks ma! Love you!"

"Love you too, sweetheart!"

As he drove to the address Caroline had given him, he couldn't stop thinking and worrying about what would happen.

What if it didn't go well? What if he embarrassed himself even more? He couldn't afford to make himself look even worse than he already had. He had to make a great impression on this first date, that way she would go out with him again. He was determined not to lose his shot.

Finally he reached Caroline's house. He stepped out of the car and walked up to the front porch. After seconds of hesitation, he anxiously knocked on the front door. Seconds later, a tall, older man opened the door. The man was bulky, and overall quite intimidating. He had black hair with specks of gray. Conrad assumed that this man was Caroline's father.

Finally gaining the courage to speak, Conrad stood up straighter. "My name is Conrad Jordan. I'm here to pick up your daughter Caroline and take her out on a date."

The older man arched an eyebrow and crossed his arms, staring him down with a look of amusement. "So you're Conrad, eh? I'm her father. Come on in. Caroline is still getting ready upstairs."

Mr. Sullivan opened the door wide enough for him to enter, and when he did he was greeted by the scent of cookies in the oven. He felt awkward and didn't want to make a wrong move, so he remained standing and didn't really say anything.

Caroline's father broke the silence. "You're welcome to sit down if you'd like. So how long have you known my daughter?"

He was a bit caught off guard but sat down on the nearby couch, the flowers in hand. He hadn't expected for her father to make conversation with him. "Thank you, sir. Ah, I've known her for a while, but we never really talked. I finally found the courage to ask her on a date," he said sheepishly.

"Well you're better than that Vince kid. I never really liked him for Caroline," Mr. Sullivan bickered while lighting a cigarette.

"Dennis, did you forget to buy more milk earlier?" I heard a female voice question from inside the kitchen. "Oh nevermind- I've found it!" Then I heard several mutters that the woman must have been saying to herself. The voice was closer, and then an older woman stepped into the room. She had on a apron and her hair was dirty blonde and although it was pulled back, he could tell it was curly. She wiped her floury hands off on her apron and then she saw me.