My brother introduced us to each other. Marlo, was the man's name. I look up at him, he had this smirk on the face. He looked me up and down. Then grabbed my left hand and raise it towards his mouth. I gasps when he kiss my hand. My heart skipped a...
It was 1952, I was sixteen years young. It was a late July summer day. I was sitting on the porch swing reading the book, ' The Diary of Anne Frank ' . I heard my brother, Carl, vehicle pull up in the driveway. I look up from my book and see him exit the vehicle. Then I heard the passenger door open. A man stepped out of the vehicle. He was a man I never seen before. He was wearing a white t-shirt and black slacks. My brother had always brought his friends around the house before; but never this man. I have never seen him before. My brother sees me, and calls for me to say hello. I place my book down and stand up. I straighten out my light blue dress; like a young lady should. I walk down the porch steps towards them while having my head down. The man was staring at me. I step in front of them,but not to close.
( Eileen's Light blue Dress )
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My brother places his left hand on my back and push me more towards the man. The man had a great height difference to me. I was five foot one, and he had to be six foot or more. My brother introduced us to each other. Marlo, was the man's name. I look up at him, he had this smirk on the face. He looked me up and down. Then grabbed my left hand and raise it towards his mouth. I gasps when he kiss my hand. My heart skipped a beat from the way he was looking at me. He was looking me straight in the eye; it was as if he was trying to read me. Maybe he was doing it because I was doing the same. It felt as if this moment was going so slow, when it only happened in 10 seconds. He lowers my hand down, still keeping eye contact with me, and a smirk on his face. " It is a pleasure to meet you Eileen."
Marlo stayed for supper after my father ask him. Father grew fond of Marlo. Mother's blood boil when she first laid eyes on him. While my father, brother, and Marlo sat in the family room discussing sports. My mother, older sister and I prepared supper. My mother talked to my sister, Sally, and I about Marlo. She called Marlo names I am not allowed to say. When mother called Marlo those names, my heart started to ach. How can she say such heartless things about someone she doesn't even know.
At the dinner table, father and mother sat at the ends of the table. Sally and I sat on the right of mother. Carl and Marlo sat on the other side of the table. Marlo sat across from me. He kept on stealing glances towards me while having a conversation with my father. I just simply looked down at my plate of food to hide the blush on my cheeks. Father evoked a conversation about work; which gave mother a chance to ask the question that has been in her mind. She looked at Marlo and ask him what he does for a living and how old is he.
Marlo tells mother that he is twenty years young; the same as Carl. He had just started working at a factory that builds vehicles. Marlo then turns the table around and ask what mother does for a living. Mother looks at Marlo and proudly say she is a housewife. Marlo chuckles and takes a drink from his sweet tea. " Yeah I'll say it proudly too. It must be fun living off your husband.". All three men started laughing. Mother looks at Marlo with a glare I have always feared. Sally sat there surprise from Marlo's choice of words. I couldn't help myself and let out a giggle; which cause everyone to stop what they are doing and look at me. Mother gave me a look I know too well. Father cleared his throat, a symbol for everyone to continue with their supper. Everyone went back to normal, except for Marlo. Marlo just looked at me smiling. I couldn't help but smile back at him.
Night has came, and I have finished washing the dishes. I step outside and sat on the porch swing. " Eileen, Eileen.", my sister open the porch door and walk towards me. She sat down next to me signing. " Eileen. You know that was disrespectful. That comment Marlo said to mother was rude. Yes father and brother laughed. But it was just plain rude. You had no rights to laugh.". I looked at my sister and shake my head. I stand up and walk towards the railing of the porch. " It is not fair Sally. I thought what Marlo said was funny. Now that I think about, yes it was disrespectful. But it was funny to me at the time.", I looked up at the stars. Wondering why. Why did me laughing cause my mother to hate me a little more.
Sally let out a giggle," You know, I always knew you were different.". She stood up and walk to me." But a good, sweet different.", she grabbed my right hand and looked at me. " You're the different that I envy. Your smart, funny, sweet, and kind. Everyone has always adored you.", Sally looks at the house." Marlo notice it.", I look at her. Confusion running in my mind. " What do you mean; Marlo notice it.". She looked back at me and smile. She pat my hand," I have met Marlo several times before. He is a fast boy. He never really shown interest in anyone before. Well I haven't seen him do so. But you, did you seen the way he was looking at you during supper." I replay the smile he gave me, " Yes I did see him. But they didn't mean nothing.". Sally let out a laugh. " Honey he couldn't keep his eyes off you. It was as if he was in a trance.", I smiled and put my head down.
" Sally that can't be. He is four years my senior. He is the same age as Carl. Plus, mother wouldn't want me talk to someone like him.". She looked at me and close her eyes." Eileen. You do know that father is ten years mother's senior. So what gives them the right to tell you something. Aunt Becky, Mother's sister is married to a man fifteen years her senior.". I look at Sally and smiled, " Sally, you are speaking against the rules. You know the ones you told me not really a while ago to follow.". Sally put her head down in shame, " Your right Eileen. It's just, I never seen a man or boy look at you the way Marlo did. You hardly talk to boys in a flirtatious way. All the boys you talk to are just your friend. I guess I got excited to see my beautiful baby sister get looks from a older man.". Beautiful. I have always thought that I was far from being beautiful. Mother made sure that I did. " What am I saying. I just told you to talk to a man who is older than you. Who is one year my senior.", I look at Sally and gave her a warm smile. " It is okay Sally. And trust me when I say this. I will one day meet the man of my dreams. I am just not ready right now.". Sally look at me and gave me a hug. " I know Eileen. It just that at your age, I already met Allen.". Allen. Sally's boyfriend of five years. Fiance of two months. " Allen is a really good man, but he is not the man I am in search for.", I look up at the starry sky. " I know Eileen. I know.", Sally kiss my cheek and walk back into the house.
I look at the dark sky adoring the stars. " They're cool aren't they?", I turn around quickly. There stood Marlo. " Yes they are. I am quite fond of them.". I turn back around looking at the stars. Hoping he'll just walk away. I have never been the greatest to talk to any man. " You know I don't bite.", he walk towards me and leans against the porch railing as well. I stayed quiet and just look at the sky. " My mother used to always stay up at night and look at the stars. She was a very sweet women who love flowers and all those girly stuff.". A smile spread on my face, " She sounds like a beautiful woman.". I look at him, and started studying his features more. His hair was a dark more. It was short and slick back. His face screams out a tough man. Someone who will win every battle. " She was, she was. Nothing like your mother.", his voice so slow but screamed with hatred. " Your mother is the type of mother I have always dream of.", every single word I said was true. He looked at me with the smile he gave me earlier.
He was about to say something but my mother open the porch door. " Eileen it is getting late. Time to get inside.", my mother's word were not sweet at all. " Yes mother.", I look at Marlo. " It was a pleasure meeting you Marlo.", I gave him a warm smile. He smiled back then looked at my mother at the door. He grabbed my left hand and kiss it once more. " The pleasure was truly all mine baby.". He place my hand down and started walking down the steps. While he walked away, I stood there in shock. I place my left hand on my chest where my heart is. " Get inside this house right now young lady!", venom was laced in my mother's words. I walk into the house street into my room. I layed down on my bed and replayed what just happen..
