You Are On My Mind

Like You And Linda?

"Danny, can I ask a question?" Jamie wondered as he and his older brother walked the streets of New York.
"Sure, kid."
"What do you do if you like a girl?"
The question took Danny off guard. He wasn't expecting that, "Why? Is there someone I should know about?"
Jamie shook his head, "just curious."
"Well, I guess you start hanging out with her. Y'know, just talkin' and walkin' and bein' with her."
"Like you and Linda?" Jamie looked up.
Danny nodded, "yeah."
"What next?"
"Then you start going on dates. Buying her food, taking her to the movies. Stuff like that."
"Like you and Linda?"
"Yeah. Then, with her permission- that's very important. You always have to ask first. With her permission, you start kissing her and hugging her and holding hands. Maybe buying gifts like chocolate or flowers."
"Like you and Linda?" Jamie asked again, stopping to pet a dog.
Danny smiled, "yeah, like me an' Linda."
"Okay, what happens next? After the gifts."
"At some point, you realize it's either gonna work or not work. If it doesn't work, you'll move on and say it wasn't your fault and other bullshit like that. If it does work, you have fun for a while. Be with each other all the time, laugh together, sappy shit."
"Just like you and Linda."
"Yeah. And, eventually, you'll buy a ring- an engagement ring. You'll carry it around in your pocket for four, five weeks. You'll always promise yourself that you'll do it next time you see her. But lame excuses pop up. 'She's too busy. You're too busy. She's stressed, you're stressed'." The brothers turned the corner to their street. "But you and everyone else knows that that's a bunch of lame ass cowardly bullshit. You gotta ask soon, or else it might be too late."
Jamie paused before asking the same question, "like you and Linda?"
"Yes."
The little boy stopped. "You're gonna ask Linda to marry you?"
"Yes," Danny grinned widely, fingering the ring box in his pocket. "Then, as you know, you marry her. And supposedly live happily ever after."
"I've got another question," Jamie said after some silence. "But I don't wanna ask Mom Or Dad."
Danny stopped and turned to his eleven year old brother, "okay."
"If you like a girl, do you.... well.... do you have to..." Jamie's cheeks flushed.
"Yeah...?" Danny has a feeling where this was going.
"Well, do you have to have.... sex... with her?" He asked quietly.
"No!" Danny laughed slightly as he shook his head. "No, you don't have to." He held up a finger, "of you say like you and Linda, Imma smack you."
"But it is like you and Linda!" Jamie protested. "You two aren't having sex, and I know you're very much in love!"
"Jamie, listen. That's Linda's decision. I would've had sex with her ten times over if it were up to me. But it ain't." Danny stopped again, this time in their backyard. "You always, always, always have to ask permission. If she says no, then that's it. You respect that. No arguing, no convincing. Just agree. Got that?"
Jamie nodded, "got it."
"Good. Consent is very important."
"So you always ask Linda go consent?" Jamie wondered as he and Danny walked through the kitchen door.
"Consent for what?" Linda smiled at the boys as she dried a big bowl.
"Oh, Danny was tellin' me about how the process of liking a girl goes."
"Is that so?" The blonde cocked an eyebrow, a fist on her hip.
"Yup! He went through all the stages! Right now, he's at the carrying an engagement ring around for four or five weeks!"
Linda's eyes lit up, and her lips broke into a smile.
"He also said that consent is very important. And that he asks you every time before kissing you.... I don't buy that."
"Is that true?" Her hand was over her heart.
"Yes," Danny nodded, "consent is important. So can I kiss you?"
"No, I meant about the engagement ring in your pocket."
The marine groaned in frustration, "thanks a lot, kid. Yes, it's true. I was gonna ask you tonight. We were gon' go to a fancy restaurant and go out dancin', and it was gonna be a surprise. And no-"
"Oh, I'll be surprised! I'll forget about it, I promise!" The nurse said quickly. "Now, what was it that you asked? Oh yes. Can you kiss me? Absofreakinloutely!"
***********
Danny looked over at Linda, who was smiling while eating her pasta. He smirked then sighed. "Linda, I know you already know, but-"
"Yes!" The blonde popped her head up.
"Lemme ask the question!" Danny chuckled. "Look, I had this whole speech planned out, but it seems kinda pointless now... so let's get to the point. Will you-"
"Yes!" Linda pouted when Danny gave her a stern look. "Sorry. I'll be good, I promise."
"Do you want to make us official? Wan-" he stopped when he saw tears. "What's wrong? Are you okay?" He kneeled in front of her, concern filling his hazel eyes. "What's wrong?"
Linda shook her head as the tears kept coming. "I'm getting married!"
The other people in the restaurant clapped for them while Danny hugged Linda.
"I don't know why I'm crying!" She kissed Danny's cheek, "I knew it was coming- I knew it."
Danny brushed some tears away. "I can take you back home if you want to l-"
"No!" She shook her head and grabbed the ring box. Handing it to him, she said, "these are happy tears! Put it on my finger!"
Danny chuckled and slipped the ring on her finger. He stood and she did also, hugging him tightly.
"I'm getting married!" Linda repeated as the people in the restaurant clapped once again.