That Bathtub Had Fancy Claws

There was a moment
When I was much younger
That stands out still
A moment where someone really went all out
And made me really smile.
Of course it was a girl
(I am still a flirt,
and a sucker)
but it was so heartfelt
And wonderful
And no one expected anything wrong
Or much at all…

It was when she said,
“Let’s go upstairs,”
that I began to feel better
and no, this doesn’t go there–
get your mind out of the gutter.
We were at a dance
in a mansion
and the upstairs was off-limits.

She wore a long sequined evening gown
and it sparkled in the light
as she bent
to step under the ropes,
pulling me by the hand behind her.

I don’t know
if I could ever
forget
what it was like
for two teenagers
to sneak up those stairs
her in that sparkling gown
and me in my step-father’s black tuxedo…

and there is no guilt,
and no shame,
and even the memory of it
makes me smile.

She was ravishingly beautiful
With long dark locks
and big beautiful eyes.
And,
I don’t dream about her
and don’t pine for what once was
I just am happy
that it was
Her dress sparkled
and so did her eyes
and upstairs
it was with mischief.

“Let’s get in here,
and take pictures…
it will be funny.”
It was
but it was a lot more
than just funny–
it made me smile.

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