Chapter 10: he was just 17 years old — a high school romance that obligated him to marry the girl to legitimize the baby.
After a few weeks, JB and I became comfortable in a friendship that in no way involved any emotional attachments. At the time, he was my best friend. He talked freely about his family and called them every evening. I shared with him the circumstances surrounding my love for Bob and the complications encountered in recent months –and he understood.
We attended the double feature Western movies on Friday nights and first run films on Sundays. Once in a while, we took the bus to Atlantic City just to walk on the boardwalk and feed the pigeons. Other times, if one of our favorite bands was playing at the pier, we would dance or just sit and watch their performance if the floor was too crowded.
One evening, as I waited for him to take me to the movies, my mother opened the conversation with, “I think JB is married.”
“I’ll ask him,” I shot back. The remark annoyed me. Had she been investigating his background? Why would she say that or even think of making that accusation, unless she had some relevant information?
I spotted JB coming up the walk and went down to meet him.
“Let’s hurry so we don’t miss the beginning of the show.” I was not going to provide my mother with the opportunity to bring up the subject again.
As the theater was about a mile from my home, we had lots of time to talk. I decided to ask if he was married.
The question took him by surprise. He frowned and cleared his throat before admitting he had been married when he was just 17 years old — a high school romance that obligated him to marry the girl to legitimize the baby. After the baby boy was born, he divorced the girl and enrolled in college. She remarried and her husband wanted to adopt the boy, but JB refused — insisting his child would always know his real daddy.
“You know, Laurel, I don’t think I’ve ever been in love or perhaps something died inside of me along the way. The whole situation with the pregnancy soured me on romance, leading me to concentrate on my studies and motorcycles…. By the way, why did you ask?”
“My mother brought up the subject. Anyway, even if you were married, it wouldn’t affect our friendship. I think we’ll always be good friends….do you feel that way too?”
“Of course,” he sighed, almost relieved the conversation was over.
“Now that we have that settled, let’s put it past us and enjoy the movie.”
“Poor JB,” I thought. “No wonder he drinks…. he has had more than his share of disappointments in life — and too little love to heal the pain.”
more tomorrow … was coming of age in a “naughty but nice” time.
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