They both went to school outside of their neighborhoods. She to a private Catholic school and he to a public engineering school farther from hers.
The bus lines were the primary way they both commuted to school, that is when they couldn’t bum a ride from a parent or friends. His school was a starting point for the 44 line after school. It traveled east and passed about a mile south of her school.
He was out earlier than she and some days he would rush to ride, not his usual bus, the 22, that would take him home but the 44. He’d get off near her school, walk the mile and be there in time to see her come out the front exit. Then they would walk the mile back and catch the next 44 that would take them to her neighborhood.
Just the thought of seeing her made the entire day bearable.
They weren’t boyfriend and girlfriend, not yet anyway. They were both “believers”, part of the energetic and enthusiastic youth group of their church. This was a magical time in their lives. People in their church, old and young were getting together at prayer meetings and Bible studies in the homes of the older ones. Their friends were many in the groups and there were no barriers to age or ethnicity. They were a part of a movement, so called, in the 1970’s, a cross-denominational movement of people that were dedicated to the Christian faith and each other. Their association was of common love for God and wanting to know more and more about Him.
It was clear in his heart that he was in love with her. It wasn’t certain what she felt for him, but all the signals were there that she liked his company and the conversation.
Today he caught that 44 and took the short ride to go see her, though it seemed endless as he was anxious to see her, anxious to not miss her. Finally his stop, Leith Walk, just seeing it made him giddy, with that weird giggle deep in the throat that you get when joy just wells up.
He walked fast and came over the hill that was the last obstacle to seeing the front of her school. He waited, watching and watching, hoping he hadn’t missed her. Then there she was – in her worn out “saddles” with white sweat socks rolled down – the uniform required with the deep red skirt and white shirt covered with her soft yellow jacket. Her hair was long blondish-brown and thick. She had beautiful blue eyes and a few freckles. Her attitude in her walk was always a little “butch” – more tough guy than dainty wall flower. She had a mouth of big pearl teeth and smiling came to it often.
She seemed happy to see him. He offered to carry her books, sometimes she would let him. And they walked back down Leith Walk to catch the bus to her neighborhood. He didn’t always pay attention to the conversation, he was floating and so happy to be with her. It was part of the magic of that time of his life.
One of many such long walks and sometimes would lead to him being asked to dinner by her parents.
Yes magic. TImes that he would never forget and he wondered later in life if she ever remembered.