The last two days have been long and drip. Why? The date with Danny of course! This is actually my first date ever. I’ve never been on a date, not in junior high or senior high school, and definitely not in college! Knowing the dating rules around here, it wouldn’t be right to ask a guy out, and even if I did, I would scare them all the way to England. Maybe I’m scary enough with the knuckle sandwiches or just my demeanor as a tomboy: spunky, wild, competitive, and not afraid to get dirty with her clothes and her hands. But to have my best friend ask me out on a date is something, especially when I am clobbered, which is embarrassing. I’ve had my fair share of crushes over the years but never this serious. Never to where I find myself blushing a few shades of red, getting the butterflies whenever he gives the slightest touch, and stumbling on my words.

After work, I immediately went straight back to the place, get cleaned, dressed with hair and makeup ready. I decided to go for a pin curl, I don’t like the victory rolls much, I’ve tried. As well as my normal makeup, a beautiful red velvet dress, necklace that’ll suit well with it, and pearl earrings. The dress reminds me of one of the dresses my mother wore on the Titanic but without the sequins and lace. The necklace is almost a choker necklace, the chain is gold and the pendant is of a heart of the same color. The pearl earrings are not posts, it drops down in a a raindrop form.

I heard a knock on the door and looked at the clock on the wall, it’s 6 o’clock and it must be Danny. So I went to the front door to see Danny in his uniform, hair combed back, and very handsome. His eyes widen and I could tell that he’s trying to find the right words to say. “Is it just me or are you just breathtaking tonight,” he awkwardly asked.

I giggled, put on my shoes, grabbed my purse, and went up close to him. He pulled out this beautiful flower, it looks native, tucked it into my hair, pushed my hair behind my ears and held my cheek into his hand, I blushed. He smiled at me, this time is a little different, a smile I’ve never seen before and it warms my soul. Knowing Danny, he can be unpredictable with planning. One time, he said he’d go to prom but either got stood up or he stood up and took me down to our favorite lakeside eatery. He looked down and then straight into my eyes.

“So you want to go to a real party,” he asked with a smirk.

“what,” I asked in a confused manner.

Pu’uwai o Moana Dance Club, 1830

He was not wrong about a party. He actually took me to one of the local dance clubs that isn’t a stomping ground for soldiers and sailors and marines, you get everyone here. They have drinks and local food as well as American grub for those who don’t fancy a poke or spam or something like that. The music is swinging with upbeat jazz and people dancing. Some people can really dance and got the jitterbug while others are just dancing side to side.

Danny and I have found a table in the corner and find ourselves chatting and laughing. When the server came around, he ordered a beer. “make that two,” I peeped out loud. Then I saw Danny give me the strangest look that says “you never told me you drink beer.” Once we got our beers, which were the Pale Ambrew and Royal Beer, I started drinking mine before Danny drank his. When I was half done, I looked over to Danny gawking at me. “What? You think a middle class girl from the midwest can’t drink,” I asked before we started giggling on that comment.

The Prohibition era ended at the end of 1933. The last 3 years of prohibition, I find sneaky ways to get some booze from going across country lines to finding speakeasies that I heard from word of mouth. When it ended, there’s a public celebration of bars opening up, booze poured out and people were happy. In fact, crimes raised up to 13% during the prohibition that it got hairy for a while. But in college, life went on as if this prohibition never happened. Danny, however, never drank any booze until he got into the military. Not even the Chianti or Guiness!

“Come on Elle,” Danny nudged.

“What?”

“we didn’t come here to sit and talk, come on!”

He was already up on his feet, the tempo has increased, he grabbed my hand and pulled me close.

“Wait, Danny! I don’t know how to dance to this,” I hesitated.

“Just go with it,” Danny yelled above the loud music.

And going with it we did! How we danced was similar to the third class dance below decks with mom and dad: very impromptu, joyous, and cutting the rug and being and an Able Grable for a bit. And here I was, giggling, smiling, having a great time! I even showed off some moves here and there that left Danny astonished.

Then the tempo has reduced and couples started swinging back and forth. Danny gently took my hand and brought me close, one hand intertwined with the other, his other hand on my waist, my other hand on his shoulder and we slow danced as I looked into his eyes. I feel my eyes twinkling like a princess from one of Walt Disney’s movies as his eyes warmed my soul like the Hawaiian sun with no cloud. He probably read my mind because he moved his hand from my waist to the back of my head and gently pushed my head onto his shoulder as we danced. For a minute, I thought he’s going to kiss me, but this is good enough, and I melted into his shoulder as we danced.

1 mile from Beach House 2100

After a long night of dancing and having fun, we decided it’s time to call it a night. Danny drove us to the place he parked. It was getting cold, so Danny lend me his jacket. We walked up the beach with me singing “Come Josephine in my Flying Machine.” Both of my parents sang that song. My dad sings it as almost as an Irish jig or as a nursery rhyme type song while mom sings it as a lullaby; especially while looking at the stars on a beautiful summer night. Even though Danny has no idea what the words are, he just hummed with me. When we got to the front of the beach house, I gave Danny his jacket back and thanked him for a wonderful night. After a moment of awkward silence, I asked him “what’s next?”

“I don’t want to go too far too fast here, but I’d like to see you more. Not just as my best friend, but maybe something more,” he answered. “I don’t know how to say this right…”

“Then don’t say anything at all,” I reassured Danny as I intertwined my hand with his and cover my other hand with his intertwined hand. I reassured him that because I know what he’s feeling because I’m feeling the same way too. I don’t want to ruin what we have and neither does Danny, especially after nearly 25 years.

I unlocked his hand and he hugged me, he hugged me close, holding the back of my head. After we hugged, he cupped his hands into my face, working down to my shoulders and then kissed my nose, taking my breath away.

After kissing my nose, he looked at me with that boyish grin and wished me a goodnight, and I did too. As I walked away, our hands and fingers slowly pulled away. When I got to the door and able to unlock it, I waved goodbye to Danny upon entering. I was able to breathe but the butterflies and the blushing did not stop. Is this normal or will this go away?