The Third Wheel

The air was just a little crisp. I was wearing my brand new forest green sweater from Express. I had been saving it for something special and something had finally come up — a date! Sort-of.

I don’t exactly remember why PC was taking my 7 1/2 year old brother, Ace, to the movies. All I know is that I HAD to wrangle an invite. We made an interesting trio. Ace sat in the middle, of course. The movie? The Land Before Time.

PC drove us home and then asked me if I wanted to go out with him and a group of his friends. We went to Silky Sullivan’s. It remains to this day the only time I have ever been to Silky Sullivan’s. I was so nervous. I was underage. Waaaaaay underage. In order to appear mature, as well as avoid raising any suspicion, I ordered a Perrier. Of course, I don’t drink sparkling water. Never liked it. But I forced it down, managing to appear calm, cool, and collected. Or so I hoped.

On the way back, one of PC’s friends asked how long we’d been going out. I didn’t even pay him to ask that! PC mumbled something completely unintelligible.

And by the next day, we were officially “going out.”

That first date was 20 years ago tonight. Thanks, Ace, for letting me tag along!