my mom dropped me off in our red car that i never knew the make and model of when i was a kid, but i now know it was a toyota 4runner. i was immediately hit with the lights of the ferris wheel, shining bright than the stars, the chatter of kids i didn't know but could probably get along well with if someone introduced us, and the smell of kettle corn that teased me as i missed my family's dinner to go on my first date ever.
my mother waited for me as i walked away from the car. i pretended i was not with her and i went up to the ticket booth. i slid open my flip phone and texted jacob: "here, by the ticket booth." "you coming in or what?" said the lady from inside the booth. "just a moment," i said. i wanted to give jacob the opportunity to pay for me, only if he wanted to of course. i would be fine either way. my parents equipped me with a 20 dollar bill, which i didn't realize as a kid was way more than they could afford to give me. i just didn't want to start my date off on the wrong foot. i wanted the proper chance to have the perfect first date, with maybe a romantic kiss under the stars. then, i saw jacob leave his black car and give his mother a kiss on the cheek, and i regretted not doing that to mine. we had been dating for two weeks already, and i realized i didn't even know his mother's name. i would ask him when there was a lull in the conversation. i waved to jacob, he walked over. we hugged for .06 seconds. i gave my mother eyes and she drove away in her 2009 red toyota 4runner. the mothers were both now gone. which meant we were alone at the big fair. we knew no one else here.
he paid for our tickets and we went in. i was starving, but i couldn't say that yet. our bodies auto-piloted to the first ride we saw: teacups. we hadn't said anything yet besides hello. "this is my boyfriend," i thought to myself as we waited in line. "compliment him." i mustered up the courage and said, "i like your shirt," and then actually looked at the shirt that i had the honor of giving such a high compliment to. it was a relay for life t-shirt from last year. "thanks," jacob said. i looked around awkwardly. "i've never been to this fair, i always go to the one in collinsville," i said. "i haven't been either," jacob said. we moved up two places in line. "what's your mom's name?" "susan" "cool." we then waited in silence until we got into the teacups.
we were paired with an older couple that looked to be in their 30s. we all crammed into the cup and the ride began. i turned the cup slowly, along with jacob and the man. "babe, please, just turn the cup," the man said. "no, this is so stupid. oh my god," she said. "babe do not make a scene, please," he said. "oh so you can just make fun of me to the kettle corn lady and i'm not gonna be upset? and for what - just so you can be this awesome hilarious funny guy and i'm just some bimbo?" "you're not a bimbo." at that point, jacob let out the smallest laugh. i looked up straight at him with big eyes. "you think that's funny, kid?" the man said. "stay out of it." she said. "i am sorry," jacob said. when the ride finished, jacob and i walked out of the teacup silently, and then burst out laughing. "BIMBO, BIMBO!" jacob yelled. "JIMBO, BIMBO, LIMBOOO." i mimed limboing. jacob laughed. "god they were CRAZY! they totally freaked out at you," i said. "if we see them again, let's yell BIMBO at them," jacob said.
we ate kettle corn, fried dough, and cotton candy while the fireworks popped in the sky. "i wonder if i'll be anything like her when i'm 30," i said. "no friggin' way. you are going to be amazing, nice to everyone, and normal. even if a middle schooler laughs in your face," jacob said. "what if i'm a bimbo?" i said. jacob cracked up. i laughed. i thought to myself, "this would be a nice time to kiss, but how do you even kiss? i don't care enough to figure it out. i don't want to ruin the night. we are having so much fun. i am fine with waiting until high school to kiss, yeah, that makes more sense." suddenly i heard, "MARIE!" i turned and looked. it was cassie, she was in my home room class. she ran up to me and hugged me, which we'd never done before. "have you seen brett?" cassie said. "brett h?" "yes." "no, i didn't know he was here." "ugh, he's pissed at me for making out with brian behind the dunk tank." "im sorry, uh, jacob got harassed by an old man." "oh, i'm sorry. i gotta go find brett."
jacob and i climbed to the top of the big slide. i looked out over the fair, trying to find the couple. i took a step to my right, and as i put my foot down, i heard the sound of a potato chip crunching. i gripped my knee and picked up my leg so i could see the bottom of my shoe, and saw a squashed cockroach. "you two love birds are up!" said the attendant. i had no time. i stuck my two feet into the potato sack with jacob. and we flew down the slide. we went a little too fast. i wasn't prepared. and all i could think about was the cockroach riding the slide with us. was it still alive, having a little fun?
i rode home silently with my mother. i wondered if i'd ever step on a cockroach again. i wondered if i'd ever want to kiss someone. i wondered if the fighting couple is in love. i wondered if it's ok to not have a lot to talk about with someone.
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