Fifteen

 

Fifteen   by Beverly Cleary

Illustrated by Joe and Beth Krush    (1956)

                                                                   11 Chapters                                                               

254 pages

 

Chapter 1

            Meet Jane Purdy who lives in the fictional California town of Woodmont. Like other fifteen year-old girls her age, Jane enjoys all the latest 50s nostalgia such as hanging at the local soda fountain and confectionery-Nibley’s-with other single girls, listening to jukebox tunes and daydreaming of having a steady boyfriend to share an ice cream soda float with.

Jane’s daydream is interrupted by Marcy Stokes, blonde and popular, calling a greeting from an open top convertible. She is currently dating alpha male Greg Donahue-junior class president. Jane has curly brown hair and has been on exactly ONE date with a boring old family friend while Marcy goes out with a different boy every week with her name frequently popping up in the school newspaper gossip column. Jane occasionally submits articles for the Woodmont High literary club publication “Manuscript” and is hardly the most popular girl in her high school-just average. Everything about Marcy screams sophistication while Jane is so-NOT.

            Sandra Norton is Jane’s babysitting charge today-8 yrs old and quite a handful. Julie (we are never told her last name) is Jane’s best friend who is very popular with all their babysitting charges. They often trade off jobs (since “Babysitters Club” won’t be invented for another thirty years). Bratty Sandra makes sure to inform Jane she wishes Julie were her sitter today and then proceeds to let the dog out. While Jane chases him down, Marcy and Greg drive by and snark. Jane wishes she could crawl under the bush and hide along with the small bulldog!

Back inside, Sandra insists Jane say something in French which turns into an agreeable game naming different items in the room until Sandra lands on “bottle of blue ink” which she wickedly threatens to pour on the rug unless Jane can produce the correct word. At that moment, a strange voice, a BOY’S voice, announces he’s here with the Doggie Diner home delivery service and pops into the front room to investigate. Delighted at having an audience, Sandra is just about to play her hand when the boy commands her in pig Latin to “put that down!” Intrigued at this strange tongue, Sandra is diverted and Jane is grateful to the boy who leaves as quickly as he arrived. She never even had a chance to catch his name. He was very nice and nice looking too with brown hair, greenish/grey eyes and the perfect height for her own medium-size frame. He is obviously sixteen as he drives away in the company van with “Doggie Diner” printed on the side. Jane is smitten but despairs at ever meeting him again.

 

Chapter 2

            Jane is obviously an only child since no other family members are ever mentioned in this story, unless you count the spoiled cat which Jane tries to use as an excuse to use Doggie Diner service or, better yet, why don’t they get a dog? Jane tries not to blush as she shrugs off her parent’s curiosity, “Pop” returns to his pipe and after dinner paper while Mrs. Purdy wonders what’s come over Jane and her sudden interests in animals and their diets. Jane again waves it off and decides to call Julie to inform her she has dibs on the next babysitting job for the snobby, rich Norton family. Julie isn’t a big fan of Sandra either, declares Jane is crazy and since Jane’s parents are right there in the other room, understands Jane is unable to confide in her friend about today’s meet/cute but Julie is no fool, “If there’s a boy involved-you have my blessing, bye!”

            Jane is pondering today’s events, cringing when she overhears her mother commenting in the other room to her father how glad she is that Jane is not “boy crazy” like that Marcy Stokes who, Jane recalls along with her mother, used to be such a nice girl until she got her braces off, developed a figure and now has to beat all the single males off with a stick.

            Very unexpectedly, the phone rings and Jane nearly jumps through the roof when she hears the voice on the other end-it’s THE BOY!!! Jane thanks the telephone gods. Imagine it, a few connecting wires and-a miracle! He is initiating the first date! His name is Stan Crandall and would Jane like to go to the movies tomorrow night-Saturday-with him?

            Jane is like, “Are you freakin kidding me, YES!!!”

            Swell. Pick you up at 7.

            He never even asked for her address.

Jane practically floats into the living room until her parents bring her back down to earth asking who called. Oh, just a nice boy asking me out on a date, which I accepted. To the irritation of all teenagers, Jane’s concerned parents begin giving her the third degree. “The Banns” still translated to marriage in 1956. Pop howls with laughter when Jane admits Stan’s Doggie Diner connection while Mrs. Purdy worries about his family tree and background. Jane defends Stan: he’s clean cut, intelligent and looks like he’s fun to be with, not like that boring, milquetoast, George you made me go out with last year. Her parents relent and consent is given for Jane to go out on her date. The happy teenager skips off to her room to start putting her hair up in pin curls, daydreaming of Stan becoming her Edward Cullen. (Except Twilight is still FIFTY years away!)

 

Chapter 3

            Jane suffers “qualms” (uneasy feelings of doubt and worry) as she spends ALL DAY Saturday getting ready for her date. What if Stan is a drunk, addicted to porn or (gasp) a NERD who only wants to pick her brain about the space race or evolution or entomology? She’ll be bored the entire evening! And what will he think of HER-plain old Jane Purdy? She starts by washing her hair and putting it up in pin curls, plucking her eyebrows, pressing her blue dress (one of five options in her wardrobe) cleans her shoes and paints her nails. She agonizes over her old fogey parents, her nearly 40 year old mother who wears gay (yes that word is used) clothes. She can hardly eat the casserole her Mom made for dinner since it has onions. If halitosis doesn’t scare Stan off when he comes over to pick her up tonight, the family cat will. She’s doomed!

            Locking herself in the bathroom, Jane showers, washes her face and applies her makeup carefully (except she’s only allowed to wear just a touch of lipstick!). She uses a lipstick brush, powders her nose and she’s ready! Her parents pass her silent inspection, they’ve changed into nicer clothes and the cat, languishing on the living room rug, is actually behaving normally.

            At seven o’clock sharp, the doorbell rings. He’s here! Dressed casually in a wool sweater and slacks, Stan is looking very sharp. Introductions are made and Stan’s manners are perfect “Sir” and “Mrs. Purdy,” are very pleased to meet him. Stan won’t sit down, per Mr. Purdy’s request, until Jane realizes he’s waiting for HER as the rules of chivalry require (absolutely unheard of today!). Her mother silently signals this message and Jane, hot with embarrassment, plops herself down into a chair. They all sit and the scene is very awkward as comments are made on the cat while Jane agonizes how she and Stan will ever figure out how to stand up again? To Jane’s relief, Stan suggests they get going and Jane stands up so Stan can help her with her coat. Ten thirty is curfew and Stan promises to have Jane back on time.

            Alone at last, Stan and Jane walk the five blocks to the movie theater as Stan admits shyly to Jane he’s not allowed the family car very often. He is new to Woodmont, they just moved in over the summer from the city (San Francisco) and his family is in the same socio-economic bracket as Jane’s (respectable middle class). Stan is the middle child of two sisters. The older sister, the one we’ll never meet, is two years older (who probably already moved out to go to school or got married) and the younger is still in grade school. Stan will be a junior at Woodmont this year while Jane is a lowly sophomore. He got his summer Doggie Diner job thanks to a cousin who owns the business. Stan aspires to be a veterinarian after he finishes high school. He’s not stuck in neutral.

            The movie is a western with both romance and a gunfight. Stan never tries anything in the dark theater. No popcorn but they go to the local soda fountain for ice cream afterward where all the dateless single girls ogle Jane and her catch from the counter bar stools while Stan greets many locals. Mr. Nibley, the owner, chides Jane over not ordering her usual and being out past her bedtime while Jane wants to die of humiliation.

Stan and Jane are having a nice moment over their ice cream and milkshake when the smooth voice of Marcy interrupts them. Greg is with her and they are invited by Stan to join them in the booth. Marcy is looking very chic in a black dress and sweater thrown over her shoulders who orders coffee and immediately begins talking with Stan about a group date Jane never knew about with some other crowd. Jane feels invisible while the other three laugh and reminisce over the fun time they had at the beach that day. Jane despairs all during the walk home-she’ll never see this guy again now that Marcy’s already claimed him but everything changes when she observes Stan pulling a bicycle out of the shrubbery and riding away whistling one of the (fictional) songs played on the jukebox at Nibley’s. Perhaps the date WAS a success after all.

 

Chapter 4

            Sunday, Jane is in love! Monday she hates all boys who never text call. Tuesday he calls asking if he can stop by to see her or perhaps drive her to her babysitting job which is in a new subdivision where newly married war veterans with their future (OK) baby boomer generations are moving in. Her charge is an adorable three year old boy who, while not a brat like Sandra, is full of energy and greets Jane enthusiastically. Stan compliments her on the yellow dress she’s wearing, the same one she wore on the day they first met and how cute she looked with her hair all messy after the adventure she’d had chasing the dog. Naturally, Jane is very pleased to hear all this, but…he didn’t ask her out for a second date! Men.

            Next day, Stan stops by her house again on his way to work to drink a coke. Friday he phones (FINALLY) to ask her out again for the following night. Her parents look worried but give their permission. Mr. P teases Jane about a certain bicycle he found in the bushes last week while they were out on their date. Jane begs him not to say anything about it to Stan.

            Jump to Nibley’s again where this time, Jane orders coffee and forces herself to drink it and act like Marcy while Stan enjoys his usual milkshake. He invites her to have dinner with him in the city next weekend-one last hurrah before school starts. Radiant with happiness, Jane accepts. Buzz Bratton is also invited, if he can find a date. Jane has never cared much for childhood acquaintance Buzz who teased her all her life. Marcy and Greg are also being included in the party. Jane hides her disappointment by taking another shuddering sip of her bitter beverage until she learns Stan’s father agreed to let him take the car! This is a HUGE step in their relationship-dinner in the city! Jane is growing up!

            All buzzed up on coffee, Jane can hardly sleep lying wide awake in her bed fantasizing and plotting how to get her incredibly old-fashioned parents to let her go on this most important date of her life. Stan phones Monday to ask Jane if she has any ideas for a date for Buzz and Jane suggests her best friend, Julie. Next, Jane has to work hard to convince her folks she’s not running around with a dangerous “older crowd” and can be trusted not to cause any riots while in the city. Her dad takes her side when she points out Julie is coming too and she is finally given permission. She and Julie celebrate this triumph by going to Nibley’s, ordering cokes and discussing, very loudly so all the nearby single girls can hear, their big date to the city, 

Julie: “I’ve simply GOT to find time to wash my hair before we have dinner in the city!”

       Jane: “Oh, yes, dah-ling, and I believe I’ll wear my yellow dress, Stan likes me in yellow, you know.”

On Friday, Stan drives Jane to her babysitting job and is glad she will be able to go tomorrow.

 

Chapter 5

            Stan, looking very attractive in a gray flannel suit and tie, arrives at 6 O’clock sharp to pick up Jane who is wearing her own very-best-for-special-occasions-dress-suit and gloves but Stan also looks uncomfortable. There’s been a slight change in transportation plans. Dad needed the car so they’ll have to brave the Bay area traffic in the mortifyingly unsophisticated Doggie Diner truck. Sensing her boyfriend’s embarrassment, Jane scores a point by putting on her bravest smile-what does it matter what they ride in, as long as they’re together? Stan’s look of relief is encouraging especially when Marcy, in her tweed suit, silk blouse and wearing real high heels, screams with mirth while Stan turns red. Petite, plump, comfortable-looking Julie who is attempting high heels, nearly turns her ankle on the arm of Buzz and tries to laugh it off while her chubby figure makes it obvious she is wearing a girdle. Greg, Buzz and Julie all sit on cushions in the back of the enclosed delivery truck (who needs seat belts!) while Marcy squeezes into the front seat with Jane who, as the driver’s date, has the honor of sitting next to Stan.

            At the restaurant, Jane struggles to maintain her air of grown up sophistication at the sight of all the strange foods and smells. Buzz teases her, grossing her out with the idea of eating pickled eggs and “fried lice.” Stan greets the server by name, indulges Jane on her boring order of chow mein which Marcy declares to be too touristy and Jane tries not to mind as Stan continues to talk more to Marcy, seated on the other side of their circular booth, than with her.

            Having never eaten Chinese before, Jane can’t figure out chopsticks while the others eat with ease, even Julie. Nothing is spicy hot, just hot, like the shrimp roll and fresh pot of tea. Everything is unfamiliar and unappetizing. Jane picks at her food and suffers in silence but comparing fortune cookies is fun. Afterwards, everyone pairs off for window shopping and Jane is finally alone with Stan who guides her into a shop and buys her an authentic (made in China!) bamboo back scratcher which Jane will cherish all her life. He asks her, straight out, if she enjoyed dinner. Jane shakes her head no. While she did her best to be a good sport about it, Eastern cuisine did not agree with her. Stan remembers how strange it was his first time too and takes her to a real American diner/lunch counter that serves real All-American hamburgers to make up for her light meal. He tells her she’s different from other girls-never made fun of his part time job and (unlike Marcy) didn’t mind riding in the truck. Jane takes a huge bite of her burger and glances up at the mirror. Her heart skips a beat at Stan’s affectionate smile-at HER!

 

Chapter 6

            Jane sings, “Love me on Monday, but don’t love me one day. Love me on Tuesday but don’t make it a blues day.” (This is the fictional song Stan was whistling back in Ch. 3) First week of school and Jane is on cloud nine. She and Stan are officially “in a relationship” (on Facebook!) They don’t eat lunch with each other but in separate groups, nevertheless, Jane is now a member of that exclusive “in-club” and with an upcoming school dance to look forward to, life can only get better from here. Julie and Buzz are going to the dance too and everyone is assuming Stan will take Jane.

            Jane has her third movie date with Stan but the subject of the dance never comes up. It is now one week away but Stan keeps avoiding the topic. George, that old family friend (her “ex”) asks her to the dance but she turns him down as she runs one finger down the louvers on her locker and lies about already having a date before the bell saves her and she heads for gym. In the girl’s locker room, the other girls wistfully comment to Jane how lucky she is to have Stan to take her out to social events-wishing a new boy would turn up for them. Jane worries. If word gets out that Stan never actually asked her, he will be quickly snatched up by the competition who will invite Stan to all their parties and ask him for help on their math homework while she’ll get demoted back to the singles counter at Nibley’s waiting for the next new boy to come along and ask her out.

            Determined to get Stan to ask her, she finds him in the crowded hallway between classes but all the “gay remarks” she’d planned to use on him now seem silly as she looks into those gray-green eyes of his and blurts out that George asked her to the dance but she turned him down saying she already had a date. Stan’s look of relief only makes things worse as he assumed she already knew he wasn’t planning to take her and if she’s going, maybe they can trade dances. Jane sputters, and Stan looks bewildered as it hits him that Jane was expecting him to ask HER. Before Stan can explain himself, Jane hurries away feeling like the biggest fool in the world. Next period’s English lecture on squinting modifiers has no effect on Jane. Her life is over.

 

Chapter 7

            Soon as the bell sets her free, Jane finds Julie in order to stash all her textbooks in her best friend’s locker to further avoid Stan and Julie promises to find out who Stan is taking to the dance. Jane is humiliated. Julie is the perfect BFF even suggesting she ask Buzz to find a date for Jane which Jane turns down. Her social life would be over if word got out her peers had to dig up dates for her. If she can’t go with Stan, then she won’t go with anyone. Julie understands.

            At home, Jane tosses the back scratcher in a drawer and yanks out all the stitches in the grubby still-half-finished argyle socks she’d been working on all these weeks as a Christmas present for Stan-these socks are now obsolete for this relationship will be over by then! Good-bye Stan.

            After a lonely week with Stan avoiding her as much as she, Julie calls the day of the dance with the news: Marcy is going to the dance-not with Greg and not with Stan either but some other boy so that answers THAT question. Julie promises to tell her everything first thing tomorrow about Stan’s date. Meantime, would Jane be interested in a sitting job tonight? Jane takes it. Nothing better to do.

            Jane has resolved to become a scholar, a liberated career woman, with no time for boys or relationships. She arrives at the sitting job, easiest gig in the world as her charge is an older “Jo March” girl who reads and munches on apples all evening long, leaving Jane free to get ahead on her homework. From now on, she resolves, she’ll get all straight As, make the dean’s list and be named valedictorian at graduation. She’ll be known as “that brain” Jane Purdy, smartest girl in school. Tossing her apple core aside, the young girl literally reads herself out of the front room to tuck herself into bed. Jane never had to do a thing as she stands up from the desk she’d been using.

            Looking out the window at the Bay area, Jane imagines all her friends at the dance, right now this very minute, having a great time. Stan likes another girl and here she sits, alone, on a Friday night. Two tears of self-pity roll down her cheeks as she returns to the desk and closes her book without getting a single bit of homework done. So much for her feminine aspirations.

 

Chapter 8

            As promised, Julie phones the next morning. Stan’s date was an old family friend: a tiny, petite, perfectly adorable girl from his old neighborhood in the city. She was very nice, friendly, cute as a button in a stylish straight skirt and a sleek haircut-the “smooth city girl” type that Jane could never hope to compete with. Well, that’s it, over; Stan will never go out with her again.

            The doorbell rings ending the conversation. It’s Stan! Jane is in shock. She is cool and aloof at first but Stan practically begs her to come for a ride with him so they can talk and he’ll drop her off at her babysitting job-in his NEW CAR! He wanted HER to be the first to ride in it.

            Well! This changes everything! The new car is actually a refurbished one, a darling old roadster coupé painted sky blue with an open top. They pass a girl from school and Jane calls out to her just as condescendingly as Marcy did back in Chapter 1 while the girl looks just as forlorn as Jane probably did.

            Stan parks the car under a tree at the city park so they can talk. That girl he took to the dance was just a childhood friend. He used to take her out occasionally and he promised to take her to his first school dance in case he was still homesick. He regrets the invite/promise now that he’s met Jane and was sorry he’d made the date since the girl wasn’t much fun. She spent the entire night laughing at his job and while cute, petite girls, look good on a boy’s arm, dancing all night with one is hard on the posture. He nearly broke his back stooping while they danced and she got lipstick all over his suit coat.

            So, we’re okay? Jane stuffs her lingering feelings of hurt and rejection behind a brave smile and agrees to keep going out. They drive to Julie’s to show off the car. Buzz is there and he admires it too before stepping up on the running board to tease Jane and Stan offering to give Stan a fifty cent piece to kiss the lucky girl. Without waiting for Stan’s answer, Jane smiles coyly like Marcy and lifts her face but when Buzz’s lips touch hers the bubble bursts and Jane is ashamed. No one speaks as Stan silently catches the coin, fires up the car and drives off. Jane sees Julie’s dejected face and realizes her careless flirtation hurt her friend’s feelings too.

            Tension thick between them, Stan stops on a small bridge spanning an arm of the bay and tosses the half dollar over the railing into the water. Jane is struck by the fact that she more than just hurt Stan’s feelings back there; she wounded him and is now doubly sorry but has no idea how to explain what just happened. She attempts a clumsy apology but Stan cuts her off not wanting to talk about it. He drops her off at her babysitting job and as he drives away, Jane yells after him to call her later.

            But Stan never does…

 

Chapter 9

            Jane can hardly focus on her two-year-old charge. Every time the phone rings she thinks its Stan (which is silly because how would he know the number?). As soon as the mother arrives, Jane races home only to find her mother on the phone and wants to scream-tying up the line when Stan might be trying to call! She freshens her lipstick, decides she’s too thin-faced for a sleek city-girl haircut like Stan’s date had, fluffs her hair back up and gets out her materials to try (again) to cast on 76 new stiches for those argyle socks. She’s waiting for the phone to ring but the rest of the afternoon passes, Jane eats dinner with her parents who exchange worried looks at their daughter’s first lover’s quarrel. Dejected, Jane goes back to her room and unravels the stiches (again). If she were the eccentric type who didn’t care what anyone thought of her, she’d phone in a radio request to the DJ to play “Love me on Monday” from Jane to Stan. If she were the studious/intellectual type she’d stay home writing philosophical verse and haikus for Manuscript. If she were the earnest type she’d send in a letter to the “Dear Abby” advice columnist of the day-Ann Benedict of Teen Corner-or if she were a whore like Marcy she’d simply go out with the next boy who came along.

            But she’s not, Jane realizes, as she has her epiphany. She’s herself. Jane Purdy. A nice girl who is noticed by boys like Stan and Buzz and she ought to stop acting (and comparing herself) to all those other girls at school and just BE HERSELF! That’s the answer. Filled with fresh resolve and feeling much better as if a burden has been lifted, she wanders back out to join her parents in the living room. The phone rings and its Julie with breaking news-Stan’s in the hospital! Emergency appendectomy. He’ll be okay and Julie has already forgiven Jane about Buzz because she’s a true friend and besides Buzz made it up to her by taking her to someone’s party this afternoon. That’s where she heard the news about Stan. So that’s why Stan looked so uncomfortable when he dropped her off at her job this morning. He wasn’t hurt and angry-he had a pain in his appendix!

 

Chapter 10

So, how does a “sort of” girlfriend show sympathy to the boy she likes? She’s never been formally introduced to Stan’s family-would it even be appropriate to send flowers? Her mother approves of the idea but Jane doesn’t want to send homegrown flowers wrapped in newspaper. Stan is worth more than that. She resolves tomorrow after school to go to the florist and arrange to send flowers to the hospital.

            Gladiolas are decided and Jane is horrified by the three-foot-wide gaudy arrangement that is beyond her budget to send over, she must do it herself. Noticed by EVERYONE on the street, when she passes Nibley’s soda fountain, it seems the entire student body stops what they’re doing to stare and comment. But Jane keeps it light and finds witty responses to the delight of all which boosts her morale and Jane is filled with new self-confidence. She gets back at Buzz, Marcy, and anyone else who ever made her feel second-rate. Even Julie is in the crowd who offers to go with her for moral support but Jane is determined to see this through by herself. A boy even offers to go with her but Jane turns him down too. She calls her good-byes and overhears a few encouraging comments about her character.

            At the hospital, Jane is dismayed to learn Stan has already been discharged, just this morning. Lucky for her he only lives three blocks away. She walks to the house and is met by his little sister and Stan’s very pleasant, comfortable-looking mother who reassures Jane her thoughtfulness is very much appreciated. Little sister brags about how much Stan likes Jane, he shines his shoes for an HOUR every time he gets ready to go over and see her! Mrs. Crandall invites Jane to come over for dinner sometime and Jane accepts.

Ever the sweetheart, Stan phones almost as soon as Jane walks in the door to thank her for the flowers. His little sister is named Mitzi (the German pet nickname for Mary or Maria and peak popularity in the ‘50s thx to actress Mitzi Gaynor of German ancestry) and he is sorry nobody woke him to inform him of Jane’s visit. Stan admits he WAS upset over Buzz’s kiss but only because he wanted to be the first one to kiss her. He asks, sotto voce if she minds? Jane is so flattered she can only whisper her agreement. He also wants her to plan on being his date to the Junior Class barbeque activity in two weeks-he should be fully recovered by then. Is it a date?  Oh, HECK yes!

Chapter 11

Jane enjoys her 15 minutes of fame next day at school as the story about her monstrous "Birnam Wood" bouquet camouflage is the talk of the school and her school paper gossip column even mentions it in a short item. Stan phones every day after school while recovering. At long last, the night of the big date arrives.

            As they drive along, Stan confides his (not-so-secret) bicycle to her and they laugh when Jane admits she saw him anyway! Now, look at them. He thought she had so much “poise” while Jane keeps all those secret qualms she suffered that entire day before their first date to herself.

            The fall evening is perfect-warm and still. The food on tonight’s barbeque menu is cheap but edible: limp salad, cold scalloped potatoes and steak so tough and fatty they give up after just a few bites. They found a spot away from the rest of the crowd at the city park picnic tables. Stan makes a move but Jane blurts out some absurd comment that breaks the spell. We have no idea what Jane is wearing tonight-she’s come a long way since Chapter 3! She and Stan are official “lovebirds” which is kind of embarrassing and awkward. Is Stan going to kiss her?

Suddenly, Julie and Buzz burst onto the scene. Buzz is just annoying. He found out tonight’s movie-in-the-park for the Junior class activity is a snore-fest educational film that nobody is going to enjoy. Buzz manipulates things so he and Julie can slip away just as their history teacher/chaperone herds Stan and Jane over to the benches and plops himself down next to them. They are trapped for the entire six reels of some boring documentary on our obscure 6^th American President (somebody call Lin-Manuel Miranda!).

With no opportunity to go for a long drive and make out, Stan salvages the evening by removing his ID bracelet during the movie and slipping it silently, covertly, over Jane’s wrist. Woah! HUGE step up in this relationship and Stan hasn’t even made it to first base yet!

(As I was working on this close reading/book summary in 2014 [typed up in 2020] I jumped online for some research about dating in the 1950’s In 1956 there was lots of dating and pairing off in high school with kids as young as 13 and 14 encouraged to start dating each other, go to dances, “jitterbugging” hanging out which resulted in LOTS  of young marriages with kids as young as 19 tying the knot, fresh out of high school, except they were also expected to STAY married. Remember this is before the sexual revolution and the pill so everyone understood-if you wanted to have sex with your partner, you got married first. It was the morally responsible thing to do) Okay, back to our story…

Stan whispers if this is okay? With a radiant smile, Jane whispers, “Yes.” On the drive home, Stan mentions the courtship rule of their current dating culture-when a fellow gives a girl his ID bracelet it means they are going steady. Jane is thrilled and totally cool with the idea of going steady.

They exit the car and hold hands. He draws her to him stopping on the front walk before they reach the front door. Time for the kiss! Stan lifts her face to whisper intimately, “You’re MY girl,” just as that darn cat plops his latest gopher catch at their feet, loudly announcing his triumph. Stan quickly leans in, nose bump, lips brush and meet (Jane is pleased to discover how SOFT a boy’s lips are!) and it is a cherished moment for both. They quickly step apart just as Mr. Purdy leans out a bedroom window to shine a flashlight and praise the spoiled cat before seeing them and greeting Stan who makes a graceful exit, “Goodnight sir, see you tomorrow Jane.”  And that’s how Jane (and Stan) lived happily ever after.    

 

THE END