Johnny and Mary

They were late. Johnny got Mary home at ten-past-ten. Earlier, when he picked her up, her father had said, “Johnny, have Mary home by ten. Not ten-oh-one. Ten.” Johnny said “Yes, sir, I promise.” But now they were ten minutes late because, as they left the Cinema, Mary had taken Johnny’s keys and held them behind her back, daring him to reach around her and take them. When he reached right, she turned left. When he reached the other way, she spun back. When he reached around her waist with both arms and grabbed his keys, she kissed him. He never saw it coming. He drove her home slowly, dazed.

At Mary’s front door, under the porch lamp, Mary planted another kiss on him. Again, she took him by surprise. The porch light flashed. Inside, his hand on the switch, was Mary’s father. His watch said ten-ten, not ten as promised. The door opened and Mary slipped inside with a sly smile and a half-wink. Her father stared at Johnny, “Good night Johnny.” Johnny said, “Sorry.”

Johnny drove home in a fog. He had just gotten his driver’s license, his first car, and his first kiss, all in one month. Johnny wondered, did Mary intend more last-minute kissing and late arrivals? Was she testing Johnny, or testing her father?

Their second date was at an afternoon pool party. All the parents were there. No alcohol was served. All the teens who attended were A students, debate-teamers and history-clubbers. It was a parent’s idea of a wholesome way to mix and meet. Mary took Johnny’s hand and led him behind the bath house. Without warning, she put her hands on his shoulders, pulled him in and kissed him. Mary’s mother popped her head around the corner and said, “Kids? Burgers are ready.”

On their third date, Johnny took Mary to a friend’s basement rec room party. There were no adults. The music was loud, a smoke smell was faint. The host’s parents were away, and their liquor cabinet was unlocked. Mary pushed Johnny into a side bedroom, closed the door, and shoved him backward onto the bed. Embracing him, she kissed him once, rested her head on his shoulder, and they talked until they fell asleep. They awoke after midnight. Johnny said, “Shit. You’re father’s going to kill me.” Mary said, “He never kills any of my boyfriends.”

Johnny raced her home, picturing her father’s height and weight advantage. The porch light was out. Mary’s father sat on the front steps in the light of his cigarette’s glow.

“You’re late.” he said.
Johnny said, “Sorry, sorry, sorry. We fell asleep, nothing happened, I swear.”
Mary tossed off a laugh, walked past her father, and disappeared inside. Johnny stood in the dark of the lonely walkway.
Johnny said, “Sir, it’s really not my fault.”
“I know, Johnny.”
Johnny said, “I wouldn’t break your rules. Honest.”
Mary’s father said, “No, but Mary would. She’s bad news. I don’t want you to get hurt. Sit down. Let me give you the talk I gave all the other boys.”