As Josie and Sam are kissing each other for the first time, in the middle of a fully packed stadium. The euphoric crowd continues to cheer for Josie's first personal grand slam. She holds his hand in hers, as they are strolling towards the stadium seatings, before the pitcher is about to through the first ball. They meet many warm congratulatory smiles from the audience!
Shyly, Josie lifts her head up and says "I am glad that you are here with me, at last. What a surreal moment! I was never as happy as the moment, when we were kissing; at the same time I was so afraid that everything was just a wonderful hallucination."
Sam looks into her eyes and embraces her tenderly, as if she were a newborn puppy. With his soft baritone voice, he says "My charming princess, you just never stop surprising me with your fantastic ideas and your elaborating narratives." He pauses a short moment and gives her a kiss on her lips again. Thereafter, Sam cradles her upper torso with his right arm, as they sit down next to each other.
Josie enjoys being so close to him. The scent of his breathe reminds her of a favorite gum, which she often chews, when she feels insecure. As she leans her head on his chest, she asks:" I just do not know how to apologize to you. When you left me, after the prom night. All I could think about was our last conversation, your dance steps, and most of all … " Josie touches his face nervously and looks into his eyes innocently." What would happen, if we met each other through another context. I am not sure if I could ever be as exciting or beautiful as Laura. When you told me that you broke up with her a few weeks ago, I was so certain that you just need someone to talk with. Also, you would probably like to enjoy you fabulous single life for a while."
"Oh, sweet Josie!" Sam replies. "Do you have any idea about the feeling of being accepted for who I am. When I am with you, I am so certain that my choice of working as a high school teacher is the best decision I ever made."
"Why is it so controversial to work as a teacher? It is a wonderful job! Beside, you have all the time in the world to indulge yourself with a few of the most dramatic narratives, also to discuss with your students about how people from various socio-economic groups, in different age, envision the contradiction between heroes and villains, love and hatred, vision and reality! It must be a fantastic experience to observe how young people develop through their years in South Glen, under your guidance and encouragement!"
"Oh, my delightful Josephine Geller!" Sam kisses her forehead affectionately. "You remind me of the valiant Celtic warrior princess, Cartismantua. As a college student, I was very interested in Celtic history. I always thought I will one day travel to Ireland, to hike along the treacherous coastline in Dingle!"
"That sounds like an exciting vacation plan! I would love to spend a few days upon Aran island, visiting the Gaelic speaking community. Another wish is to visit St Michel island, to make friends with the lovely puffins in their natural environment." Josie replies dreamingly.
Sam looks at her warmly. Josie is an interesting and thoughtful woman. Behind her insecure smile, there is a strong determination to live her life to its full potential. At the age of 25, she still retains a strong urge to continue to dream, searching for her next adventure, which would define the greatness of life; at the same time, she has displayed a sharp intellectual depth in a number of different fields, as if she were an experienced UN diplomat. He has never been intimidated by any girls before. As the best forward in his college ice-hochey team who has a degree in English literature, he was often the center of gravity in various campus parties. Many pretty girls loved competing for his attention. At the age of 22, he was certain that he was the luckiest man in the entire universe. Suddenly, his fate changed, after his left arm, the good arm, was terribly injured in a game. From one day to another, he could no longer be the most celebrated hero on the ice. The pain from the fracture kept him awake night after night. In a few months, the operating room in the hospital was his second home.
"What are you thinking?" Josie's question brings him back to this fervent baseball match again. What a night! Sam looks at Josie! She is extremely graceful in her pink dress. As the warm breeze blows her soft, curly blond hair up and down, he cannot help himself from holding her tighter, inhaling the scent of her hair and feeling the warmth of her body. He wants to dance with her, under a huge Bohemian crystal chandelier in a baroque styled ball room, just like Ginger Rogers and Fred Astaire; or to hike with her, towards the highest mountain peak and enjoy the most spectacular view, under the cloudless autumn sky, like two tenacious Vikings; most all, to enjoy this moment with her.
Josie asks him again: "Sam, Sam, Mr Coulson, are you alright? "
"Oh, sorry, I just have some thoughts in my head." Sam is so afraid of revealing what he is thinking about at that moment. He does not want to give this brilliant and timid woman any pressure, which she could not bear so early in their relationship. Instead, he continues to discuss their last topic, with a slightly shaking voice. "How come you are so interested in Ireland, Josie? Do you have any Gaelic ancestors?"
"No, my maternal grandparents moved from Norway and Sweden with their families in the twenties. Both families settled in Nebraska. My paternal grandparents are children of German immigrants. There is no direct connection between me and Ireland biologically. Nevertheless, I have always enjoyed reading National geographics. As a teenager, I wanted to travel with a backpack through Europe." She responds softly. "I would love to visit Padua, to admire the wonderful Giotto fresco in Scrovegni Chapel; also drinking a cup of hot cocoa with a dash of the finest French brandy in one of the Viennese cafés in Austria, experiencing the enigmatic atmosphere, which once encouraged Freud and Breuer to discuss the psychological problems underneath Fräulein Anna O's physical illness."
Suddenly the applause from the crowd breaks out and drowns out her voice. South Glen has brought home the title. All the spectators are standing up and cheering the victory togethers with the boys in the field. Josie has only her eyes for Sam, a gentleman who has just given her the first real kiss in her life. The feeling of kissing him is nothing like what she imagined previously. His lips are soft and moisture; his newly shaved cheeks are smooth and soothing; his tongue is silky and playful. The feeling of touching his cheek with her hand, while looking at his eyes in a crowded stadium, is as intensive as being hit by a thunderbolt. At that moment, all her previous sad memories vanish into the oblivion instantaneously. The sensation of being passionately kissed by him, washes away all her anxieties for any potential future hazards. At the same time, she feels so apprehensive about entering a relationship, a real relationship with its own up and downs. Every cell in her body wants this moment to last forever.
Now, he is standing next to her in his gorgeous grey coloured jumper and smiling back to her, as if they have always been a couple. She is so proud that this sophisticated and athletic man is now her official companion, her prince charming, her heart desire.