It rained the night of March 26, 1979. It was cold and dreary, absolutely miserable and had kept us trapped indoors all day long. There was a TV to keep us occupied and we had decent conversation but I felt more restless than a hooker in church.
"You want to listen to music?" Ronnie suggested.
"What do you have?"
"Everything", he grinned.
I looked through his record collection that included albums by everyone from Kool and the Gang to the Doors. Ronnie and I had always shared a diverse interest in music and art.
"How about this one?" I smiled.
I took a deep breath, cleared my throat and grabbed the nearest makeshift microphone I could find...the kitchen groom. I released my hair from it's messy bun and prepared to give the performance of a lifetime.
Lovely Is The Feelin' Now
Fever, Temperatures Risin' Now
Power (Ah Power) Is The Force The Vow
That Makes It Happen It Asks No Questions Why (Ooh)
So Get Closer (Closer Now)
To My Body Now Just Love Me
'Til You Don't Know How (Ooh)
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Keep On With The Force Don't Stop
Don't Stop 'Til You Get Enough
Ronnie laughed as I danced around the living room.
"Not exactly the reception I was hoping for", I said, breathless.
"No, it's cute", he grinned. "You always were a huge Michael Jackson fan."
"Of course. He's the best...the king."
"Okay, well how about this..."
Ronnie switched records then reached for his guitar as he played along.
You act like a prima donna
Playing so hard to get
Sittin' so cool and nonchalant
Draggin' on a cigarette
You keep a wall all around ya
'n I'll get through some day
'n I want your love babe, if push comes to shove
Gonna chip that wall away
Chip away
Chip away at the stone
I won't stop 'til your love is my very own
Chip away
That's what I'm gonna do
Sweet little mama I wanna get next to you
I loved Aerosmith. Along with up and comers Van Halen, they were among my favorite band. I liked the song too but it was hard to concentrate as Ronnie played along with his guitar. It was just something about those perfectly tanned arms.
"Now what?" he asked. "What should we sing along to next?"
"I don't care", I shrugged. "I think Michael wore me out. Just put on anything we can chill to."
Ronnie nodded and put on more music while I removed my sweatshirt. In the process my tank top rose as well, exposing the flat of my belly. I blushed as I saw Ronnie looking at my body, his thoughts just as distracted as mine were while I looked at him.
"Do you think you'll ever go back?" I asked.
"Back where?"
"Alexandria."
"I don't know", he shrugged. "I love it there. My parents are there. It'll always be home I guess but I don't know. After we left Huntington Beach that summer I missed California so much I figured that I'd always move back there. Then I came to school here and I don't know...I really like it, I guess. I'm happy. What about you, Mary-Courtney? Think you'll ever go back?"
"I don't know either. I miss it sometimes or maybe I just miss what it was to me back then, you know? It kind of represents innocence and simplicity and happiness and friendship. That's what I love about it the most but I doubt I'll ever go back for good. I don't know where I'll end up. I love Milwaukee but that's not really home either. Neither was New York."
"Home is where your heart is."
"I don't know where my heart is", I said quietly.
"I remember when it used to be in Virginia when mine was too. We were so happy. We'd have so much fun together. I remember we'd meet up between classes and at lunch in school. I felt so proud every time I saw you wearing my letter jacket. It was just nice...at the games...after the games...my house, your house...the Hill."
"Make out central, huh?" I smirked.
"Yeah but it was more than that. Hell, we made out everywhere Mary-Courtney. It was cool but I just liked being with you. I liked everything about you. We were two peas in a pod. Just the way we shared views on politics and religion and social issues. We liked art and different kinds of music. We were just so in sync, you know? I liked that...I miss that."
"I miss it too."
"I guess that's just life, huh? People grow up...move on. Things change."
"Yeah..."
We were lying on blankets on the living room floor in front of a blazing fire while the rain splashed rhythmically on the roof. Although we'd only been sipping warm milk, I felt like I'd had four glasses of wine. There was something romantic and sensual and wildly intoxicating about being so close to Ronnie Bass.
"What?" he asked.
"What?"
"I asked you first. Why are you looking at me like that?"
"Like what?"
"I don't know. Like that."
The record changed and the sweet tunes of Solomon Burke's "Cry To Me" began to play. I'd always loved that song. It was something about that song.
"Ronnie...will you dance with me?"
"Are you serious?" he laughed.
"Yeah", I nodded.
"Here?"
"Here."
"Now?"
"Right now."
He stood, slowly reluctantly before coming over to me. My heart pounded as walked towards each other and I felt his strong arms slip around my waist.
When your baby leaves you all alone
And nobody call you on the phone
Doncha feel like crying
Doncha feel like crying like crying like crying
C'mon baby, cry to me
My hands rested on the small of his back relishing the scent and the very moment itself as he pulled my body close and began to sway to the music.
When you're all alone in your lonely room
And there's nothing but the smell of her perfume
Doncha feel like crying
Doncha feel like crying like crying like crying
C'mon baby, (c'mon) cry to me
My face was buried in his chest, the lingering aroma of his cologne pushed into my nose as I rested against his collarbone. There was an overwhelming urge to kiss it like I had so many times so many years ago. Want, love, need, nerves, fear, confusion and uncertainty stopped me from going to that one place on the nape of his neck that I knew drove him wild. Instead I let my lips brush ever so lightly across the area of his chest exposed by his tee.
Nothing could be sadder than a glass of wine alone
Loneliness loneliness, it just a waste of your time
But you don't ever you don't ever have to walk alone
You see, so c'mon take my hand
C'mon walk with me
He responded with a muffled moan escaping deep from the bottom of his throat. I closed my eyes as I felt his hands touch me. My breath was coming in bated spurts and I couldn't force myself to look him in the eye. Finally he tilted my chin upwards and our eyes met. Our minds and our bodies could try to fight the feelings between us but our hearts and souls could not. And our eyes had always been the windows to our souls.
When you're waiting for a voice to come
In the night there is no one
Doncha feel like crying
Doncha feel like crying like crying like crying
C'mon baby, cry to me
I shivered as his hands roamed my back and stomach and then finally he lifted the shirt over my head, tossing it to the side. I should have felt exposed in my bra, vulnerable in his presence but I only felt love. Only magic. The pure essence of what was Sunshine and Mary-Courtney.
C'mon baby, that's right cry to me
Yes, I want you to come on baby
C'mon c'mon cry to me
I want you to c'mon baby
C'mon c'mon and cry to me
Ronnie removed his shirt as well and there we were, face to face, flesh to flesh still moving in time to the music. Our faces were mere inches apart and that's when he moved in. After what seemed like an eternity his lips were finally on my lips. His tongue was finally in my mouth. So sweet, so gentle and tender....soft...beautiful. I almost wept.
Yeah c'mon baby c'mon I want you to cry cry cry to me
Yeah I want you to cry cry cry cry cry cry cry
I want you to cry cry cry cry cry cry cry cry...
Ronnie carried me to his bed and laid me down without protest. We undressed each other as if it were the most natural thing in the world. I felt so beautiful and wanted and loved.
"Mary-Courtney, are you sure you want to..."
"Shhhhhh", I said, putting a finger to his lips.
Then I kissed him, knowing that would answer his question and erase any lingering doubts. He knew me like a book. He knew what I was thinking and feeling and he knew what I wanted next. I closed my eyes and moaned as I felt his hands, his mouth all over me. The physical pleasure and emotional intimacy was overpowering. And then he was inside me and we were one...again. It felt like love, like kismet, like heaven...like home.