Number Two: Josh and Mindy

Mindy Crenshaw hated crowds. She never wanted to be in the popular look-at-me

cliques. Her boyfriend Josh Nichols read her mind completely when they skipped out of

Belleview High's Valentine's Day dance to park. Josh had the radio on a soft mellow

station as he did the faux yawn arm around the shoulder move. Mindy this was coming

and she didn't mind. She did feel slightly self-conscious in her strapless sky blue taffeta

dress.

"Mindy, did I tell you that you look ravishing tonight?"

She smiled. "Better than Oprah?"

"You know it."

Their lips and met and they slowly put their arms around one another and kissed. When

Mindy felt Josh trying to find the zipper on the back of her dress she pulled herself up.

"I'm not ready for that, Josh."

He sighed in the typical male frustration way.

"Is that a problem? I mean if it is…you can just dial up 'Hot Liza' on your cell phone. I

heard that she broke up with Brent."

"You know I love you—it just gets frustrating."

"I know. Do you think it's not frustrating for me too? It's a two way street, Josh. I don't

want us to have our first time in the back of a car."

Josh put his arm around her again this time with no intention of trying to unzip her formal

dress, "I agree. Well before I totally ruin this night…"

"You didn't ruin tonight." She kissed him on the lips.

"You might want to open up the glove compartment." Josh removed his arm from her.

"Oh, really? What's in the box?"

"You have to open it, Mindy."

"Okay…A medal?"

It was a gold toned model with a blue ribbon. He turned on the overhead light so that

she could read what was inscribed on it.

Josh Nichols

Science Fair First Prize

Solar system display

Dewey Elementary School

Fourth Grade-1995

"That was my first science fair prize. I want you to have it. I'd have had more awards but

someone always came ahead of me."

"I love it, Josh, and I love you." She handed him the medal so he could put it around her

neck. She felt like a champion.

"I love you, too, Mindy. And I want you to know you are worth waiting for."

But for now all that the two seventeen year olds had was time to be carefree and fog up

the windows with the promise that there would be more someday.