"Thank you so much for taking me out to lunch, Mrs. Arcola," Abigail said as she took a bite of salad.
"You're very welcome, Abigail," Joanie smiled. "By the way, you can call me Joanie now, Abigail. I'm not that much older than you, you know."
"I just can't believe how much has changed since I...fell asleep."
"It's a whole new world," Joanie agreed. "But I think you'll find that, once you get used to it, there are many new choices and opportunities that weren't there before."
It was the following Saturday, and Joanie had taken Abigail out for lunch at the pizzeria in the mall. She knew that it would be a challenge for Abigail to adjust to life in 1984, and she wanted to help her all she could. She thought that getting re-acquainted with the now-adult Abigail over lunch would be a good starting point.
"The music sure is different," Abigail chuckled. An eighties hit featuring a drum machine and synthesizers was currently playing on the jukebox.
Joanie smiled. "That it is."
"I used to really like the Beatles," Abigail said softly. "Are they still around?"
"They broke up in 1970, and each one started a solo career. John Lennon was murdered in 1980, Ringo Starr went into acting, but Paul McCartney and George Harrison are both still recording."
"John was murdered? Oh no!"
Joanie nodded sadly. "Shot to death by a mentally unbalanced fan."
"That's terrible!"
"Yes, it is."
"Everybody dresses a lot differently, too." Abigail wore a simple white dress with a belt and black flats.
"If you like, we could look around some in the clothing stores here at the mall after lunch," Joanie offered. "You can see the types of clothing that are popular now."
"I'd like that." Abigail's words were barely audible. "I can't believe he actually married her, and so soon after I fell asleep, too," she continued. "And do you know they have a son who looks just like David did when he was seventeen?"
"I'm so sorry, Abigail." Joanie placed a comforting hand on Abigail's arm. "He was only seventeen, and none of us knew when or even if you would ever wake up. Ellen was there and available. I'm not saying that what she did was right, but it's easy to understand how something like that could have happened."
"She always wanted anything I had, just because I had it," Abigail said bitterly.
"Well, she didn't pull him away from you by a ring through his nose," Joanie said gently. "It was David's choice to make, too."
"I looked at myself in the mirror," Abigail said glumly. "My body looks so different now. Even if David were still single, I don't think he'd be interested in me now."
"Your body is perfectly normal for that of a healthy thirty-seven-year-old woman," Joanie assured her. "You're just not used to the idea of being thirty-seven yet. That's all. Once you're over the shock of suddenly finding yourself twenty years older, you'll feel totally differently about yourself."
"There's something I'd like to ask you, Joanie, but I feel really awkward about it." Abigail stared at the table top.
"You can ask me anything you want to, Abigail. I promise I won't be shocked or angry, and it'll be just between you and me."
"It's about sex." Abigail blushed slightly. "What I'd like to know is, how long do people these days usually date each other before they, you know, go all the way? I mean, by when does the guy expect it? On the first date?"
"Why do you want to know, Abigail? Has someone asked you out?"
"Well, no." Abigail blushed furiously. "I'm just curious, that's all. It seems to be such a big deal to everyone these days. I don't remember it being that way before."
"Times have changed, that's for sure," Joanie agreed. "As for how long to wait before having sex for the first time, it varies from couple to couple. Some have sex for the first time much sooner than others do. Some delay having sex for religious or moral reasons. The important thing is not to let anyone pressure you into it before you know that you're ready."
"But how will you know when you're ready?"
"I don't really know how to explain it. You'll just know, that's all."
"I'm really curious to know what it would be like."
"That's a perfectly normal feeling for someone in your situation."
"Do you think it would be all right to do it with someone, you know, just to find out what it would be like?"
"If what you're asking me is whether or not it would be okay to let yourself get picked up by some guy in a bar, then no, absolutely not. That would be a horrible idea."
"I don't mean a stranger. I mean somebody you already know."
"Are you talking about propositioning David?"
"Oh no, no. I mean...well, like if I meet a nice guy and we start dating."
"That would be between you and the man you were dating, Abigail. I'd still urge you to be careful. There are a lot of diseases going around, you know, and you're certainly still young enough to get pregnant."
"Oh, I already know about condoms and all that."
"How do you know about them?"
Abigail blushed. "I've seen commercials on TV. I've been doing some reading too."
"Sounds like you're well informed then. That's good."
"Well, thanks, Mrs. Arc-...I mean, Joanie." Abigail's face brightened as she took a sip of her drink.
"So, ready to go hit some clothing stores?" Joanie asked.
"Sure!" Abigail grinned.