My First Kiss Was a Setup Behind a Portable

My friends did the dirty work

It was 1990 and I was 11 years old. Writing that makes me cringe. I’m so glad my daughters weren’t doing this at 11!

I was in 6th grade and landed my first boyfriend. His name was Mark with a C. That’s how he would describe himself. Sounds like a dweeb, huh?

He was Mexican. I’ve always liked guys that aren’t white. Tall, dark, and handsome all the way. But, not like this matters and I’m sure no one cares.

Do you remember yourself at this age? I was so shy and I think he asked me out in a note, and then we BARELY talked to each other.

Watching my girls and their friends at this age, I realize this is still how relationships work.

Boys and girls are scared of each other, yet they want each other.

So, my boy crazed friends were on a mission. At lunch, they ran up to Marc and said…

“You should go kiss Michele after school behind the portables.”

He said, SURE!

If you don’t know what a portable is, just think of a movable home. It’s basically a one-room box that a truck can deliver.

The girls were extremely giddy when they ran back to me. I sat there at the lunch table alone and watched them instruct Marc on what to do and where to meet me, and I watched them scurry back to me.

Sounds dumb, huh? Well, we were 11.

Now, I am completely freaking out about it the whole rest of the day. I couldn’t concentrate or do anything in class except wonder what this was going to be like.

I almost wanted to bolt when the bell rang and run home, alone.

Too late, my friends were there in a snap to nab me, forcing me to the portables.

Of course, Marc was there, eager and ready and I’m sure I looked like a deer in headlights. He didn’t care because he was about to get to first base. It was his first time, too.

And guess what, I could absolutely TELL that it was his first time. He grabbed and came at me with his motor tongue, and I forgot to add that he had BRACES.

The motor tongue and braces cut up my mouth and I couldn’t wait for it to be over.

I thought…

“GROSS! This is what the hype is all about. I never want to do that again.”

And, I didn’t until 8th grade. The next kiss was much better, thank goodness.

Thanks, Scot Butwell for the inspiration and for tagging me.

Read his story here:

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Thanks for reading!

Much love, Michele