Sex and Cars

Romance and Automotive Help

1970 Pontiac GTO

Response to writing prompt by Ernio Hernandez

Bernie was a scrawny kid from one of the few above-poverty-level families in our rural area, and, in local eyes, that made him rich. As he grew into his teen years, he was still scrawny but a little taller. Not blessed with good looks, Bernie depended on his outgoing personality and his family’s economic status to gain popularity in school, and his strategy worked.

Getting his driver’s license was the first step to Bernie’s bright blue GTO, which was the hottest car of 1970. Very few high schoolers had access to a vehicle to drive to school, even fewer had one of their own, and none had a hot car like Bernie’s. Parked next to the rusty 1950’s pickup trucks and second-hand family cars, Bernie’s bright blue bomb was the sure winner of the vehicle popularity contest.

Bernie had courted Jennie since seventh grade. She was one of, if not the, prettiest girl in our class. Being shallow seventh graders, most of us wondered what lovely Jennie saw in scrawny Bernie.

In our first year at the rural high school that went from eighth grade through twelfth, Jennie started noticing the taller and cuter older boys, and they definitely noticed her. Bernie was cast aside as Jennie waded in new waters.

Bernie was not alone long. His sense of humor, loquaciousness, and family money quickly attracted other girls. He dated a few but none lasted — his heart belonged to Jennie. He stumbled along in the dating world until he obtained the coveted driver’s license.

His license and the bright blue Goat were the tipping point for Bernie and Jennie. The GTO made scrawny Bernie sexy, and together they won back Jennie.

Bernie and Jennie would date and ride in the Goat all through high school. They married the summer after graduation and rode off to their honeymoon in — yes, the Goat.

I don’t know how much longer the Goat survived, but the romance of Bernie and Jennie is still going strong 46 years later.

Is it shallow for a girl to be attracted to a guy because of his car? Is it manipulative for a guy to use a sexy car to get a girl? Yes is the best answer to both questions.

But, sometimes romance can use a little automotive help.

Writing prompt gallery link: https://readmedium.com/80f90aeec375