by Ilona Fridl
“Yeah, I enjoy it, too. If it wasn’t for babies, I would probably let myself go. It’s too bad we’re too young for the pill.” Evie chewed on her lower lip. “I honestly don’t know how long I can resist him.”
Teri sighed. “I know what you mean.”
Evie turned on the small transistor radio to their favorite top-forty station, KRLA. The Beach Boys’ song “Fun, Fun, Fun” wafted over the salty air. The girls lay on their stomachs, singing along, watching the boys ride waves.
The lovely summer day was spent eating, sleeping, wading into the surf, and wandering the pier with a number of wolf whistles sent in the girls’ direction. They glanced at each other and shared a giggle. As the sun went down, they found a fire ring. The boys took supplies to the Volkswagen and brought back an armload of firewood. The blankets were used to take the chill off the evening when the sun went down at the edge of the world. After starting the fire, the young people huddled in the blankets, listening to the voice of the Doors’ Jim Morrison singing “Light My Fire” through the tinny speaker. A few other fires dotted the beach on either side of theirs, flickering in the twilight glow of the sky as a few stars began to show.
Under the blanket, David rubbed Teri’s back and nuzzled her neck. She shivered, in spite of the warmth of the blanket and the fire. She glanced at Ken and Evie, and they had disappeared under their blanket. She kissed David on his neck and ran her hands down his shoulders as he moaned, “Oh, Teri, you’re beautiful.” Then he freed a breast from her bikini bra and the cool air caused the nipple to tighten. Teri let out a small gasp as he kissed it, and the voice in her head shouted a warning, but the tingling of her body took an edge over her brain.
Teri lay under the blanket, her mind reeling from the new feelings as David teased her belly button and kissed it, then slipped down beside her. Next to her thigh, she felt a hot, hard bulge when David stretched out, and they continued to pet, with Teri panting and moaning. Taking David’s hand, she put it on her wet bikini bottom, and he shook as he untied one side of the bikini, caressing her, running his fingers along her slit. Taking a deep breath, he slipped his fingers down the front. Teri exploded in a new wave of emotions. Her heart was racing and her breath came in spasmodic pants. When her body started to sweat all over, she wanted to feel David deep within, and she instinctively spread her legs, but suddenly something inside made her stop.
With David’s breathing quickening, Teri felt him shudder. “Oh, god,” he moaned.
“David?” Teri whispered as she reached for him and curled her fingers into his shoulders.
In the darkness, he sat up beside her and, along her leg, she felt a warm sticky substance. “I’m sorry, Teri, I lost control.”
Sitting up, she wiped her leg with a towel. “I think we’d better go, before we do something we’ll regret.” She retied her bikini, then tossed him the towel, and he wiped off his bathing trunks. When they stood, they shook out the sand from their blanket and Teri put on her cover-up as Ken and Evie looked out from under their shelter. In near silence they piled wet sand on the fire, packed the Volkswagen, and headed home.
All four of them remained quiet on the way. Teri was the first to be dropped off, and she thanked Ken for taking them, then said goodbye to Evie. David walked her to the door, carrying the picnic basket while Teri carried the duffle bag. Placing them by the door, they kissed goodnight, and she felt a warm glow.
David smiled. “I love you, Teri.”
She gazed at him. “I care for you, too. Goodnight, David.” Unlocking the door, she picked up her things and went inside. Her parents were watching television.
Her mother looked serious. “Hi, sweetheart, how was your day at the beach? It looks like you got a little sunburned.” She came to inspect the damage.
“I’m okay, Mom, it’s not painful.”
“Teri, you know that suit is not the one I approved of. Why did you buy it?”
“I like it, and it covers up everything that needs to be covered. Mother, everyone is getting a suit like this. Why couldn’t I?”
“Because your father and I don’t think it’s appropriate for a seventeen-year-old. We’ll go shopping next week and get you a new one. Usually you don’t defy us like this, so we’ve decided to ground you for only a week.”
“A week! But, Mom, I—”
“Two weeks!” Her mom set her mouth in a tight line.
Glancing at her father, sitting silent in his chair, Teri sighed. “All right, you win. Goodnight, Mom and Dad.” She slammed the door to her bedroom. Parents just don’t understand fashion. Well, I’ve served time before.
Lying awake a long time, Teri thought about how she felt about David and whether she wanted to go further. He seems to be the only boy who cares about me, and I guess that’s important. Rolling over, she tried to get some sleep.
****
It was March of ’67 when the four friends double-dated at the Scene and Virgin Ram played their monthly gig. Teri and David were dancing a slow number near the stage when Teri looked at the band and saw Tim watching, and he smiled, winking at her. Teri’s jaw dropped and after the song finished, she flew across the dance floor to grab Evie’s arm. “We have to go to the bathroom,” she hissed, dragging Evie behind.
“What is going on with you?” Evie said as the door shut.
“I’m not crazy. When David and I were dancing near the stage, I looked up and Tim smiled and winked at me. I swear to god.”
Staring at her friend a moment, Evie started to laugh. “Teri, I have never seen you this delusional. You have really gone ape over this guy.”
“I haven’t lost my mind, but I can’t seem to convince you.” Shaking her head, Teri checked her watch. “Come on, we’re just about at curfew.”
The friends said their goodbyes in the parking lot, since the boys had driven separately. David pulled up in front of Teri’s house, turned off the motor, and gazed at her in the glow of the dashboard.
“We have five minutes before you have to go in. Teri, I love you.” Putting his arms around her, he kissed her.
“David, I—oh!” she said as he put his hand under her sweater, caressing her breast, making the nipple pucker, and a thrill went down her body. “I have to go in. Goodnight, Tiger.” Laughing, she gently disengaged herself.
“Goodnight, Sweet Stuff,” David called as she closed the car door.
Walking to the front door, Teri was a little ashamed because once again David had told her he loved her and she couldn’t return it. Not when she was thinking about someone else. Turning, she waved, and he waved back as he drove down the street. She rested her head on the cool surface of the door for a moment before she went in.
****
A few days after the gig at Alhambra’s Scene, Tim and John rested in the apartment on one of their rare evenings off. Slowly strumming his acoustic guitar, Tim sprawled on their green overstuffed armchair by the window, and John had his feet up on the matching couch, reading a copy of Reader’s Digest by the dim light of the pole lamp.
“Damn it, John,” Tim finally said, “I still haven’t been able to meet that redhead at the Scene. She seems to disappear before the gig is finished.”
“Maybe she’s spoken for.” John looked up from the magazine.
“There’s no ring on her finger, so that means she’s fair game.” He chuckled. “You should have seen her face when I smiled and winked at her. She’s hot for me. I know it.”
John threw a pillow at Tim’s head, and the old green satin pillow went bouncing off, but Tim caught it. “What an ego!” John said as the phone rang. A few seconds after answering it, John suddenly let out a whoop.
Tim mouthed, “Who is it?”
John mouthed back, “It’s our agent,” and, in his normal voice, continued, “Yes, we’ll be at the office at nine o’clock sharp.” He pushed the receiver button down, then let go and quickly began to dial. After a moment, he said, “Roy, go pull Luke off whatever woman he’s on and get your asses to our apartment
, NOW!” When he hung up, he waved his hands in the air and yelled, “Yippee!”
Throwing the pillow back at John, Tim hissed, “What the hell is going on?”
Bouncing the pillow again off Tim’s head, John exclaimed, “We got it, you fucker!”
“What?” Tim was getting exasperated.
“A recording contract, you asshole! We did it! We’re going to be rich and famous!”
Jumping up, Tim threw the guitar against the ceiling, and it rang loudly. “Let’s get drunk!”
John shook his head. “We’re meeting with the corporate execs tomorrow, so let’s not be hung over.”
Tim went to the fridge and pulled out two bottles of beer. “Beer, then.” He opened them and they clinked. “Here’s to fame and fortune!”
After taking a swallow, they grinned at each other. “Yeah!”
Ten minutes later, Roy and Luke showed up. Luke plopped on the couch. “This better be good.” He pouted. “I have a horny woman waiting for me.”
John went behind the couch, putting his hands on Luke’s shoulders. “Would you consider a recording contract as good as a horny woman?”
Both Luke and Roy shouted as Luke jumped up. “You aren’t messing with us, are you?”
John punched Luke. “We’re to be at our agent’s office at nine sharp tomorrow.”
Tim asked, “You two want a beer?”
Both said “Sure” at the same time.
John cast an amused look at Luke. “What about your horny woman?”
“She can wait,” he threw off.
Tim raided the fridge for two more beers.
Chapter 4
After Easter vacation, Evie called with big news. Virgin Ram had signed a record contract. “And that’s not all! We’ve been invited to the group’s introduction to the press and autograph-signing party!”
“Fab, Evie! How’d you manage that?”
“I called the fan club secretary and got us on the list.”
“After all this time seeing them at the Scene and cheering them at band contests, we’ll really get to meet them? How great is that!”
“I know what you mean. I’ll pick you up about eight Saturday morning. Be ready!”
“Oh, I will!” Teri hung up the phone, catching her breath. Oh, god, I’m actually going to meet them, especially Tim. I wonder if he really noticed me all those times, or am I losing my mind? Well, I’ll find out Saturday.
“Mom! Dad! That was Evie on the phone.” Teri bounded into the living room. “Virgin Ram, you know, the group I like? They just got a record contract, and Evie and I are invited to a press introduction and an autograph-signing party, and we get to meet them, and Evie is picking me up on Saturday morning at eight, and can I go? Oh, please, please, please, please…!” She bounced in place, clasping her hands in a plea.
The corners of her father’s mouth twitched while he tried to be stern. “Will that cut into your study time for your finals?”
She shook her head. “No, no! I’ll have plenty of time to study, I promise!”
“How did you get to be invited to this press event?”
Teri told him what Evie had said.
“This seems to be a once-in-a-lifetime chance. I guess you can go.”
She gave her father a bear hug, saying to her mother, “Isn’t he just the greatest?” Going into her room, Teri lightly touched the poster of Virgin Ram hanging on the inside of the door. Since Laura had left for college, Teri enjoyed having the room to herself for the first time in her whole life. Looking at the empty bed, she missed someone to talk to about things she didn’t want her parents to know, though.
Saturday morning, Teri appraised herself in the bathroom mirror. She wore her pink plaid miniskirt topped with a poor-boy ribbed top. Her hair flowed down to her waist, and Teri shook the tresses back and held them with a black John Lennon cap. Slipping on her flat pumps, she gave her makeup a quick check and was ready to go.
“Teri, Evie’s here!” her mom called from the front door.
“See ya, Mom!” And Teri jumped into the old Buick Evie had purchased a week ago. They both waved to Teri’s mother.
At the record company’s location in Hollywood, they parked a block away and walked to the building. They traversed the large reception lobby awash with sunlight streaming through the huge window panes and climbed a blue ceramic tile staircase circling a concrete fountain to arrive in a dark blue carpeted room with glass walls. Evie asked a well-dressed blonde at the front desk where the press party was for Virgin Ram.
“What are your names, please?” the receptionist questioned as she picked up a list.
“Evie Campbell and Teri Darden.”
The receptionist checked off their names and handed them a couple of plastic identification cards. “Take the elevator to the next floor, then go all the way down the hall to your right. That will take you into the conference room. Put these IDs on so there will be no questions.”
“Thank you,” said Evie, and the girls pinned on the tags.
Teri thought it was the longest walk of her life. The conference room was large, with many small tables, and a number of people were already there. The girls chose an unoccupied table in the center and eased into its chairs.
“Are you as nervous as I am?” Teri said.
“Feel my hands.” Evie’s were clammy.
People continued to come in―the press, fans like themselves, and some who were probably people who worked in the company. Finally, the group appeared, flanked by the CEO and the fan club secretary. Teri gasped when she saw Tim, and not just because he was noticeably looking around the room. When his eyes fell on her, she gave him a big smile.
“Oh, Evie, Tim saw me! I know he did!” Teri whispered.
“He probably saw a lot of people,” Evie said, rolling her eyes. “Please don’t start this insanity again.”
Teri stuck out her tongue.
The CEO introduced the group to the press and gave a short speech, with Teri hearing not a word. Afterwards, the fan club secretary announced the group was going to mingle with the press to answer questions and the fans could ask for autographs during that time.
The girls stared at each other, frozen to their seats, and Evie’s eyes got big. “Oh, my god, he’s coming over here.”
“Who?” said Teri, still eye-locked with Evie. Teri felt a hand on her shoulder like an electric charge, and when she turned she was face to face with Tim Olson. God, he’s handsome!
“Hello, I’m Tim Olson. Who are you?”
“Yes! I know you are!” Oh, bummer, bad form. “I’m, uh, Teri, uh, Teri Darden.” God, I’m babbling. “This is my friend, ummm…” Teri’s cheeks were hot.
“Evie Campbell.” Evie gave Teri an amused look as she pulled her autograph book from her purse. “Can we have your autograph?”
“That’s what I’m here for.” Tim grinned as he signed the page for Evie. When she set out to get the other band members’ autographs, Teri handed him a note pad and Tim wrote a little longer, passing her the folded paper he tore off it. “I gave you my phone number. Please don’t tell anyone. And please call me.” He winked at her and walked away.
Putting the paper in her purse, Teri sat there, totally stunned. Had this really happened? Did Tim Olson actually ask her to call him? Evie came back to the table, where they stayed until the group was ushered out.
On the way home, Evie said, “Teri, I have to admit I was shocked when Tim walked right over to you. Maybe you weren’t completely crazy.”
“Thanks for that.” Teri gazed at his autograph. Oh, if I could only tell you everything. I want to, but I don’t want to blow this chance with Tim. I don’t know how long I’m going to be able to keep this to myself. She gave a sigh of relief as she waved goodbye to Evie.
The next day, coming home from church, her parents’ car pulled up into their driveway and Teri got out. “Are you sure you don’t want to go to brunch with us?” her father asked.
Teri shook her head. “I want t
o do some studying for tomorrow.”
Waving as her parents drove off, she unlocked the door and went inside, put her purse on the dining room table, and picked up the phone from its small stand a few feet away. She hadn’t been able to call Tim last night, with her parents there, but this was her chance. Teri took the well-worn piece of paper out of her purse, unfolded it, and read for the hundredth time, “To Teri Darden, please call me, Love, Tim Olson.” At the bottom was his phone number. After staring at it for a few minutes, she raised the receiver and began to dial.
“Hello?” said a sleepy voice.
“Hello. Is this Tim Olson?” Teri said with a quaver.
“Yes.”
“This is Teri Darden.” She had a little more confidence.
The voice instantly woke up. “Teri! I was hoping you would call. I would like to see you.”
“Where?”
“Do you know where Santa Anita Race Track is?”
“Yes, I learned to drive in the parking lot.”
“Could you meet me there in an hour?”
Hesitating a moment, she affirmed, “I’ll be there.”
“Do you know where the main entrance is?”
“Sure.”
“When you go in, take a left on the first aisle and go all the way down to the end. I have a red Corvette. Pull alongside.”
“Okay. I’ll see you there.” What have I done? I should leave a note for Mom and Dad, but what to tell them? Teri had hedged before, but never outright lied. Tim was twenty-four years old, six years older than herself. Her dad had freaked when she dated a boy two years older, so what would he say about this? She constructed a carefully worded note. “Dear Mom and Dad, I took a break and went out for a drive. I’ll be back later. Love, Teri.”
Climbing into her old Ford Fairlane, Teri drove to Santa Anita. There were no races today, so the huge parking lot bustled with student drivers. Turning left from the main entrance, she spotted a red Corvette parked all the way at the end and pulled her old car next to the shiny new one. Tim sat in the car with his long hair tucked up under his cap and dark glasses on. He waved for her to get in beside him.