Page 5 of Cocky Origins: May and Jerald Cocker

“Which one?” Peter asks, playing it cool and not looking.

“The cute blonde. The quiet one.”

“There are two quiet ones. And neither is Sable.”

“Which one is that?”

“Glasses and a big mouth.”

Marvin pipes up, “Don’t say anything bad about Sable!” making all three of us look at him. Then look away after two seconds.

Hank starts up again, “No, I said the cute blonde, quiet one. Why don’t you just look!”

“Don’t want Lily to see me. She’s wondering why I haven’t asked her to dance. I have every intention of asking when she least expects it. The cute blonde is a good egg. So’s the quiet brunette.”

I ask Peter, “What’s the name of the blonde?”

“Dunno.”

“I’m going to find out.”

As I walk across the gymnasium to say hello, we’re staring at each other, Ella Fitzgerald crooning in the background.

Pretty little thing. Can’t be taller than five-two.

That’s a whole foot and change shorter than I am.

Cute nose. And those parted lips.

They’re something else.

But nothing compares to those eyes, and that blue dress really makes them shine. The way she's staring at me as I stroll up disappears the entire room, her friends with it.

I start to smile, say hello.

She sways toward me.

Eyelashes fluttering closed.

Woopsiedaisies!

I catch her just in time.

I’ve got you.

I hear the gasps of her friends while I adjust my hold, one knee on the floor to brace us.

“Hey now, you awake? You alright?”

She’s an angel in a cloud of blue taffeta. There isn’t a smidge of make up on her unconscious face, none that I can see anyhow. Her lips, bright pink.

It occurs to me, I could kiss her awake. But her blonde eyelashes flutter open, sky-blue eyes filled with wonder as she stares at me.

“You alright?” She nods, so I ask, “You have a name?”

She nods again. “May.”

“Pretty name for a prettier girl.”

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