The following “letter” is part of the continuing series from the unpublished novel by James Garrett, “Benicia Letters Once More”. He does not plan to publish the book but instead is choosing to share the letters with the readers of the Benicia Herald. The letters continue the storyline of Garrett’s first novel “Benicia and Letters of Love”. Each “letter” tells of love in one of its many forms from a separate point of view. Benicia is represented prominently in the letters because of Garrett’s deep fondness for the city of Benicia. He hopes readers see themselves or others they know in the letters because the concept of “Love” is universal.
Hello Jim,
We’ve never met, but I feel I can call you “Jim” as if I do know you because I feel I do through your writing.
Barbara was a bridesmaid and I was an usher at a wedding. That was how we met. I had never seen her before the first practice session for the wedding. Barbara was the bride’s best friend and I was a friend of the groom. Three years later Barbara and I were wife and husband.
From that first meeting it seemed we were always matched up for all the social situations involved preceding a marriage, and throwing rice as they entered the car and drove away from the reception at St. Dominic’s Church.
After the newlyweds had driven from sight, all those standing around Barbara and me started to disperse to go the way all do after a time like that. Something kept Barbara and me standing there. She slipped her left arm around my right arm and we stood there for at least a couple of minutes watching where the car carrying the newlyweds had turned the corner. We didn’t say anything. We just stood there.
Then it just seemed right I should say something and all that came out of my mouth was, “Would you like to have dinner with me tonight?”
When Barbara said would like to go to dinner with me, I asked where she would like to go. She told me it didn’t matter where we went to eat because being with each other was what was important.
That answer surprised me. That she was good looking was obvious. In the short time I had known and talked with her she definitely seemed like a nice person. Her answer showed me she was more than just good looking and a nice person. I believed she had seen something in me and I knew I had seen something in her.
Barbara told the bridesmaid with whom she had come to the ceremonies that she would be going to dinner with me. Then Barbara and I got in my car and we drove to the drive-thru at McDonald’s on East Second Street.
She started laughing when we entered the drive-thru line. It was a good laugh, a happy laugh.
I ordered each of us a Filet-O-Fish, french fries, a Coke and a chocolate chip cookie.
Then I drove us to the spit at the end of First Street and parked facing back toward Benicia.
Barbara said, “This is so nice.” She meant it. It wasn’t a put-on to try to make me feel good.
We sat there, her in her bridesmaid gown and me in my tuxedo and talked about anything which came to our minds. We had known each other forever, yet we had only met shortly before.
That was our first date. There were many more. We still date, though we have been married for years.
Craig

James Garrett is a lifelong resident of Benicia and a former teacher at Benicia High School. He is the author of the following novels: “Benicia and Letters of Love”, “The Mansion Stories”, “Chief Salt”, and “One Great Season, 9-0!” He also compiled a three-volume work titled “The Golden Era: Benicia High School Football, The 1948 through 1960 Seasons, “A” History with Comments.”
He can be contacted at jgstoriesnpoetry@aol.com.

Sharing is caring!