Miss Regina

By Rob Watson

I have reported, in a previous post, First Dates, my ineptitude with women. This is a followup relating pleasant times and more ineptitude... and my second kiss. These event took place 48 years ago, yet parts are remembered as if they were today, especially the perfume.

Miss Regina was a rather attractive, (I have a strong attraction to attractive women) young woman that I met through my Best Friend. She was his classmate and a friend and carpool member with his future wife. She was the daughter of a chicken farmer. She was truly and deathly afraid of chickens.
I got to know her by spending idle hours between classes at college, in the carpool discussing religion. Along with being pretty, Miss Regina was very intelligent and always wore the same perfume, Emeraud.

Emboldened by close association, I requested she join me at the social event of the year, The State Fair. It was the style of the time that those taking dates to the fair would wear their best suit and bring a flower corsage for his date. Dressed in her best, Miss Regina was a beauty. I picked her up at her home and promised her father to deliver her back safely.

My parents were in the farm supply business and I liked to see the animal exhibits as well as the other sights. When we entered the chicken exhibit, Miss Regina froze. After some encouragement she agreed to walk across the narrow part of the building, never getting closer than 15 feet to a cage of chickens. We also engaged in the various other activities, including some of the game booths along the midway. One of these was a shooting gallery. By the greatest of coincidences all three of my shots hit the target (you do know those games are rigged, right?) thereby winning myself a choice of medium sized stuffed teddy bears. I insisted Miss Regina choose. Her look of pleasure and excitement was such that I still remember it today, as if it had just happened.

After an excellent day and the big football game, we drove the 70 or so miles back to her home. The front porch light was on. I walked her to the door, thanked her for a very pleasant day, then hesitated, wondering what to do next. Miss Regina solved that problem for me. She took my hand, pulled me into the darkened room and planted a heartfelt kiss on my lips... another seemingly recent memory.

One might think that would be an auspicious beginning. Unfortunately it was a rather dramatic ending. My habit of courting too slow cost me the very nice Miss Regina.

If you are a female, you should know, your perfume is as much a part of you as the sound of your voice. Speaking for myself and most men as well, if I smell your perfume in a crowded room, though it be someone else, I will think of you. And, if it is Emeraud, Miss Regina.