The Love of a Lifetime
by Eric Rowland
The following is a five part story of a man and his one true love...
THE AFFAIR BEGINS
It began over 5 years ago. I saw her picture in a magazine.
It seemed everyone was talking about her. She was perfect - cute enough to
turn heads, but noone would call her 'fast'. I even went out with her once,
but it didn't work out. She was just too expensive for me. Resigned to the
fact that she couldn't be mine, I eventually started a relationship with one of
her distant cousins. She had a great body, but she seemed fragile. I had the
feeling she wouldn't last, and my friends said she was high maintenance. It
actually lasted for several years before my first love came back into my life.
Yes, my eyes and heart had wandered over the years, but I suddenly became
determined that she would be mine. Sure, she'd been around the block a few
times, but she was none the worse for wear and just as beautiful as I
remembered. It was rainy and cold outside, but she warmed my heart. I looked
her up and down, reached my hand out to touch her, and before I knew it my
proposal was accepted. I was overjoyed, ecstatic! It was like the feeling I
had with her cousin, but so much more. She was a bit conservative, but I had
her top off even before I got her home. And she wasn't wearing a bra. OK, I
admit there was lust in my heart - I didn't even get rid of the old one before
I had my new baby living with me. But I couldn't help it. Something told me
that even after the initial fire died down, the warm coals of a deep desire
would still burn.
THE PARTING
Oh but life is cruel. We were together only a month when I was
forced to leave her. My company offered me a position in Europe for a year.
It was a chance of a lifetime I couldn't pass up. I jumped at the chance, but
through my excitement, one of my first thoughts was that I'd have to leave my
baby at home. I thought about bringing her with me, but where I was going the
rain was persistent and the winters frigid. I knew she wouldn't be happy there
- she hates the cold. Heck, she wouldn't even go skiing with me. Besides, I'd
be traveling, working constantly, and knew I couldn't provide her with a good
home. I lamented and mourned, she pouted quietly. She didn't want to be left
alone, but I promised that I'd visit as often as I could. But that didn't stop
me from making sure her top was on tight and she was all zipped up. I was no
fool. She would be a siren to any man, and I couldn't bear the thought of her
doing all those things we loved with another man. The day of departure came
all too quickly. I ran my hands over her one more time, patted her rear and
kissed her goodbye. True, my venture made it much easier to get rid of my old
love. I didn't even tell her myself. My sister offered to get rid of her for
me. I thanked her - I don't think I could have handled saying goodbye to both
of them. My sister called one day to say that some guy had picked her up. He
saw her ad in the paper and thought she was the one. I was a bit sad, but I
knew I had the best waiting for me at home.
THE JOURNEY
I won't lie - I enjoyed my time away. Sure I would have been
happier with her there, but I had to make the best of my situation. I kept a
lifeline to my baby, though. She wouldn't write, but I had gotten in good with
her friends back home and they wrote me faithfully once a month. On the
Mondays that the mail would arrive, I'd sift anxiously, looking for their
words. I would drop everything and read it through, usually twice or more.
They told me of the fun they were having, going to the beach with their tops
off. But I knew my baby wouldn't be doing that. Not without me there. They'd
write about parties and get togethers Ttil I was quite jealous, in spite of my
situation. I was comforted occasionally by the sight of one that looked like
her. They weren't exactly the same, those foreigners, but they were sweet
reminders of what I had waiting for me back home. I even took their pictures
so I could show my baby I was thinking of her while I was away. She's not the
jealous type, so I knew she wouldn't mind. I got to visit every few months.
The first thing I'd do when I got home was take her out on the town and maybe
go for a drive in the mountains. I'd sit with her and squeeze her
affectionately, even rub her seat in public. I didn't care what anyone thought
- I was with my baby.
THE REUNION
At last it was time to go home. I had seen much during my time
away: countries, people, ...others. But while I looked and often admired the
ones 'built for speed', especially those sexy, long legged Germans, my heart
never strayed far from home. It was a typical homecoming - a warm reunion, but
a hint of strangeness. We'd been apart so long. But I had the pleasure of
getting to know her again. She wasn't the strongest one around, not too built
and a little short of breath, but I loved handling her curves. And I had a
funny feeling I'd have her working out soon, in shape to run with the best of
them. Still, it wasn't easy coming back. We were homeless for a while, and
she was none too happy that another was in her rightful place. She'd been there
first, after all. But for a while she was content living on the street,
knowing that I was there to take care of her and keep her safe and warm.
Before too long I had a roof over her head, and she'd put on that little goody
I got out of the mail order catalog. In fact, she liked it so much, I don't
think she ever takes it off - she likes the support it gives her. But things
still weren't quite right. We both longed for Spring, but the rain kept
falling - we began to think it might never stop. My baby doesn't like the
rain, I can see it in her eyes as they peer into the darkness, waiting for the
long, dry days of summer.
HAPPILY EVER AFTER
It's been several months now and it's finally drying out.
I've been spending time with my baby and her friends - taking long drives,
going to picnics and just sitting around talking about her, even when she's not
there. I've been showering her with gifts ever since I returned. Seems every
day I see something else that I know would look great on her. People say I'm
spoiling her, spending too much time and money on her. But I know she
appreciates it and will give back to me all that I've given and more. She's
getting into shape, like I knew she would. Just a little encouragement and
she's gone from taking brisk walks around the block to becoming a near world
class sprinter. And she looks good doing it, too. She even sounds sexier -
and I love it when she breathes deep! Now with summer on our doorstep, I spend
the day at work dreaming of her and looking forward to seeing her at the end of
the day, or maybe meeting for a quick lunch. But most of all, thinking about
the long weekends we'll have going to the beach or up to the mountains, even
just hanging around town basking in the sun. The other guys stare, but I know
she's mine forever. She's one I can see myself growing older with, even if I
don't grow up. It's definitely the love affair of a lifetime.
(Thus ends the story -or does it?- of one man and his love for his Miata, with
the Fiat Spyder playing the role of the curvaceous but fragile cousin.)