I experienced love with a girl and I didn't know what I did. This was during my finest year in the 6th grade- graduating class of 1987.

I was chosen as valevictorian and was accepted into Hunter College High School in NYC.

My friend K was affable and beautiful.
...warm honey brown face...
......smooth and moist from vaseline......
She was a model, a clothing model; strutting her stuff in front of the big camera.

At the end of the school year, the peak of our activity in the upcoming commencement, K's grandfather died. She would sit by the fence and cry in her brown coat until the end of recess. She began to disappear, literally. Missing out on the preparation of our final goodbye to "childhood."

But I guess hers was stripped away too fast. She came back again, the same K. Smiling, laughing, silent.

Then one day, while walking together, she teared in front of me. Covering her face with the sleeves of a green coat. Its warmth hanging loosely around. I felt the passion of sadness, and without a thought; kissed her cheek lightly.


I've kissed cheeks before. At recitals, with family, with boys. But this kiss was my love for K. Without hesitation, without regret; it was my reflex of love.