The very first time I kissed a boy was on the back of the bus during the 6th grade field trip from our school in Atlantic City, New Jersey to New York City.

[Hey, I was a late bloomer!]

Nothing would have happened if I hadn't overslept. Because I arrived so late, I had to sit in the back of the bus with all the 'bad' kids-the ones who always got in trouble. I was a goody two shoes bookworm student and NEVER got in trouble in school or home. But my reputation was to be forever changed that day.

Prior to the leased bus pulling out, our teacher Mr. Usury [who was known as Mr. Usury. Toilet Flushery] made this big deal about students behaving on the bus. He kept repeating that he especially didn't want any smooching in the back of the bus. Maybe because it was so early in the morning things were cool on the way up to New York City.

So we did the regular New York City tour-the Empire City Building, the Statue of Liberty and more. Before the bus left New York City,
Mr Usury repeated his admonitions that we should behave like good little girls and boys and he didn't want to see any smooching on the back of the bus-or else! It was a long 3 hour trip. It was getting dark and most of the kids on the bus were sleeping.

So there I sat squeezed next to two boys that were probably alot like Brucie...

Way back then I really didn't know what 'smooching' was. But one of the boys did and I guess the other one did too because he's the one who started kissing the girl sitting next to him. So Alonzo had to kiss me, and I guess I kissed him back. And as we exchanged wet yucky kisses I wondered where the stars & fireworks were that books said went with kissing.

Of course, some goody two shoes book worm girl alerted Mr. Usury Toilet Flushery what was going on. He walked to the back of the bus and singled out me saying he could have expected this of the others on the back seat of the bus but not me...I was totally embarrassed, but it seemed like Mr. Usury was enjoying himself. I think he planted that idea just to catch kids in the act of kissing...

Well maybe not.

Later the back of the bus smoochers were punished by being sent to the principal's office while the rest of the 6th grade class' end of the year party. That was the first time I had EVER been sent to the office in all my years of schooling.

But I guess it was worth it. The evening of the bus trip, when I got home, the first thing I did was go upstairs by myself. I stood in front of the mirrow to see if I looked different. Nope, it was the same me. But I felt as though I was different. For I had kissed a boy.

And I remembered that night laying in bed chanting over & over again to myself in a singsong smiley voice: "No smoochin in the back of the bus. No smoochin in the back of the bus. No smoochin in the back of the bus Hey!!"


Azizi