Love and Surprise

It was the morning before Valentine's Day in my 2nd period sophomore creative writing class back in high school. Our teacher Mr. Culbertson explained that each of us was to give a one minute or less presentation in front of the class the next day. The instructions from him were short and sweet, "Show me love and surprise me."

It was his ingenious way of getting us into an imaginative mode for producing a short story about matters of the heart. Relationships, breakups, first kisses, and the like.

I couldn't come up with an idea until I arrived at school the next morning. When opening my locker, several textbooks tumbled off the shelf and into the hallway. Oddly, that disruption did the trick. It became clear then what I'd do one hour later.

After attendance was taken, Mr. Culbertson pointed to the back of the room by the windows. We were presenting in reverse alphabetical order. I'd be third from the last to go.

Before class began, numerous classmates shared what they were going to do. I kept tight-lipped on my idea. Building suspense for my great reveal.

There were many hits and a few misses with the twenty-six students preceding me in this parade of love. Including a mock marriage proposal. The reading of a beautifully worded Hallmark card. The use of sign language in expressing the chorus from Foreigner's song I Want To Know What Love Is. Plus, plenty of other gushy romantic gestures.

The queue finally snaked its way to the last row of desks. Tick tock. Tick tock. My time was close at hand. Then when Julie Brush finished and took her seat, it was mine all mine. I was excited, nervous, and confident. Positioning myself before those twenty-nine jurors.

I turned toward our teacher seated at his desk and asked if he'd please volunteer to be part of my presentation. He agreed to be my magician's assistant and faced me as I directed him to stand on his mark. Urging him to trust me and follow my lead. I could have changed my mind right there. I did not.

It happened. I leaned in and hugged him tightly. He reciprocated. We stood locked in a long embrace. I eventually let go and he did the same. I walked back to my desk while processing what just took place.

As my friend Tammy Beckett was advancing to the front of the room, I raised my hand and asked for permission to speak before her presentation started. Mr. Culbertson nodded his approval. Giving me the floor to say what I needed to say.

I stood and requested that he check his left back pants pocket. He did just that. Then went into his right back pocket and quickly returned inside that first pocket he'd already checked. He perplexedly looked toward me. As did every student in that room.

But they weren't looking at me. They were focused on what I was holding in my hand. Mr. Culbertson exclaimed in bewilderment, "You have my wallet. Why did you take that? How did you take that?"

I revisited for everyone the instructions he gave us the previous day for the assignment given in two parts. To show him love. And surprise him. Resulting in the tender hug I gave him. And the surprise. The pickpocketing of his wallet.

We all knew that Mr. Culbertson had unorthodox teaching methods. Always encouraging us to think well outside the box. But this was truly bananas. I had brazenly pulled a wild Jesse James stunt. Committing larceny and a possible Level 6 felony in front of a roomful of witnesses.

I stood frozen. My fellow fifteen-year old classmates appeared dumbfounded. Waiting to see what he'd do next. He calmly walked over to me. Taking his wallet gently from my hand and replacing it in his pocket. He gazed into my cleverly playful eyes, smiled, and warmly hugged me.

Love sure has a wonderful way of surprising all of us.

This bouquet of forget-me-nots is brought to you by that guy with cherished memories. That affectionate guy of cuddles is Ron Blake and he can be found on a date night with his darling at rblake5551@hotmail.com.