Claude A. Buchanan

The Girl
I watched as she approached. Slim, elegant, with a quiet gentle beauty.
Her face was bright and welcoming, and when she spoke I could hear
In her voice a strength and culture I had not often heard in a young woman of her age.
She was just twenty.
In her final year of training as a general nurse.
I first met her some months ago at a farewell party for her elder sister, off on her big OE.
and had no contact with her before or since. I hide my immediate thoughts behind a smile,
and an invitation to come to a play I was involved in at the time,
Arthur Miller's 'Death of a Salesman'.
"Come back stage after the play, and meet the cast" I suggested - in my best stage voice
hoping that she would come - to the play, but not to meet the cast back stage.
I gave the meeting and the invitation no more thought.
The evening and the play arrived. I spoke my part and enjoyed the congratulations of
cast and friends who came back stage.
"There is a very lovely young lady asking for you!" - I heard - with a rising, enquiring,
inflection in the stage managers voice.
I suddenly remembered - Dam - yes I had asked the girl to come back stage. What was I to do -
Cast party - perhaps!
I decided against such folly and chose instead to take the safe way, the easy way.
A cup of coffee, a chat, pass the evening - comfortable - secure
and then drop her at her fathers flat.
I gave the occassion and the girl little thought.
Time went on, my ploy had worked, I saw the girl again from time to time, but felt secure in the knowledge
that she was not interested in a long term relationship.
Plans for the big OE after graduation were a foot you see, and graduation was just weeks away
A day planned with friends who where getting married and I was to be best man.
The phone rang, and my friend - who's best man I was to be - informed me that a young women was asking for me.
I had told no one, other than my landlady dear old Mrs. Stewart, where I was going for the day.
I had wanted some time to talk to my friends about their wedding plans.
But
The girl and tracked me down at my friends house and asked me if she could come and meet them.
I had a moment of panic. Do I want to see the girl again?
Do I want to introduce the girl to my best friend and his wife to be?
In those days I was a fractionally more polite - so what could I say - but come.
I suppose I could have said, "sorry, too busy - not my place to invite you." Put her off,
in a polite but cursory manner.

But my friends were watching my panic, and listening to my stumbling response. So come she did.
My friends had not met her till then, and both expressd delight at her quiet charm and sound articulation
of all we spoke about.
A nice girl, a lovely girl, a beautiful young women were their comments to me after she had gone.
Why don't you marry her? was an opinion they expressd between a grin, and a rolling of the eye ball.
She is - definitely good wife material
The girl and me - well we went out a few times after that day. Various functions - nothing serious you know.
Travel plans with some of her girl friends were in the wind and the dead line for paying her fare was fast approaching!
"Don't forget to pay your fare", I heard from her friends.
I felt very safe in keeping the friendship alive.
I called to see her one afternoon for what was to have been a final chat and best wishes for her OE
The girl offered me a smile and a welcome. A cup of coffee and cake specially baked.
We sat and talked for a short period, about nothing in particlar, and then out of the blue
she dropped a one line query which altered our whole relationship.
'Am I going over seas or am I not?' was her question.
What was I to say? How to respond?
The girl had put me on the spot, and in the hot seat in nine simple words.
I had no plans for anything but seeing her off on her travels, so of course did not know quite how to
respond to such a one line drop. Panic seized me once again.
What a pain she was. None of my past girl friends had ever asked such difficult questions -
I was a confirmed batchelor. I didn't need this sort of situation.
Nothing permanent with any young women had ever entered my mind -
and in my panic I suggested that perhaps we could become engaged before she went on her travel,
and see what transpired during her big two year stint in foreign countries.
I thought that - Perhaps she would meet a rich Italian or Spaniard and marry the guy.
To my suggestion to become engaged the girl said - yes.
The next day we purchased the ring.
She cancelled her travel plans - because - as she told me later - she really had not wanted to travel.
December 1966 in the Hamilton Nurses Chapel we were married.
December 2003 - we are still together.
Two fine sons she gave me, and now, we have two lovely young grandsons.
I would point out that at no time have I ever actually asked her to marry me.
but
37 years on - my cup is full, my love unabated.
This Girl - was 'THE GIRL' - The Best Girl of All.

Last night she came to me. She came softly in. So softly, that her feet made no din.
Then she went away from me, and this she did say,
"It will not be long love till our wedding day."

---

All poetry on this page is copyright Claude A. Buchanan.

Did you enjoy the poems? Would you like to publish any of them?
Then perhaps you can spare a little time to complete the comments form
or email Claude at buchanan@actrix.co.nz?

To return home, follow the owl!