/\ July 5, 1961 /\
/\ Wednesday, 9:03 am /\
Song: Fooled Around And Fell In Love
By: Elvin Bishop

"Yer up early."

John sardonically declared, sustaining his endeavor to brew that dawns tea.

"Mornin' to ye too ye git."

A highly fatigued titter absconded his
slender lips, evidently displaying his emaciated countenance. My marveled notions on why poor Johnny was like that propelled elsewhere, promptly attempting to shift my thoughts to another topic.

My inquisitive eyes surveyed Paul's extremely picturesque flat, discerning that the owner himself was nowhere to be found.

"Where's Paul?"

John took a diminutive swig of his herb produced beverage, persistently whisking it right after.

"Went with Eppie. 'Dunno where. He said he'd be back soon though."

I proceeded to Paul's food cabinet, the covet of cereal palpable in my tastebuds. I then scrutinized the prodigious mound of dishes
in the sink, along with John blending
what remained of his tea with
a butter knife.

Boys these days.

Just as I was about to ultimately lave the senior platters, John's cacophonous morning voice echoed throughout my
ears once again.

"Mind going on a walk with me bird?"

My head inclined, quite obliged he had interjected my journey to the loaded basin. Going on the saunter liberated me from dousing the grimy dishes until they
appeared pristine.

Also, I hadn't prattled with the flagrant and highly blatant droll in awhile. I had been missing John's jocular miens and
relishable cackles.

"I don't mind at all."

We vacated Paul's intimate apartment,
beginning our trek to nowhere. My ambitions comprised of quipping and confabulating with the lad, only for my avid notions to be
silenced by, well, silence.

Thankfully, the muted and quite cumbersome dialogue incorporating our eyes had concluded. But, not in the way I thought it would.

"Somethin's been on me mind for awhile and 'm jus' dyin' ta talk about it."

My hushed tone designated for him to go on, retaining the path before us in my
centralized perspective.

"Look,"

John's callus suffused digits seized my attenuated chin, his thumb grazing the base of my cheek trapping my heed.

"I quite fancy ye bird. Always 'ave."

I gaped at his awing disclosure, slightly tottering rearward for John's fondness for me was vastly unforeseen.

"Johnny..."

My appearance alleviated, hoisting my thumb to his freshly barbered cheek and massaging it in a circular motion.

"And I was wonderin' if maybe we could possibly...uhm...y'know..."

Not once in my life had I seen John that neurotic. He ordinarily never had any sort of hindrance declaring what was on his mind.
This was different.

A perturbed expression wiped across Johns bushed face, for he was incapable on verbalizing his own thoughts.

A feeling of solicitude dashed through my veins, personally knowing the strenuous flounder of conceding your affection
to someone you fancy.

Don't get me wrong. John had no trouble ambling up to a bird he craved for a night or two. But, him desiring a real relationship
wasn't the same.

So, I did what any humane girl would do.
I accepted.