Valentine Day Holiday

by

Paul G Jutras

 

"Paula, you ready to go shopping." Paul's mother said as she slung her purse over her shoulder and stood by the door in her white space coast T-shirt, socks and sneakers with a black belt on her red shorts.

"Coming, mom." Paul said as he blew on his drying nails and slipped her bare feet into a pair of hot pink pumps that matched the dress he had on. He like the click clack sound of his heels on the tile floor as he minced his way out to the car. Due to his nails, his mother had to open the door for him as Paul sat down and swung his legs inside of the car.

When reached the cove, the lobster boats were already put out to sea. Paul was able to open the door himself since he's nails were done drying. He learned that he had wished he had joined his mother in sneakers when they began climbing the porch steps into the store. "Not so easy being a woman as you though, huh." His mother giggled.

"I'm fine." Paul said, not about to let the bad make his mother talk him would of his plans to start hormones and going all the way into full womanhood. He finished mincing upstairs and nearly twisted his ankle when the first shoe stepped into the soft red carpeting inside. The carpeting went well with the Valentine painted on the windows.

"Can I help you?" A young man with greasy hair and wearing a three piece suit said as he offered the two a cup of tea while they did their shopping.

"Yes." Paul's mother said as he picked out a red sleeveless V neck shirt and black pants off the rack and moved toward the changing room. "My son needs a new pair of shoes and stocking."

"Son?" The man said as he looked at how Paul was dressed. "Oh, yes. The customer is always right. This way please."

Soon Paul had on a new top, pair of shorts, and practice his matching in a new pair of heels. "How's the size and comfort?" The manager asked as Paul saw his mother stop out and showed him her new outfit.

"Just the right size." Paul said as he turned toward his mother.

"What do you think?" She asked.

"It looks wonderful on you," Paul replied. 

The next morning, everyone packed the camper up and used the station wagon to drive it off to the nearby camping site at the base of the New Hampshire Mt. As dad set up camp, Paul and his mother went across the dirt street to the amusement park next door.

Screams shot from the roller coaster and long flume rides as Paul passed under strings of paper hearts to hit the Tilt A Whirl in his blue jeans and blouse, white socks and brown loafers. His mother in a black T-shirt, shorts and sneakers with white socks and the ride was decorated in cupid hearts for Valentine. Outside of getting sick on the Tilt-a-Whirl Paul's mother was enjoying herself as much as Paul did.

"Can we go again." Paul asked, running his fingers through the long hair of his wig.

"No thanks, Paula." His mother said. "Once gets me sick enough as it is."

"Come on ladies," A bearded man in denim jacket, jeans a chain belt and work boots said as they pestered a woman in a green bikini and a woman in a yellow blouse, skirt and black pumps. "Go out with us."

"The ladies said no." Paul said, forgetting how he was currently dress.

"Well sweet thing." The man and his buddy said as the two girls took off running. As he started running his hand through Paul's wig, he pulled it off. "How about you two instead coming back to my camp site."

"What the?" His friend said in anger. "You're a man?"

"Catch us is you!" Paul said as he took off with his mother and the guys chasing after him. The guy that pulled off Paul's wig said in anger: "I hate men who dress up as women. Especially those who make fools out of my brother and me!"

"Good thing I didn't go with heels today." Paul said as they took off along the front of the stage of a pirate show. Something that was a mistake since it gave the bikers a chance to grab hold of real weapons after knocking the actors down.

"This is going from bad to worst." His mother said wishing her husband was here to help them out. The two ducked under a kid airplane ride while the two guys went the long way around and cornered them at the haunted house.

"Come on!" Paul said as he grabbed his mother's arm and ran into the pitch blackness. Stuff figures and props lit up in the darkness and they ran over the triggers to activate the haunted house's special effects. They passed a wall of distorted mirrors and stepping on a trigger caused the floor to tilt forward into a slide down to a room one could bounce in. 

"This is almost as bad as trying to run in heels." Paul said as they made their way back to the camp site where Paul's dad had finished setting up.

"You guys have fun?" Dad asked.

"A real ball." Paul muttered. "Can't wait to go back."

As his mother relaxed with his dad, Paul decided to get a new wig and to follow a group of hikers up the mountain trail. As he disappeared around the bend, one hiker going down tagged Paul. "You're it." The brunette said.

"Pardon?" Paul asked as he stopped her.

"The Mountain climbing game." The girl said. "I'm Akari. Don't tell me you've never played before...?"

"Paula." Paul introduced himself. "And no."

"Those who live around here and climb the mountain play it ever February. "When you come down you tag someone going up and that person in return have to tag someone when they come down. It's more fun when one gets to tag a guy so they can get together later as a Valentine couple. All the guys were left near the old house at the top."

"Should of picked early huh." Paul said.

"Normally I don't get all girls on my way down." Akari said as smiled and took off to the bottom.

As Paul went up to the top, he saw the old two story building like his new friend had told him about. He went inside and climbed the stairs to a pink bedroom on the top. Though with the pealing wall and fire burnt wall paper one could hardly tell anymore. Inside the closet was abandoned clothes from the 1950s.

"Hi, I'm Scott." A young man in white T-shirt and blue shorts said.

"Paula." Paul smiled at how cute the guy was.

"If you're thinking of trying to take anything, don't." Scott said. "There a ranger station set up here and they patrol regularly to make sure this historic house isn't touched by thieves." 

"I'm no thief." Paul said, wishing he could at least try some of those wonderful old clothes on at least. The real thing and not just something one picked up at a costume shop.

As Paul made his way down he saw a handsome young man in a Red Socks T-shirt, shorts and hiking shoes. "You're it." Paul giggled with a smile.

"It for one?" He asked as Paul explained the tradition as it was explained to him. Later when he returned Paul and the guy; who he learned was name Scott had met up for a night of kissing under the stars. The next night Scott who spend time with the girl he tagged on his way down. Interesting way of playing the field and much more fun than a single bar.

 

THE END

 

 

 

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© 2001 by Paul Jutras. All Rights Reserved. These documents (including, without limitation, all articles, text, images, logos, compilation design) may printed for personal use only. No portion of these documents may be stored electronically, distributed electronically, or otherwise made available without express written consent of the copyright holder.