The climax of my feelings was during the final Graduation Pageant held for the parents. Our class, led by Miss Murphy sang songs with choruses of “Row, Row, Row Your Boat”. When I saw Miss Murphy dressed in her little sailor costume my feelings shot through the roof. It was a red, white and blue bathing suit, high heel shoes and stockings which ran all the way up and looked like fish net. She was pretty for sure—I knew that! When she walked around and then she sat down right next to me it thrilled me, but also made me feel confused and sad at the same time. The year was over so maybe this was the last time I would see her. And, when we sang our songs for the audience, I sang my heart out as we merrily rowed our boat next to each other. Her face shined with a beautiful light of fun and her legs opened and pumped in perfect rhythm to the music with me. I had another stiff dickie and was scared and excited too, realizing it was all because of my feelings for Miss Murphy. That night there weren’t enough choruses of “Row Row Row Your Boat” for me!

          My thought was right about her. During the summer I was on an errand for my mother and walked near the school, which sat on top of a hill. From a distance I saw the Mother Superior and several nuns seated at an outdoor table, with Miss Murphy. By now I could spot her perfect round face a mile away. She rose from the table with the nuns and everybody was smiling. She shook all their hands and seemed to be thanking them. They did likewise, but I had the feeling they were doing it to part ways forever. The sadness of the pageant hit me all over again. So, I continued on my way for a few more minutes while thinking over and over about chasing after Miss Murphy to say Hello, or Good-bye. 

         I took a wild chance and ran after her. Sometimes she took the bus at the bottom of the hill and maybe she would today. Just like I wished she was sitting there, waiting for the bus, and wearing a mini skirt, too, so she wouldn’t be working for the Mother Superior again, I could see that! All of her milky white skin made me think about those legs rowing hard with me again.
        “Miss Murphy…”

        She looked up. “Oh…” She changed from a surprised face to a happy one. “Hello, there. What are you doing here?”

        I wanted to touch her or kiss her, it felt so good to be near her again, but neither of us did anything. “I’m getting some stuff for my mother and I saw you talking to the Mother Superior.”

        “Yes.” She looked down at my shoes and pants and made an angry face. “But, how come you’re such a mess? Come over here.” She smiled.

        So I walked up to her and she grabbed my sleeve and belt.

        “Doesn’t your mother make sure your belt and pants are on right?” She unbuckled my belt and began straightening my shirt inside my pants. “You missed a loop, too.” I started to lose my breath, almost dizzy with good feelings. “First of all, a man doesn’t wear his belt and pants like this.” She unzipped me halfway, and pulled my pants down a little to fix and tuck in the shirt in real tight again. I let her do anything while we glanced at each other. She almost looked like my mother as she handled my belt and shirt―but not like her because I started to have amazing feelings in my pants.