July 2021
Bio Note: I’ve balanced my life as a home improvement contractor by day, author by night. I’m from Maryland, imprinted Appalachian, educated midwestern, settled half a century under redwoods in the coastal mountains of California. My most recent book is Random Saints. On this month’s theme of “Losing your head” I’ve had ample experience, beginning when I was young in the month of July.
Of Typewriters and Breasts, An Apology
In a brick school like a pizza oven I took a typing class, summer steamy Maryland, then would practice at home bare top, sometimes bare bottom in front of a fan. At the age of eleven, a crush can be crushing so when left-handed Elaine wild as a bobcat insisted typing is different for a southpaw, I said, “Show me.” As the fan rustled paper, as perspiration dripped like grease from eyebrows, nose, chin onto Underwood keys making Elaine’s fingers slip, all I could think was freckles. Dimple. Smile. At the age of eleven, no matter the heat, girls shouldn’t be topless with boys even with innocent intent. We knew this. Maybe not so innocent. Elaine proved – yes – left-handed people type differently. Or at least one did. At the age of eleven, a boy should not say aloud to a girl especially not a typing buddy that her little breasts look lopsided. Left bigger, right smaller. Both pretty, I might add at age seventy-one were I ever to see you again, Elaine, and do you also, as I right now, wonder what might have been?
Originally published in MOON Magazine
©2021 Joe Cottonwood
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