An Old Flame

I was at the world jamboree with my scout group. The jamboree is a 3-day camp, where scouts from all over the world come together to have fun.1

On the last night, my friends and I were walking on the terrain where the jamboree was held. At first I was amazed by the sheer size of the party tents, but later I got used to it. I went into one of the tents, together with my best friend Bart. We were having a good time and drank, as long as we could afford it. After half an hour or so, a band started to play pop songs. We enjoyed the music and we expressed that in our own way.2

Suddenly, a woman came dancing next to me. I was a bit surprised, but I just started to dance with her. We introduced ourselves and I also told her about my nickname “Ice”, because I am always calm and cool. Cindy, that’s her name, came really close to me, holds me tightly and asked: “So, Kai, am I breaking the ice or what?” I replied with a calm voice: “Well, let me put it this way: you know how to warm a guy up.” We danced fast and as slow as a snail, while we’re talking about all kinds of stuff. She lets go of me and goes to a guy, who was apparently one of her friends. He asks her: “Is this boy under 25?” She went back to me and asked me about my age.3

“I just turned 18 last week”, I answered. “And how young are you, if I may ask?” She blushed and said:”I’m a bit older than you may have expected, because I’m 32 years old.” Her friend in the back shouted that she might have a great catch on her hand. For me, her age didn’t matter, because I thought there was no way, we would have a relationship or something like that. She told me, while we were jumping to Jump Around, that she fell in love for me, because of my blue eyes and sense of humor. I told her that I like her out-going personality and pretty face.4

After the band stopped playing, Cindy decided to get something to eat at her tent. “Kai, do you want to come along and eat something too?” she asked me. I was a bit hungry at the time being, so I told her I would join her. I went back to Bart and told him I was away with her and didn’t have to worry about me. He laughed a bit and said to me: “Ice, my friend, just have a most excellent night with her.” “We’ll see what fate brings me.” I said to him and I left the tent, along with Cindy.5

When we arrived at her tent, she asked me where I was from. I told her I was from Dublin.6

“I can hear you’re Irish, because you got such a cute accent.”, Cindy said to me with her sweet voice. “Thanks, but where do you come from?” I asked her.7

“I’m from Amsterdam, you know? The Netherlands.” she replied with a cheerful voice.8

After we ate, we were walking arm in arm through the forest. We stood near a big oak, when she asked me out of nowhere, if she could give me a little kiss. I thought she meant a kiss on the cheek or on the mouth, so I said: “Yeah sure, why not? We’re having a great time together.” We went closer to each other, when Cindy suddenly started making out. I tried to pull back, but the more I moved away, the more she moved towards me. So I just let it all happen. This kiss became so hot, it made hell feel like the South Pole.9

After 15 minutes or so, our lips were finally separated from each other. We wiped off our lips and continued to walk. We sat on a bench and she told me that she already got a boyfriend. “But a little kiss is okay, don’t you think?” she added to that confession. “Well, if that was a little kiss, I’m wondering how big a big kiss must be.” I said to her. “And besides,” she continued, “the gap between us is way too big. A gap of five or seven years is possible, but not 14 years.”10

I understood what she said and said the following to her: “I know, what you mean. We must accept the fact, that we can’t have a relationship, but we still can be friends. But as they always say: You don't stop dancing from growing old, you grow old from stopping to dance. Although you’re older, you still have a lot of youth inside you and that is all that matters. ”11

Her face turned red and said: “If that’s true, what you’ve just said, we would be like Peter Pan all our lives.”12

I brought her to her tent and kissed her goodbye. She told me to wait and so I did wait for her. She had an orange bracelet in her hand and put it around my wrist. “Here’s a little reminder of this night and me, in case if we don’t each other again.”, she whispered me. After this gift was given to me, I went back to my tent to sleep and dreamt about that wonderful night.