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The cap

My mother had a sevetny-three, three toned Ford Maverick. The colors were brown, tan and rust.  Back then five dollars got me a quarter tank of gas and a little freedom. It was enough gas to get me to Saint Clair beach and to Saint Gregory's Church for choir practice. Faith unlimited is a travelling choir group and I was one of a few singers/guitar players. Practice always started with what we called a family circle. "My song is soft can you hear it" was a song we sang together before practice. 

There is a girl who caught my eye. Apparently she caught another guys eyes too. Me and this guy had something in common; we both wore same style of cap and we both set out sights on this one girl. She wore a hat too. In fact it seemed she always had a hat on, hiding her curly blonde hair. I found her strangely intriguing.

We began to hang out. I'd meet her at church parking lot down the road from her house and even though I knew she was secretly seeing the guy who looked like he sang for ACDC , I was willing to take my chances. One day I put ten dollars in the tank and we drove to Point Pelee Provincial Park. The eight track was belting BTO. We had the windows down and enjoyed the freedom of youth. 

We held hands as we walked the deLaurier trail. We stopped for moment,  sat on a fallen log and exchanged one kiss. That was it. I fell hard. I assumed she liked me too. That is until one day outside McDonald's on the east side of Windsor, I saw her and ACDC "want to be" guy having lunch together. I walked and I walked out. She walked out and crushed my crush. I guess he wore the cap better.

I thought nothing could be worse than the time I was a DJ dancing with a girl who dumbed while the song "Sad eyes" was playing. Try to forget that one. It was almost that bad. But I was older. I knew I'd bounce back.



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