The Stairwell

Carol Andrews couldn’t believe the year had finally come that she wasn’t considered a little kid anymore; she was finally entering middle school. Her sister, Joan just a year older was always harassing her and making fun of her for being still with the babies in elementary school. It was September 5th the morning of the first day of school that Carol just couldn’t figure out what outfit to wear. Finally she got it! Her jean skirt with her white blouse she had just bought the weekend before. Off to school Carol went. She lived only a few blocks away from the middle school so she and Joan walked together, not saying one word to one another due to Carol still not being good enough in Joan’s eyes. They entered the front doors and walked up the stairs in the front foyer of the school when it all happened. Carol not paying attention, accidently bumps into a boy walking down the stairs. Carol’s books go flying out of her hands all over the stairs. She quickly bends over and tries to pick up the books before anyone else notices and she becomes even more embarrassed than she already was. The boy that Carol bumped into begins to help her pick up her belongings. He hands her the books and Carol out of complete shock just stares at him without even being polite and saying thank you. She is in complete awe at this point by the charming young boy. Carol turns to her sister and says, “I’m going to marry that boy Joan”. Joan continues laughing at Carol ten times harder than she already was. “Ok Carol you think that” says Joan. Carol only being twelve years old was convinced that was the boy for her and the love of her life. Just days later they see each other again in the court yard after school.
The young boy comes up to Carol.
“My name is Lee figured we should probably introduce ourselves”, says Lee.
“I’m Carol”, says Carol.
“Well it’s good to meet you hopefully I’ll see you around”, Lee says.
“Okay. Bye see you later”, says Carol (while blushing).
It was only a matter of weeks that Carol and Lee were sitting together during lunch and walking home from school with one another. They started dating during the winter months and spent the afternoons after school playing in the neighborhood together.
Five years later, Lee and Carol still together, neither has laid hands on another boy or girl they are ready to take it to the next step. Carol only being seventeen when the legal marriage age in New York State was eighteen and Lee’s mom against the two of them getting married at such a young age, the two had to plan out something big. Lee borrowed money from his manager and off to North Carolina the two young but in love individuals went. By the time they got almost to North Carolina, Lee’s mom was begging for them to come home and get married in New York but it was too late. Carol and Lee got married down in North Carolina and drove back home the following day. Just like Carol said from day one on the stairwell, it was love at first sight.
Fifty three years later, Carol and Lee have four charming sons together and are still happily married to another living just outside Orlando, Florida.