#I have no idea why micky thought these two were having an affair during filming I mean they are SO straight look at them

[idlesuperstar]

Surely THE MOST heterosexual scene in all of British cinema, in all its restored (finally!) glory - Anton Walbrook as Dr Falke dressing Michael Redgrave as Col Eisenstein in Powell & Pressburger’s Oh...Rosalinda!! [1955]

[rtirman-blog]

27 Romance-Ended and Begun

When Marcia turned her head so my friendly little kiss landed on her cheek, it was humiliating.  After that, I actively avoided seeing Marcia in the hospital hallways.  If I ever did run into her, I would have been totally embarrassed. More importantly, I do not include that moment with Marcia as a romantic encounter.  So my life-long romantic encounters remained at three- Mickie Finn on my 4th birthday, that girl who scolded me for almost getting hit by a bus, and Linda Larriar’s pressing lips, and bear hug, the night of the apple ducking, or what others might call bobbing for apples.  That is my entire romantic history from birth to near the end of my freshman year at college.  

 It was then, with just a few weeks until the end of the school year, I met what’s- her-name.  I apologize for forgetting her name, and even what she looked like. What I do remember is her job. She was a secretary at Central High School downtown South Bend.

I also remember she was already 20, while I had about six weeks to go to be 19. I don’t remember how I met her or ever doing anything with her. What I do recall was embarrassing enough not to share any of it with my friends.  I was with her at her house.  We were sitting close to one another. I do remember she was blonde, just a smidgen taller than me, and I liked being with her, a lot. I wanted to tell her I liked her, but didn’t have the courage to say it clearly.  I said to her, “I-L-Y”.  She looked straight into my eyes, and then, kissed me like I had never been kissed before. We hugged each other.  I was getting sexually turned on. I was afraid she might react negatively to me getting a bulge in my pants. Or she might even be angry with me, and never want to see me again. So I told her, I was sorry, but it was late, and I needed to get back to my Uncle’s before I get locked out. I did tell her I wanted to see her again.

 I guess my comment to her, about getting home before I get locked out, had more truth to it than I thought. My Uncle was waiting up for me.  He had lots of questions. I answered all of them. He said I could go up to my room, but that we would discuss my relationship with this girl tomorrow.

 The following evening, without discussion, he told me I was not to see this girl again. He asked me for her phone number. Then, in front of me, he called her. His message to her was for her to stay away from me.  He told her that I had a lot of hard work ahead of me, and she is nothing but a distraction.  I do not know what she said to him.  He then gave me the same order- I was not to call her or contact her.  I was too embarrassed to ever call her again.  My parents would have never done anything like that. Moreover, if I had the courage, I should have told him to “go jump in the lake”.

 Today, I might have a different response.  I think Wally took control of me and my affairs in a way he wished someone would have done for him.  I don’t have any idea of his romantic history.  But my guess is that he committed himself to his wife, Harriet, and had not explored his romantic and sexual self.  I think he felt that Harriet got hold of him, knowing what a secure future she would have. I believe that is what he projected onto my relationship with that high school secretary. That is, she was trying to get a grasp on a future doctor.  I followed his demands.

I think I told you Wally and Harriet already decided not to let me live with them the following year. This meant that I would have to make enough money to pay my tuition, room, and board.  I would be living on the west side of South Bend, about a mile and a half from the University. It would take two buses to get to school.  As I said before, I did very well second semester, and I was ready to become a sophomore. I would be totally independent.

 When I made it home, I immediately began a job search. In Nassau County, there were openings for lifeguards.  I was a fairly decent swimmer, but I had never thought about being a lifeguard. Even though I was a shrimp, I decided to apply.  After hearing that I was applying, one of my brother’s closest friends, Pat Killikutty, phoned and told me he was going to apply, as well. 

Our tryouts were held at Jones Beach, on Long Island’s South Shore.  Out beyond the waves, we had to swim about a half mile to a mile. Pat asked me if I would slow myself down a bit, so he wouldn’t look so bad.  That presented a minor issue- I wanted to swim fast enough to get the job, and I wanted Pat to get a job, also.  I decided not to race, but to take leisurely strokes throughout. Pat stayed pretty much by my side. Lo, and Behold!  We both got a job.  The main purpose of the tryouts was to find lifeguards for the Levittown pools. We both ended up in Levittown, but in different pools.  I was assigned to the Bluegrass Lane Pool, and Pat was assigned to the Wolcott Road Pool. We both attended training, for which we were paid. Then on to the job.

 Surprisingly, my height and non-muscular body was a non- issue.  Most of the swimming patrons were little kids with parents, school kids, and few adult swimmers. Since I was a lifeguard, and behaved responsibly, I was seen as a lifeguard, and not a scrawny kid.. I can’t remember a sole mentioning anything about my size.  To boot, all lifeguards were publically tested each month. In front of fairly large crowds, our swimming and lifesaving skills we tested. On every one of those tests I came out with “honors”.  I received compliments from both the kids and adults. In swimming, that had never happened to me before. Maybe I was a very good swimmer, after all.  Later in the summer, a parent showed me a film she had taken of me during one of the monthly public tests.  I couldn’t believe what I saw.  I was stunned to see me swim.  I shouted out, “Is that me?”  I actually swam like a lifeguard.

 Just about everyday, the Levittown pools were crowded.  But late one afternoon, there was absolutely no one in the Bluegrass pool.  It had stormed enough earlier in the day to send most everyone home.  The sun wasn’t shining, but it wasn’t raining anymore, and we were open for business.

I was sitting at the entrance to the pool talking to Mrs. Longo.  Her job was to check for tags for admittance.  Mrs. Longo was okay, but from my point of view,  she talked a lot...I mean lot. Since my job was to keep an eye on the people in the water, I seldom was around her.  But when it was just she and I, it was hard for me to act like I was too busy to chat.  Truthfully, I learned a lifeguard is hardly ever busy.  A lifeguard is usually bored.  So there I was- passing time with her at the gate.  

I can’t remember what we were talking about.  Maybe that’s because I saw a girl I had never seen before, walking on the other side of the fence near the far end of the pool.  Mrs. Frank spotted her as well, and said something about that girl being a little bitch.  That meant that I’d probably like that girl.  As she came around the  corner of the fence, I noticed her blonde hair and the smile on her face.  As she came through the gate, she said a nice hello to Mrs. Frank, said hi to me, and winked.  I had a shit-ass grin on my face.  I was embarrassed.  But I said hi, trying to be cool.  Her name was Sally.  I had never seen her before, but she sure was friendly.  She went up to the deep end of the pool.  

 Naturally, as any good lifeguard would do, I walked to the deep end, and kept a watchful eye on her. I think that pissed off Mrs. Longo. But what was I to do?  It was my job. Sally was in the deep water seeming to beckon me to jump in and join her. I was feeling a bit scared and shaky.  As you know, I was always afraid of girls.  Sally began to tease me.  She then got out of the water and grabbed hold of me and threw me in.  Even though she surprised me, I sort of let her do it. Before I knew it, we were dunking each other and laughing.  I couldn’t believe I was doing such a dumb thing.  I’ll bet Mrs. Longo thought I was a child, and I ought to be fired.  Anyway, we kept dunking each other, laughing and chasing each other all around the pool.  I was genuinely having fun, and I wasn’t scared anymore.  Sally was just as friendly as could be...and Boy!,..was she pretty!  The only thing about her was when my nose got close to her hair, I could smell the worst smell I ever smelled.  It smelled like somebody died and rotted.  I didn’t want to say anything.  Why embarrass her, and me, and spoil a good thing. So we just kept on playing, The smell got pretty bad, but I made it through our fun and time together. 

As Sally walked away, I realized how good-looking she was.  She was almost as tall as me, and she smiled a lot.  I was afraid to ask her out or to ask her to come back.  I sure wanted to see her again.  In all the fun, I had my arms around her, my hands on her waist, my face touching her face, and our bodies bouncing off of each other.  In all that fun, I was pretty comfortable.  Sure, I was conscious of not touching her tits, or of getting my leg between hers or one of her legs between mine.  But other than that, I was pretty comfortable.  As she disappeared from view, I felt lonel,y and anxious.   I really wanted to be with her again.  Oh, and that smell!  That was the only bad thing about her.