In Grade Prep my favourite game was kiss chasey, especially if Adam was playing. It took days before someone was brave enough to suggest another game. Some kids protested, but most of us had our secret missions planned.
It was the only game of tag, where I didn't mind being 'it' first. Maybe it was his lanky legs but Adam was always easy to catch. When it was his turn to do the chasing, I would slow down and deliberately skip across his path. The hardest part was making it look like we didn't want to be caught.
Adam's mum let him buy me a hair clip with a butterfly on it, and I was the first girl to get an invitation to his birthday party. It was a weekend party and the first I was allowed to go to on my own.
On Saturday morning his present was wrapped. Mum was making alterations to my party dress and I was playing on my favourite tree. A big walnut that doubled as my acrobatic bars. I tried to do a back flip off the sturdiest branch and I crash landed and broke my wrist. No party for me. Doctors orders.
We didn't have a telephone. I had no way of telling Adam that I couldn't make it to the party. I tried everything to convince my parents I was well enough to go. I even begged them to take me, so I could give him his gift and tell him I couldn't stay.
I was sure he would be upset, maybe even drop me. I thought about running away. I pretended my arm didn't hurt. I cried and yelled and got my knickers in a huge knot, until exhaustion finally wore me down.
By Monday morning, the martyrdom on my left wrist had set. Armed with Adams present my Mum dragged me to school. We met Adam and his Mum at the gates. He'd saved a party bag of lollies for me. My cast became the centre of attention.
I told Adam I wasn't allowed to play games like chasey. He suggested I walk instead of run. It made perfect sense to me. So we waited, until someone was brave enough to say "who wants to play kiss chasey?'
26 Greatest Loves of my life #atozchallenge Image courtesy of Clker.com |
I wonder if the next two times I broke my arm was for a similar type of attention?
Have you ever played games, or bent the rules just a little, to get closer to a person you love?
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Find out more about the A to Z challenge, my theme and links to all 26 Greatest loves of my life.
Find out more about the A to Z challenge, my theme and links to all 26 Greatest loves of my life.
Very cute A post for A - Z! Breaking your arm for the boys - all I can say is, "OUCH!"
ReplyDeleteMJ, A to Z Challenge Co-Host
Writing Tips
Effectively Human
Lots of Crochet Stitches
I certainly didn't do it for the boys...and it stopped me from going to the party
DeleteOuch indeed! Thanks for sharing, Ida!
ReplyDeleteI don't remember the physical pain at all :)
DeleteI did other silly things to get attention. Braking my bones...not in your life!
ReplyDeleteHugs and chocolate!
it wasn't intentional thats for sure - thanks for the hugs and chocolate
DeleteCute. Now, where were girls like you when I was in school?
ReplyDeleteThanks Alex - there weren't to many boys buying hair clips (with butterflies) for the girls they liked either.
DeleteVery adorable story to kick off the challenge! Do you know where Adam is now?
ReplyDeleteHi Kate and thanks, our Mums thought we were adorable too. There is hardly any trace of him online - though I think he still lives in the area we grew up in...
DeleteAww! That was such a cute tale!! ♥
ReplyDeleteShilpa Garg
Co-Host AJ's wHooligan for the A to Z Challenge 2014
Thanks Shilpa, glad you liked it.
DeleteAww This is so endearing. I hope the rest of your loves were as sweet. :)
ReplyDeleteThere's endearing lessons to be learned in mistakes too.. right? :)
DeleteAww so cute! :) your series are sure gonna be entertaining!!
ReplyDeleteThanks Aditi, I'm sure some will be more entertaining than others :)
DeleteWhat a beautiful, innocent love. I remember playing kiss chase as primary school - I think they banned it later, no idea why, it was completely innocent.
ReplyDeleteTasha
Tasha's Thinkings
I'm pretty sure they have banned it now - I don't even think kids are allowed to hug each other anymore.... It was innocent and very sweet.
DeleteWe never played Kiss Chasey here! We missed out! While I have never broken anything for attention of a love interest I'm sure I've done other stuff ... Now, knickers in a knot and lollies I'm familiar with!
ReplyDeleteI never broke anything intentionally - I just wondered if, on a subconscious level, injuries equalled affection...
DeleteWe played kiss chasey when i was in 6 year old grade.
ReplyDeleteThe girls were so smart to steal some lipstick from one of the moms.
WE ran after those boys with fully red lips and when the bell rang for class, they looked like, well war heroes. hahaha!
Hahaha - now that's a funny story - and shows an obvious difference between kids born a couple of generations apart :)
DeleteAww. I love this post. So adorable and innocent. I never tried to break anything for attention, but it would have been less embarrassing than my attention seeking attempts. Sigh, memories :) Can wait to read more!
ReplyDeleteI'm intrigued Elsie, I would love an to know your embarrassing story. I can't imagine anyone would deliberately break bones for attention...
DeleteHi Ida .. I can relate to this .. I never broke my wrist - even though we had a walnut tree! Somehow one of us ... may be the brother himself (of my desire!) smashed his thumb in the car door as it was shut - .. that must have hurt too ...
ReplyDeleteLovely story ... cheers Hilary
Ouch - Hi Hilary. I think that walnut tree was my first true love. I spent most of my childhood in it, and a good deal of time reminiscing about it as I wrote this post. :)
DeleteSuch a sweet post of that tender love of childhood! I really liked how you describe it.
ReplyDeleteThanks Beloo, wouldn't it nice if love was always tender
DeleteGreat post Ida thank you! Kiss chasey.. no I didn't know that game I don't think? Sounds good. Adam sounds like a great guy saving lollies for you.
ReplyDeleteGarden of Eden Blog
It's basically chasey or tag, but you get to kiss the boys haha or run from them if you don't like them.
DeleteI will have to google Kiss Chasey... never played it, but I loved your post. How sweet of Adam :)
ReplyDeleteIt's like any other game of tag, except when you catch someone you have to give them a peck on the cheek :)
DeleteHe saved you lollies!!!
ReplyDeleteAwwwwww! <--- really, I just said that at my desk aloud!
I cannot *wait* to hear about your loves, what a great, great theme!!!
Cristina from Filling my Prayer Closet
Awww hahaha i just laughed too. Thanks Cristina.
DeletePainfully cute tale! I don't think I broke any bones, but I did go out of my way to see my guy.
ReplyDelete"I drove all night" - haha oh the things we do - thanks Loni
DeleteHi Ida, loved this sweet post thank you! We didn't have kiss chasey ...
ReplyDeleteI thought I put up a response to this about a half hour ago but it hasn't appeared - yet? Maybe still awaiting moderation!
Garden of Eden Blog
I feel like I have replied twice too - #atozchallenge day 1 haze :)
DeleteLoved this story about a long ago love. So touching! Can't say I've tried breaking any bones to win a man's attention. Sweet story that made me smile.
ReplyDeleteI can't say I ever tried breaking my bones either.. glad you smiled
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteAww, what a cute story! I love that Adam saved you lollies and knew you hadn't abandoned him for no good reason. :)
ReplyDeleteHis Mum might have had something to do with it, but he really was very sweet. Thanks for dropping in Dee
DeleteToo too too cute Ida :D loving ur tales of love theme and waiting to read em all :)
ReplyDeleteI wish they were all so sweet...but in hindsight they usually are :)
DeleteOh, what a sweet post. Thanks !
ReplyDeleteOh, Thank you for your sweet comment too :)
DeleteWhat an attention grabber, especially the boys. I thought the story was a fun one, and look forward to reading more.
ReplyDeletehttp://www.writer-way.blogspot.com
Butterfly clips and lollies and lollies sure did grab my attention :) Thanks Michelle
DeleteAww.. so cute.... :) Butterfly clips and Lollies.. He sure would have been a sweetheart.. :P :P
ReplyDeleteWaiting for more....
I knew there was something special about that butterfly clip :)
DeleteHaha, cute, though I'm sure it hurt. But when it comes to matters of the heart, we deal with anything. So nice of Adam to save a bag of lollies for you.
ReplyDeleteI didn't play this game, but when we hung out, I tried to sit as close as possible to Ian, a boy I liked. Oh, the good, fun days.
Silvia @
SilviaWrites
Funny I don't remember the physical pain, but the injustice of not getting my way that day is easy to remember. The good fun days indeed, lucky Ian :)
Deleteps, forgot to say significant that his name was Adam ..I'da been an Eve in that situation .. xx
ReplyDeleteIt all started with Adam... I'da's been Eve in similar situations xox
DeleteI love your theme. Adam was dead cute!
ReplyDeleteOne of the reasons I loved him :)
DeleteThis comment has been removed by the author.
ReplyDeleteThat's a cute post, Ida! Do you still have that butterfly clip as a keepsake? http://www.ilakshee.blogspot.in/
ReplyDeleteI wish I did - as it was I struggled to remember exactly what it was
DeleteAw I love this tale, brought back memories of Kiss Chase at our school too, behind the shed (wasn't a bike shed though just a general shed), surprisingly close to the school when we could have actually gone further down the fields away from the teachers... I'm sure there was a reason for it at the time!
ReplyDeleteMars
Curling Stones for Lego People
The back field was just to far away - perhaps?
DeleteThat is so cute. I remember kiss chase. We called it catch and kiss....
ReplyDeleteThanks Kate - Same game different name.
DeleteAh, a broken ankle bone and crutches got the attention of this guy I had a steamy crush on. He helped me carry my books to class one day. He never knew I existed before or after but I still remember that walk down the hallway 30 years later. 30 years???
ReplyDeleteIt's easy to remember how someone made us feel. You probably didn't need him anymore...after :)
DeleteToo bad I didn't know that then!
DeleteThat was adorable! <3
ReplyDeleteI've done some things where I would try and make sure I bumped into a guy in the hall or at the mall or whatever, but never bent the rules. I still find it hard to bend the rules when I know them so well. :)
Jamie Dement (LadyJai)
My A to Z
Caring for My Veteran
I've always said you have to know the rules to bend them. Were any of your bumps a success?
Deleteyes some were but only very briefly. I was always so incredibly shy :)
DeleteJai
What torture during your first love - we've all had at least one of those "I must get to him and can't" experiences and they are truly gut-wrenching. I'm now watching my 7-year-old with her first love - it is sweet, innocent and oh so familiar. Great start to your April.
ReplyDeleteFamiliar indeed... gut wrenching is a perfect description. I wish your daughter all the best in all her love adventures
DeleteSuch a sweet innocent love. Sad about missing the party.
ReplyDeleteChildhood is the best age........
http:// www.inderpreetkaur.blogspot.in
I think at that age it was the worst thing that had ever happened to me... missing the party that is :)
DeleteThis is such a sweet story, other than the broken arm!! Thanks for sharing. :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Jaimie - and your right that broken arm was no fun at all
DeleteVery sweet story! :)
ReplyDeleteLong time... and glad this challenge made me come here again :)
Thanks Sheethal - it feels like a long time, and I am also very glad to connect again
Deleteyou must have been adorable in your little party dress. kiss chasey, lol.
ReplyDeleteNo party - no dress... kiss chasey was a lot of lol
DeleteKiss chasey is a new one for me. Although it might explain what some of the little girls in 2nd grade were up to when they chased me on the playground and kissed me. Maybe that's what they were playing and I just didn't realize it.
ReplyDeleteLee
Wrote By Rote
An A to Z Co-host blog
I'd put money on it... haha what else could it be - chased plus kisses = kiss chasey or some version of it. Especially at that age.
DeleteWe played kiss chase! There were a few lads I had my eye on at primary school ;P This is a lovely story. Poor you, but Adam saved you stuff :D
ReplyDeleteSophie
Sophie's Thoughts & Fumbles - A to Z Ghosts
Fantasy Boys XXX - A to Z Drabblerotic
Thanks Sophie. I was only miserable for a day or two the rest of the year was bliss :)
DeleteThanks M - I hope they are all sweet memories
ReplyDeleteI don't know if my phone is letting me comment, but I'd just like you to know that this is adorable and I can't wait to read the rest :)
ReplyDeleteit worked fine, thanks for your adoration :)
Deleteahh, I feel your angst at not being able to get a message to Adam! Heartfelt post; looking forward to the rest! Gail at Making Life An Art
ReplyDeleteI can still remember that angst in the pit of my stomach, it is definitely more heartfelt now :) Thanks Gail
DeleteDelightful, Ida! I have played some games - but do you really want to know? ;)
ReplyDeleteYes Corinne - indeed I do, some of the other stories people have mentioned in their comments are so sweet/funny worth sharing :)
DeleteGreat post! Have fun with the A to Z Challenge. Although I can't participate, I'm proudly displaying my Supporter Badge on my Blog for all of you. Enjoy and I'll be checking out as many blogs as I can throughout the month! Lily - Eva
ReplyDeleteHi Eva, thank you for being a supporter - blogging is also a spectator sport :)
DeleteI have broken my leg back then in grade 10... :P :D for a similar reason!!!! I know that feel :P :D Nice start!
ReplyDeleteI didn't break my arm for any other reason than I was fearless and lacked good balance :) but it sure gave me more than I expected in the way of attention - thanks iamstri :)
DeleteSo cute. I played chaseys with my first boyfriend in kindergarten and kissed on the school bus. I don't remember his name though. :P
ReplyDeleteKissing on the school bus takes it to a whole other level Mary - and you don't even remember his name haha woo hoo :)
DeleteThis is so cute.
ReplyDeleteIt is a cute story - I forgot about the butterfly clip until I started writing about it... :)
DeleteSucha cute tale...but ouch indeed..glad it was not intentional though!
ReplyDeleteLucky Adam! I think of your flying off the tree as a description of how you felt inside. Ready to jump, ready to party! Not attention seeking at all!
ReplyDeleteHi Ida, I really like your theme! This first post is awesome, very funny and entertaining. Just like so many commentators above, it made me think of my own experiences. thank you for sharing.
ReplyDeletePS: I love how you've linked Aussie expressions to urban dictionary - never thought of that!
@ Kajal - Thanks for commenting
ReplyDelete@Rebecca Lord - I wonder if I would have been more careful in the future if he hadn't have taken it so well. I spent years flying off that tree :)
@Lena Lawson - I love the experiences others have shared in the comments for the same reason... Urban dictionary has it's failings but can be useful, I've even thought about just sharing a google search page too :)
AWww... This is so sweet, Love your Theme :)
ReplyDeleteThanks Ananya, my family teased me about this boy for years... that was kind of cute too :)
Delete