Me and Charlie Talkin'

Charlie was my first “real” boyfriend. And by “real” I mean that we actually went out on dates.

In a car.

Without adult supervision.

I will never forget asking my mother for the first time if I could go on a date with him.

She was already not all that fond of Charlie, well, because he was a boy and he had an interest in her baby daughter. And at the time, my mom was going through a divorce from my dad (after 20 + years of being together) and things were just…emotional for us. Anyhow, I wrote her a note asking her if I could go out with Charlie and after I gave her the note I just waited for the dreaded “no” like I had gotten before. To my surprise, she actually said yes, followed by:
“BUT! I have to talk to him before you leave this house.”

Charlie was a good guy. He was a good ol red-headed Southern boy with manners and a sweet smile. He didn’t mind talking to my mom. Of course, I don’t think he realize what he was getting into when he sat down on that couch but he happily obliged my mother’s request.

She proceeded to talk to him in that serious “Mom” voice.

You know the one.

It starts out real low and soft and sweet and the further into the conversation Mom gets, the louder and harsher it gets?

Yep.

“I know that you know that Elizabeth’s father and I are going through a divorce right now, right?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“And I know that you know that my daughter is my everything, right?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“And I know there’s not going to be any drinkin’ and drivin’ with my daughter in the car, right?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“She is ALL THAT I HAVE RIGHT NOW and IF ANYTHING happens to her YOU KNOW I WILL KILL YOU, RIGHT?”

“Yes ma’am.”

“Okay. As long as we are VERY.clear.onthat.”

“Yes ma’am.”

YIKES!

I’m surprised that after his “talkin to” Charlie and I even got to leave the house.

But we did.

And we dated off and on several times over the years.

We would break up for various reasons and then get back together a few months later and break up and get back together, etc, etc. I think we were just used to each other so when we didn’t have anyone else to date, we seemed to gravitate towards one another. And we continued that way for until I was in my mid-twenties.

My 15 year old self would never have imagined that my relationship with Charlie would end nearly a decade later with a restraining order and a court date.