Back at the mall, Jon felt a sense of urgency rising in his chest that he didn't understand. Like there were words trapped inside of him that just needed to come out. But they were so unfamiliar to him, it didn't make sense. He didn't want to embarrass himself, but at the same time, the longer he held back the deeper this pressure grew, until suddenly--
"Aw, gee whiz Karyn," Jon was almost surprised at the high volume of the words escaping his own mouth, "you're such a nice girl. And we've been spending so much time together lately."
Karyn brought her right hand to her chest and bounced on her heels. "What are you trying to tell me, Jonathan Gibson?"
"Well, Karyn, what I'm saying is that I want to be more than just friends." Jon reached out and held Karyn's left hand in both of his, as her right hand slowly migrated to her lips. "Karyn Black, will you go steady with me?"
Karyn pressed her fingers against her mouth to suppress a squeal as she jumped into the air, bending her knees behind her. "Yes!" she screamed with an enthusiasm that would have been foreign to her just minutes earlier.
She didn't notice that, as she jumped, it was with feet that were encased within a pair of saddle shoes, or that they had kicked up, very slightly, the back hem of a poodle skirt. And she looked at the hands that were folded over her own, she didn't notice that arms which had only moments before been bared by Jon's short-sleeve T-shirt, were now covered to the wrist by a navy button-down that sat smartly above a pair of tan slacks.
"Can I," Jon paused a moment, a hesitation that only endeared Karyn more strongly to him, "can I give you a kiss?"
Karyn moved her hand to her cheek, revealing a bright red coat of lipstick and a pearly white smile, and nodded her head enthusiastically. Jon leaned in and gave her a very modest kiss on her vacant cheek.
Karyn practically swooned.
"Hey," Jon let go of Karyn's hand and wrapped an arm around her waist, "If we're officially steadies now, we should celebrate. How about we go to the soda shop? My treat!"
"Oh, that sounds real swell," Karyn agreed.
And off the pair walked, the very image of 1950's idealism, surrounded by the bright, glowing trappings of a 2020's shopping mall that had once seen brighter days.
