Puppy Love Story In The 70s ( Short Story)

An Adolescent Love Story in the 70s 

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A little insight of Steven's first adolescent love encounter which I finally managed to pen it down in words all becos of a song.....Melody Fair (by Bee Gees)

Came across this fond nostalgic tune of the Bee Gees' "Melody Fair" from the early 70s flooded my senses, igniting a rush of memories that brought both a smile and a pang of wistfulness to write this short story. It whisked me back to my teenage years of around 14 or 15, thats when my classmate Steven met his first sweetheart, Jane in secondary school during the 70s.

"Melody Fair" was the movie song to their first date, a cherished memory from the movie S.W.A.L.K. (Seal With A Loving Kiss) that they watched together at the Globe Cinema, in the old Great World City ground. The tickets were a mere 50 cents back then, cheaper than a cup of kopi-O today. 

In those innocent "pat tor" (wooing) days, they were naively cautious, only bold enough to hold hands when there were no passersby or prying eyes. Even after 2 years, they hv not kissed;  Steven was quite meek and nerdy back then, or so he thought. Despite this, when we were together, their chemistry was undeniable. They spent their time chatting anything under the sun, moon or stars even comets, sharing meals together without the fear of Covid, or simply gazing into each other's eyes without the need for spoken words, communicating telepathically from the heart instead.

And they often found themselves holding hands ice skating for hours. Sometime they would even "ponk tang" (skipping classes) to ice skate at the now defunct Jurong ice-skating rink.

After graduation, Jane pursued a career as an air stewardess with SIA, while Steven found his calling in the Navy. Looking back, it seemed as though the relationship was destined for failure considering that she soared through the skies, while he sailed the high seas, leaving them with little precious time together on solid ground.

Steven vividly recall one instance when his ship docked in Jakarta, and he seized the opportunity to purchase a simple canvas handbag for Jane, proudly presenting it as a gift from Indonesia which ironically happens to be the turning point of their union.

Initially, she seemed pleased, but as she opened the present, Steven anticipated her smile with bated breath—only to be met with disappointment. Lo and behold, the label sewn inside the handbag read "Made In Singapore," a foolish oversight on his part for not inspecting the item before purchase in Jakarta. 

She interpreted the blunder as insincerity and accused him of fabricating his trip to impress her (Travelling overseas was a luxury then) Her belief in the importance of honesty and trust in a relationship was unwavering, and Steven regretted the unfortunate misunderstanding deeply.

From that point on, their relationship began to unravel, and it eventually withered away even without a proper farewell as they were meeting lesser & lesser, due to the nature of their respective careers, eventually succumbing to a natural demise..

However, many years later, Steven learned through her friends that she had married an American and she had made her home in the United States, but her marriage had been fraught with abuse and unhappiness, and she had even attempted suicide. 

Regrettably, as it was in the 90s, he lacked the means to reach out to her in a foreign land. However, he often found himself pondering what might have unfolded if he had been able to make contact. Would it have reignited the embers of their past romance? he couldn't say for certain, though by that time, Steven was already happily married with three children.

Now, 5 decades have passed, and to this day, Steven remain unaware of Jane's whereabouts, unsure whether she is still alive, living in the States, remarried, or pursuing a different path altogether. From time to time, he find himself reflecting on how different his life might have been if the relationship had flourished & matured. But that is destiny. A destiny that is not meant to be.

It's no wonder that there's an old song called "The First Cut Is The Deepest", meaning the first relationship will always remain in your memory shrine.

Nevertheless, Steven has moved on, and his foremost wish is simply for her well-being, happiness, and good health. 

That chapter of his life remains his first profound experience with love, akin to a tender memory from days gone by. It is now closed. And it shall remain shut forever. 

His devotion now is to his beloved family. ❤️