Now That's a Story!

Kera celebrated her 18th birthday with many firsts - her first party without her parents being present, her first time serving an adult menu, her first gathering in her new apartment. It was also the first birthday where she was actually dating someone so she was thrilled to be able to share her special day with Andrew.

He had done everything possible to make it a wonderful day for her. When she went to pick up her mail, she found an adorable teddy bear stuffed into the box and, around its neck, was a ribbon along which Andrew had written "Happy Birthday, sexy!" over and over. She had laughed about it but it had truly started her day off in the perfect way.

Kera was quite new to dating. She had come through high school as a successful student but she had always been painfully shy. Dating simply wasn't on her radar. It wasn't that she had never been asked out - she certainly had, many times. She was just too nervous and lacked the self-confidence to accept.

She met Andrew at her part-time restaurant job and, after much flirting and cajoling, they had started dating. Andrew made it so easy. He had a fabulous sense of humor and, the more he made Kera laugh, the more she found herself falling for him. It also didn't hurt that he had boyish good looks and was incredibly charming. Everyone loved him, from the people at work to Kera's mom. It made Kera so happy to have him in her life.

Having saved her money since she started working, Kera was able to take a small apartment close to her college. Her parents had been nervous but very proud when she announced she was moving out on her own. She loved the independence and it certainly made it a lot easier to cultivate her relationship with Andrew.

Now that the "big" birthday party was over, Kera was looking forward to a dinner celebration that was planned for just her and Andrew. She had taken a lot of time planning it. She had learned some new recipes and spent some of the money she had been saving to buy nice candles and some new table linens. It was her birthday but she really wanted to show Andrew how much he meant to her - because what she had realized was that, in her list of birthday "firsts," she had the most wonderful "first" ever - her first love.