"Will you be my girlfriend and marry me, Soley?"  Bjorney asked with a grin.

       "No, go away!" I replied.

       "But, I am the right guy for you, open your eyes and you will see that!"

       "Bjorney, it will never work. We are very different. I'm older than you. That makes a big difference."

        "But it's only three years, not even three full years."

        "No, you do not understand. I am mature and you are not. I am organized and you are not. Oh, don't cry like a little baby, when you are seven like I am, you will understand why. Now go play with your friends."

                                        *******************

        "Happy Birthday, Bjorney!" I said handing him his present.

        "I'm seven now, so that means you can be my girlfriend now!"

        "Bjorney, you're wrong again.  You may be seven, but I am ten going on twenty.  You have a lot of catching up to do."

        "Will you still ride dirt bikes with me?"

        "Sure as long as you don't tell people I'm your girlfriend, cuz I'm not"

         "OK, I promise," he replied leaning towards me to kiss me.

         "Bjorney, NO!" I screamed at him and punched him in the mouth.

         "Soley, you are crazy, you hit me. Damn, I'm bleeding!"

           I hopped on my bike and went home. An hour later the doorbell rang.  Daddy answered it. I could hear Bjorney's mother screaming.

           "Look what your crazy girl did, she gives my son a birthday present, then she punches him and splits his lip open!"

          I peek around the corner, Bjorney waves at me.

          "Hi, Soley!"

           I run to my room.

           "Get out here now!" my father yells. Damn, in trouble again!

           "What, Daddy?"

           "Nevermind, 'what'!  Look what you did! Why did you punch him?"

           "Well, uh, because, you know, uh...."

           "It's my fault," said Bjorney. "I tried to kiss her and she got mad. I'm sorry"

            "I don't want to get pregnant, I had to punch him! Ma says kissing leads to pregnancy."

            Daddy and Bjorney's mom Catarina start laughing.

            Then Daddy gets all serious and looks at Bjorney.

            "What are your intentions young man? Why are you trying to kiss my little girl?"

            "I want to marry her, sir. I'll take good care of her, I love her."

            "Oh, horsepoop, I'm going to vomit!" I reply.

            "Go to your room!" Dad yelled at me.

            "Catarina, your son and I are going to go for a walk and have a talk, man to man."

            I watched from my window as Catarina headed home, and Dad and Bjorney headed down the road towards town.  I was tempted to follow them and eavesdrop.  I was tempted to call Nora and have her follow and listen in, but something made me stop.

          Whatever it was that Daddy had to say, had to be important. Guy stuff. Bjorney's dad was long gone.  My dad was the closest he had to an adult male in his life.  I couldn't be nosy this time. I shut the window.

        "Nice sucker punch, Soley. I don't think he deserved that"

        I looked up and Uncle Jake was standing in the door way.

        "Bjorney scares me sometimes, he keeps going on about love and wanting to marry me. It's not normal."

        "He has a crush on you. Give it time, it will wear off."

                                         ******************

        And so it began, the dance of crushes and courting that has gone on for ages.