My first kiss went a little like this...

The summer between fourth and fifth grade is usually filled with adventure and growing up. Back in these days, I spent a good portion of my summer in Utah, visiting the small town my mom grew up in. Small towns mean bike rides to the cemetery, walks to the only store in town for penny candy and Pepsi in a glass bottle, and new friends. 

Next door to my grandparents was a family with several daughters. Megan was my age, and probably the best summer sister a girl could have. During this particular summer, their cousin, Corey, was visiting his relatives in the house behind my grandparent's farm. 

Corey was my age, maybe a year older, with tan skin and bleached blonde hair and one of those little rat tails in the back. I'm sure by elementary school standards, he was the Jake Ryan of my time.

I remember meeting him through the fence between my grandparent's and Megan's house. His first words were "Hi, I'm Corey and I want to kiss you!" And with that proclamation, I did what I do best. I ran.

I spent a few days running and hiding, I remember spending a day pretending to be asleep on the couch when he came knocking and actually falling asleep for an entire afternoon. When I thought he had given up, I went back to Megan's house, only to have him walk in, while we were eating string cheese and planning our day. I promptly locked myself in the bathroom.

Corey knocked on the door for awhile, but after a bit, Megan's older sister knocked on the door and gave me the all-clear. I opened the door, and was promptly met by a kiss from Corey. I had been duped!

It was pretty unimpressive in the grand scheme of first kisses, but after that, I had no reason to run - it was all over. Plus, Corey had a pretty cool air hockey table, and I got to play on it the rest of that summer.