Bobby's Girl

It was a song of the times--an upbeat tempo, simple and unsophisticated lyrics that appealed to teenage girls, and unapologetic innocence.  In retrospect I should have anticipated the potential for problems, but when you're young--well, you know the excuses.

My boyfriend and I were on our way to school when the song came on the radio and I began to sing along without thinking.  The basic refrain, "I want to be Bobby's girl" had barily escaped my lips when the car swerved to the shoulder and stopped.  I turned to my boyfriend for and explanation.  To my surprise there was sadness and rage in his eyes as he asked, "Is that true?"  For a split second comprehension failed me and in the next the full import hit me.

My boyfriend's name was Jim--not Bobby--but his younger brother who was my age was Bobby.  To add fuel to the fire when Jim and I first met he told me Bobby had had a crush on me for over a year.  I had already learned that Jim had a severe jealousy problem along with an explosive temper so his reaction was not out of character.  It took me several minutes to calm him down and reassure him that I was only singing along to a popular song--not expressing any underlying wish and that I was quite content being his girl.  Looking back, it seems a trivial thing, but it taught me a lesson I've never forgot--"Think before you sing."