Mystery Man

Robin Luke was a virtual unknown when his song Susie Darlin’ hit the charts.  Like most young singers of that era he had the all-American, clean cut, good looks that young girls loved.  But as heart throb worthy as he was, he wasn’t the one I had my sights set on at the time.  Still he played an important role in getting the attention of the one I had had a crush on for five years at the time
 My best friend actually came up with the idea, but I quickly saw its merits and agreed to give it a shot.  In retrospect it was pretty lame, but then we were only fifth graders and not very sophisticated or knowledgeable in such matters.  The simplicity of it was part of why we were sure it would succeed.  I plastered Robin’s initials (RL) on everything of mine that would be visible to my target, including my new raincoat and my friend wrote me notes presumably from Robin.  My friend, my crush, and I rode the same school bus and he would usually set near us, so we would “whisper” tidbits about my “new romance” daily.  Finally he took the bait and asked my friend whom this guy was.  My friend was vague by design, but did let it “slip” that although I really liked this “mystery guy” I wasn’t sure he was right for me since he was older and traveled a lot.  Lame as it was, it worked.  His interest in me exploded 
 For the last six months of that school year I was Mike’s girl and he never knew the truth about the guy he bested for my attention.  I can’t hear this song without remembering those golden moments of childhood, my best friend who moved away shortly after that, and the boy who was mine for a little while.
 Thank you, Robin Luke, wherever you are.