Gasp!
It was a normal fall day at Stephens College. I remember I was wearing a pink sweater that was kind of fuzzy — like fleece fuzzy, not faux fur fuzzy. It was year two of my BFA in Acting.
I was chubby at the time. Not as chubby as I had been or am now, but I wasn’t a fragile, small thing. I was single but had my cute cherub face going for me. I was well-liked. I was a college party girl. I was in constant grieving mode because I had lost my parents relatively recently, but I didn’t know I was in constant grieving mode. Despite it’s many trials and tribulations, I loved college.
On this particular day, I was in acting class where I was doing a scene from The Glass Menagerie. I was playing Laura — a TOTAL miscast for character actress like myself, but it was assigned, so I had to do it. And my scene partner was none other than Stephens College heartthrob, Kyle Prenger.
I liked Kyle — but not in that swoony way that so many young women did. Kyle was a little older than the rest of us. He was very funny, and he was kind. He did have very long eyelashes — that I do remember. He was swoon-worthy, but something about him to me screamed “big brother!” But that was me and most guys because I just assumed I wasn’t pretty enough for any guy. I guess maybe Laura and I had that in common.
I am sure Kyle and I did not rehearse the scene ahead of time or if we did, we did it half-assedly. None of us took our pervy acting teacher at the time very seriously. I couldn’t tell you anything about the scene, other than it was Laura and Jim and there was a kiss. I didn’ think too much of the kiss because it wasn’t going to happen — it just wasn’t.
Kyle and I did the scene just fine. I am not sure it was Tony-worthy, but we got through it. Then it happened.
Kyle Prenger kissed me.
Let me say it again, KYLE PREGNER KISSED ME.
Kyle Prenger had the softest, sweetest lips that had ever touched mine. It was the kind of kiss that I only dreamed of growing up. It was the kind of kiss that you should make you jealous. It was the kiss that taught me what makes a good kiss good. It was a kiss that made me feel seen. It was a kiss that made me forget what came before. It was a kiss that made my best friend, Robin, gasp. It was the kiss that somehow transformed me from girl to woman.
Kyle Pregner is now married with a child living somewhere. He in no way remembers this — that I am sure of. But that doesn’t matter. Because for me, it will always be the kiss that changed me.
