We Love Be What We Do”

ROMANCE IN THE FIFTIES

by Anonymous

Summer. 1957. Camp St. John’s for Boys and its sister camp, Nagawicka, in Delafield, Wisconsin. Three Tulane Deke fraternity brothers, returning counselors in the know, are at camp several days early for orientation and are sitting on a fence outside the Mess Hall checking out the girl counselors.

He says, “That’s the cutest little thing I’ve ever seen,” pointing to a petit blond walking down the path. He notes she is wearing white terry cloth shorts and shirt trimmed in scotch plaid, with white tennis shoes and gym socks. He is fixated on her gorgeous and shapely legs, lightly tanned by the early sun of summer. His buddy turns to look, and his gravelly-voiced reply is, “She’s too young to be a counselor; she’s probably a Senior camper who came up early.”

She says, to herself, “Those guys on the fence are Bad News, to be avoided at all costs!” She is aware as they point, look, and comment among themselves, they are casing all the girls. No way.

The summer progresses. He is a good sailing instructor and spends most of his free nights cavorting among the near and far bars and breweries with his many male and female friends. It is a co-ed camp, and the counselors take every opportunity to be together. That’s why it is so much fun. She is a tennis instructor for the younger children and has a quieter summer, playing bridge and going out to dinner with a nice Vanderbilt pre-med student. As camp comes to a close, the premed student knows she is transferring from Hollins College in Virginia to Newcomb for her Junior year. He advises her, “Don’t ever date a New Orleans boy!”

Fast forward to fall semester at Tulane and Newcomb. He has returned from the summer and has begun his third and final year of Law School with a raging case of mononucleosis, well-earned by burning the candle at all ends. His parents drive him to and from classes, and the rest of the time he is briefing cases in bed, too sick and contagious to go out. She is a new girl on campus, meeting new people and learning her way around. After about six weeks, his doctor releases him from his bed, with warnings about drinking, staying out late, and not passing on any germs. He needs a date for a Law School party but has not been out in the