I’ve known Jimmy since high school.

He was always such a laugh,

Hanging around with a friend or two,

Acting kind a daft.

His family moved into my street

When we were just fifteen,

I’d never fancied any guy

Until he came on the scene.

 

The first time I met Jimmy

He was sitting on his gate,

He said “Hi,” as I went by,

I so thought he looked great.

He’d always smile when he saw me,

That made me feel warm inside,

I’d respond with a carefree smile,

My feelings I would hide.

 

Soon he got to know all my friends,

He became one of our crowd.

Thoughts of romance just left me

And were never spoken aloud.

Some friends went to university,

The rest of us found work too.

Meeting evenings and weekends,

Clubbing or finding what’s new.

 

Jimmy at nineteen was such a flirt,

Yet it was obvious to see,

Although he flirted with all the girls,

He had a true soft spot for me.

A smoochy dance at the nightclub,

Jimmy held me really tight,

And kissed me when it finished,

It was such a lovely night.

 

Later he danced with another girl,

And that’s when I met Roy,

Dressed way ahead of his time,

But he seemed a nice enough boy.

Yet he wouldn’t take no for an answer

When on a date he tried it on,

So in spite of all my struggles,

My virginity was gone.

 

Jimmy found Roy and beat him up,

Then handed him over to the police.

I never knew he had it in him,

His motto was joy and peace.

I’ve now learnt to forgive myself.

That was over a year ago now.

My friends have been my salvation.

To trust again is my vow.

 

I’ve hardly ever thought it possible

To take Jimmy seriously.

So his fondness I’ve overlooked when

For months he’s been there for me.

There have been acquaintances

Who on seeing us together

Decided we were a couple,

When I denied, they said, “Whatever!”

 

Did friends know what they were doing

When they set us up on this date?

Can it really be only me

That has discovered this so late?

I don’t know how tonight’s happened!

Why am I in Jimmy’s arms?

And how come neither of us

Can resist each other’s charms?

 

So now as we stand here kissing

On the end of the pier,

Jimmy says he’s known deep down

For many a good year.

The moonlight caresses us,

My heart never known such joy,

For I am in love with a man

I fancied since a boy.