Someone help me because I can’t help myself

Sunday 7/16/2023. Summertime in the old Pueblo ( Tucson) was always a scorcher, but when you're in the prime of your youth 110 degree days didn't slow us down a lick. There was basketball to be played, pizza to be eaten, fights to be fought, some things I can't mention and most importantly, Betty's to be scoped at the local swimming pool.

One particularly hot day after a vicious game of street basketball ( no blood, no foul) we all sat down under a shade tree to discuss the deeper matters of life in a young man's world- the Betty's.

Chunky Joe was 5 foot nothing, a heck of o basketball player, red headed as the come with a fiery temper to match, foul mouthed, ready to fight, a ladies man but most importantly.. my friend. Chunky or Charles as we often referred to him in a respectfully sarcastic way started talking about the new girl from Indiana and a couple of the other gents jumped in and gave the thumbs up about the new hottie that had just rolled into town. I knodded my head but didn't have much to say, no experience in the matter. History had also taught me that I was nothing more than a finding Nemo kind of fish that had been befriended by some great white sharks in the realm of boy meets girl relationships. I knew one of them would claim the prize long before my feet would even enter the starting blocks of the race, I had witnessed this story many times before.