MY HALF HEART(S) STORY

I was a pretty cosmopolitan 5th grader. I had a girlfriend from another grade school. Not even the older sixth graders at Field School did that. But mine, Jackie, lived close to the Granada and Stadium, the two places that were simply called movie theatres back then.

I went to a lot of Saturday matinees and Wednesday matinees in the Summer, so that's where I got to know and like Jackie. I liked her so much that I bought her a half heart necklace. All I could find on Google were half hearts for friends or mother/daughters. Back in the day, they made them for boyfriend/girlfriend.

I don't remember what they said, but the hearts were split down the middle and she wore her half and I guess I wore my half. I don't seem to remember wearing mine, but maybe I did. What I remember was when we broke up, Jackie told everyone she had flushed my half heart down the toilet. I just laughed.

The only other half heart I got anyone ended worse. Karla, a seventh grade blonde who lived on Johnson Ave. where the Pipers later lived was the recipient of my second heart. The reason I tried to pinpoint her address is that I've forgotten her last name, maybe Warren. But she moved out of town right after school was out for the Summer.

She didn't call or tell me. I had to find out from a friend. She probably still has my half heart. Wherever she moved to. She's probably still wearing it. I mean who could know?

Google did provide me with some lyrics from someones called H & Claire entitled Half (a) Heart. They go like this and describe my experiences with the little jewelry to a t:

Yesterday you said you loved me

Today you're not thinking of me

I don't believe love is

Supposed to be this way.