The park bench was a comfortable place to sit and rest if you were tired or weren’t staying long. Over time the wooden slats, anchored into the cast iron ends and feet, had become uneven. Although sturdily constructed, it had long ago surrendered most of it’s green paint and luster to usage and the elements. This seemed lost on the young man and woman sitting side by side, slightly angled towards facing each other. They didn’t seem to notice that it’s comfort had long since ceased or that the cold air in the early autumn evening was getting colder. Idle chatter about school and friends they knew dominated their attention as they strove to get to know each other. Their hands, no longer content to remain still on their laps now provided visual punctuation to their conversation. It was while the young woman was thus engaged in talking and motioning with her hands that the young man noticed them. While quite a bit smaller than his and very feminine, they were not dainty. Appearing smooth of skin, and looking a pale white, he thought to himself that they looked as strong as they did soft. Graceful would be a good word to describe them he thought.

The hours had passed and it was colder now. Even so, there was still much to be said and even more questions to be asked. Walking now up the quiet street, their conversation turned to the weather. It was a clear sky that easily made a beautiful backdrop for the almost full moon that showed itself between the gaps in the tall, barren oak trees that were so plentiful. When the young man commented on the cold, the reply he got from the young woman took him by surprise. Pausing momentarily to notice the playful gleam in her eyes, he couldn’t think of anything to say. If he was unsure of her meaning, he was even more unsure of himself. For seconds that seemed like an eternity, he stood wondering what, if anything he should do or say. Finally, without saying a word, he reached down and clasped one of her hands, kissed her and then continued their walk up the sidewalk, returning to a conversation that seemed to have little importance anymore. Their hands, once cold, were now warmed. There was even a slightly nervous sweat felt between them. Her hands were soft and strong he thought. And lovely to hold as well. And so began a wondrous new part in their relationship as from that time forward, holding hands brought them the quiet joy and assurance that only holding hands can bring.