Toby was finally sixteen and was about to go on his first real date. He has had girlfriends before, in fact he was fourteen when he had his first official girlfriend, but this was his first, well independent is the best way to put it, date. He was driving Diane to dinner and a movie and while he was incredibly excited about this monumental evening he had to admit to himself and his Luke Skywalker action figure that he was a bit nervous. Toby didn’t still play with is action figures, though he secretly continued to confide in Luke Skywalker who had helped him with his problems since he was seven.
With his father’s car keys in one hand and a fifty-dollar bill, also from his father, in the other, Toby headed out the door and carefully backed the car down the driveway. As he drove to Diane’s he passed by the Central Piedmont Community College where his brother Mike was currently taking business classes. He wondered how Mike must have felt on his first date and if he was ever nervous. He thought his older brother always seemed so collected and cool and had always looked up to him. He couldn’t imagine him feeling anxious like he had earlier. He also doubted that his brother ever confided to Luke Skywalker. By then he was passing the Carolinas Aviation Museum, a favorite attraction of many tourists who would stay in the Charlotte luxury hotels and he wondered if he and Diane might ever take a trip together.
Toby knew the date had to have gone well when Diane suggested they drive out to the Atlantic Ocean for a picnic the Sunday after the upcoming one. He tried to play it cool when he said he’d have to check his schedule, but quickly said he was sure he could make it before taking the chance of having Diane change her mind. She smiled and Toby walked her to the front door of her house.