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It was Saturday and the date was
set to go the movies. It was about a quarter to six and I was ready to
leave my house to go and pick her up. I left and started to drive to her
house. I had general directions but wasn't exactly sure where the house
was. I went down the main road and then got off on the street she told me
to. I thought I was getting closer, but I still didn't know where I was
going. At least I had asked for the address. You can always find your way
if you know the address to anywhere because of the way towns are setup.
The addresses were getting closer. I was going slower than the speed limit
so that I could glance to the left and the right looking for anything that
would hint to where I was set to get to.
I had made a few different
turns and did a couple of backsteps returning to where I made my last
mistake but where I knew I was close. After about 45 minutes of being lost
I finally found it. Gosh, I didn't know what to think of myself. I had
almost given up looking to go home and call to tell her I couldn't find
her house. So should I be glad I found it, or upset that it was that much
trouble? I look at the house to see if I could tell what I was getting
myself into. Most peoples' houses reflect their attitude and status. I
wasn't really getting much from this one. Everything seemed standard, not
plain, but nice.
I sure was nervous walking from my car to the
door. My first date ever. I was hoping I'd do everything right. The way
things have gone in my life so far have always been surprises. Especially
with me having this thing where I go and do things that seemed right in my
head, but came out all wrong. Things that I wanted to be sweet would be
sour. Every step on the cement that took me closer to the door meant one
more step further from turning back. There really wasn't a way of backing
out now. Plus, what if she was looking for me through the window and had
already seen me get there.
How exciting, I moved closer to her door
and had started to do something completely new. The wood door with the
pretty stain-glass like window was right in front of me. Anxiety and
Excitement flow through me. Up until now she had just been a picture to
me. I had never met her. I had only spoken with her on the phone and seen
one picture of her. It was a picture that is etched in my mind. The first
moment I saw her in that picture I was astounded and baffled. Why was she
interested in me? Hadn't she noticed anything unusual about me yet, since
she must have observed me before. Funny that she noticed me, but I had
never seen her. From the picture I saw she surely should have caught my
eye, but must have slipped past, seeing is how I usually walk around
paying more attention to the walls and floor than the people I
pass.
There it was, the door that led to her. Should I knock or
give a ring of the doorbell? I'm a knocker, but maybe her parents aren't
fond of people who knock. Maybe they like a stand tall guy who is
definitive and rings. You never get a second chance at making a first
impression, and I certainly wanted to make the most of this. I didn't want
this to be the moment where I knew I wouldn't be doing this again. I
suppose if her parents are that particular about me knocking they'll just
have to deal with it. I knock on the door to wait for my moment to
hopefully shine.
Only a thin piece of wood protected me between
either oblivion or heaven. Well here it goes, the door is opened and there
a lady stands, only it wasn't her. An older sister? Maybe her mother.
Either way I had to introduce myself. I stuck out my arm and submitted my
hand for a handshake while I said hello and gave her my name. I was right,
it was her mother. She was nice and chatted with me for a brief moment.
Then a man appeared through a threshold on the right from another part of
the house that appeared to be to the main living room. I waved at him and
said hello and then once again offered my hand for another handshake. I
did my best to give a firm, friendly handshake. As the three of us stood
there we all made small talk.
Her mother had said earlier that she
would be out in a minute, now she was beginning to wonder if she was
almost ready. I guess it becomes uncomfortable when you stand there for
too long and the people that are supposed to be the one's doing the
talking aren't together and you're left to talk with someone that you're
only there to present the two. Her mother goes and checks to see and
returns promptly to give the signal that we all wouldn't be stuck there
too much longer so that the three of us could get back to what we were
supposed to be doing. I heard the tv in the background so they must have
been watching a program before I interuppted.
Then from the hallway
there she came. Breathtaking is as close of a word as it comes to
describe that moment. She was dressed up, but yet casually dressed, which
only made me feel embarassed and bad for how I was dressed. I must have
looked like a slob. Not only that, but only then did I realize how I was
dressed and how that affected how her parents had perceived me as
being.
Her parents gave me those famous last words of be careful
and bring her back in one piece or else. They then left the room and we
were by ourselves until we were out of the door and on our way. We were on
our way out, and now the door was shut behind us. As we walked over the
cold cement of a chilly evening of a mild winter we made small chat on the
way to my car. We both walked to the passenger side door. She was on that
side to get in, and I was there to get the door for her. She was in and I
made my way around the car to get in now. I started the car up and cranked
up the heater to make sure she was warm enough. She said she was fine, but
I could tell that she was chilled, so I did my best to get that car warm
as fast as possible. It's funny how I could see she was shivering, but
how she smiled and told me she was alright. It wasn't to be mistaken as
that excited nervousness shake that sometimes grabs a hold of someone.
Hopefully I wasn't shaking though, because I certainly wasn't
cold.
We made our way to the show and I hurried somewhat so that we
could make the showtime, but I really could have cared less if we would
have just sat there all night. Just being with her right then was good
enough for me. But as it was we got to the theater.
I parked the
car and we were on our way inside. We got to the door and I had to take a
few steps quicker so that I could open the door and hold it for her. We
got to the ticket counter and I asked for two tickets and paid for them
both. I got the ticket stubs ripped and I asked if we should stop to get
any snacks. She politely turned down the offer and we made our way into
the theater. We found seats that we agreed to and sat. I asked again if
she was sure she didn't want anything like some popcorn, but she said
no.
We talked some more to get some insight about each other up
until the lights started to dim in the theater. Now it was time to sit
back and take a break while we watched the movie. The movie seemed like a
preamble to something, but not knowing what it was yet didn't
matter.
The movie ended and we left and walked back into the much
cooler night air where we reached my car and hurried to get in. I
immediately turned the heat up all the way once again so that neither of
us would catch more of the chill that surrounded us. I asked what we
should do next, but neither of us seemed to know. It was my move and I had
an idea in mind. A friend had called earlier and said that some of our
friends were going to be getting together that night. I thought this would
be a chance for her to meet some of my friends, and also take the burden
off of us having to be by ourselves. Being around other people sometimes
eases those questionable moments.
I drove us to my friends house
where we arrived greeted warmly by my frineds. I introduced all of them.
Then I introduced her. It kind of felt like I was showing her off. And I
was proud to do so. At the same time it felt a little weird. We were all a
bit hungry and could go for some food. We went through the grueling task
of trying to decide on something. I had a brilliant idea of this getting
some pizza from this fantastic pizza place. It was a great idea because
most of us had put it in the back of our minds which made bringing it up
so good.
We called the number but couldn't connect. That was a bit odd. So
my friend and I took a drive. Only to our surprise when we got there the
place was empty. We didn't know what could have happened. We went back to
deliver the bad news. And not knowing what else to do we skipped the
eating idea.
I glanced at the time to find out to my surprise
that it was later than I had thought. I asked her if she was ready to go
and she said it was okay. On our way back to her house it was quiet
between the two of us. We had said a lot for just a short period of time,
so it was okay to have this silence. We reached her house and sat in the
car for a few moments finishing up anything that was left to be said for
today and then it was over and she had gotten out of the car and I watched
her return into her home. I sat there thinking for a moment and then
backed up from her drive way and made my way. I wasn't sure where I was
going to, but right now that was just fine with me.
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