The Blind Date

WC 797

The Blind Date

Larry Noland muttered an explicative. He hated the way his heart was pumping, the perspiration forming on his brow, and the nervous energy that flowed through his body. Relax, he told himself, You’ll look like Richard Greer, to this blind date that's coming.

Ralph had set him up. The date was his partner’s sister. What’s her name now? Oh yeah, Shirley Muldoon. He said she was cute…Be standing on the corner of Forty and Eighth street at five o’clock. Yeah, right, so if she doesn’t like what she sees she can keep on walking… I can hear it all Monday…. Sorry Larry, her flight got in late… tried to get you on the cell….must have been in a dead zone.

“You must be Larry,” said a voice behind him.

He turned and saw her smiling. Her hands were tucked behind, and she was giving him the once over.

“I am," he replied, "and you must be Shirley.” Better than expected, he thought, but hardly a knock-out. Everything about her seemed slightly askew. Askew that is from the profile he had of the ideal woman. She was a little too tall, a little too skinny, and a little too self assured.

“Are you as uncomfortable with blind dates as I am?” she asked.

“See this sweat on my forehead? Hear my heart pounding?”

“You do seem a bit nervous… definitely not someone I would have picked out,” she said looking closely, “but well scrubbed.”

“Want to see my teeth?”

“That won’t be necessary,” she said taking his arm. “Please tell me what you were expecting… I always like to know someone’s first impression…as long as it’s favorable.”

She smelled good, and had a relaxing manner. “You look great and strike me as outgoing. More than I expected… I hope you’re not disappointed.”

“Not at all. I expected you to be short, bald, with thick glasses and wearing a Hawaiian print shirt with the top two buttons unfastened. At least that’s how my brother described you.”

“Nothing Ralph says surprises me anymore. The mystery is how we work so well together.”

“He speaks well of you.”

“You don’t look anything like him.”

“Mother found him on the doorstep.”

They laughed together. “Anything you’d like to see in the big city?”

“Ralph said we should start out at Mulroney’s Sport’s Bar and strike out from there. Come along now, I see it across the street,” The light changed and she urged him into the cross walk. “I'm ready for a cool one," she said

The flat screens were giving wall to wall sports coverage. They took a seat at the bar. “What can I get you?” asked the bartender.

“A good cold local draft,” she replied.

“I think you’ll like the Spotted Cow.”

“Make that two,” said Larry.

The sipped their beers and he was reminded of a painting in the Metropolitan Museum. It was of a young woman who looked like Shirley. There was that same confident look and sense of wonder in her eyes. Was this some kind of déjà vu, he thought to himself. For the first time in a long time he felt that resonance in his heart. In the solitude of his soul a forgotten spirit raised its head, yawned and began looking about. She sipped her beer looking back at him over the glass. There was definitely a connection.

As they sat assessing one another, she asked him, "Do you mind...?"

"What's that he replied, uncertain..."

Her hand reached out, resting on his thigh. It was like electricity...He started!

“Don’t be so nervous," she scolded. "Touching is good.”

“Tell that to the EMTs when they wheel me out on a gurney.”

“No way I'm falling for that. Ralph says you're a runner.“ Her hand began sliding back and forth. It was soothing and felt natural.

"I try and stay in shape." He shifted uncomfortably.

“Human touch is as endearing as it is sensual,“ she continued. "This rubbing for example. It sends a responsive signal that transcends sex, as long as I don’t get too close to your you know what.”

“That would really get a response,” he said smiling.

“I think it already has.”

An erection began to form in his pant leg. She felt the fabric rise and extended her fingers over the top of the bulge, giving it a squeeze. “Is that a….?”

“Pickle in my pocket?”

They laughed some more and he reached down taking her hand and brought it up to his lips. Her eyes softened as he kissed her finger tips. “You're a delightful woman…someone who could easily become addictive.”

“You seem like a very nice man.”

“I know a little restaurant. Do you like Italian food?”

“Does a bear growl in the woods?"

WC 797