Missing Pieces Part 3
Blind Date Number Two! - 02/20/06
Dear Journal -
Perhaps I'm a little too gung-ho about this whole dating scene...
...but after my last date with Lee the Bowler, I decided to hop right back onto the proverbial horse and give the dating scene another shot. I called the local matchmaker again around 7:00 (right before heading off to work) and set up an appointment for that evening after I returned home from work, then I called Meadow to let her know that her "wilting blossom" (as she loves to call me...she says the wilting is self-inflicted) has not lost all her petals yet.
Unfortunately, I forgot that she had been at work the night before...and I also forgot that it was 7:30 in the morning. Meadow was NOT thrilled that I had woken her up. After getting an earful, I managed to sneak in the fact that I was going to go on another blind date that night.
"Good for you. Don't screw it up. And, Stella? One more thing..."
"Yeah?"
"I will reach through that phone and THROTTLE you if you ever call me this early again! Love you! Bye!"
Then she hung up. She's not a morning person. No, no, no.
So I hung up the phone, and went to work. Today was test day, which is always an amusing day because the kids are always so obvious about their disdain. I could give them two months notice and I would still get the groans and the "But, Ms. Shaw! I didn't get a chance to study!!" and various other last-stitch efforts to get me to postpone the test for "Just one more day!". Luckily, they are pretty accepting of it in the end, they just like to pitch a fit and try to postpone the inevitable.
I don't mind test days, though. Gives me time to catch up on my grades (which is always a bear).
Finally I got home, bathed, chose my outfit, and awaited the arrival of the matchmaker. She was right on time (just before dark), as promised, which is good for her because I'd be a little miffed if she showed up late to collect another five thousand simoleons! I had her show up a little early because I wanted to have a chat with her about what kind of guy I was looking for, because I wasn't sure that that nifty crystal ball o' hers was seeing things the way I was seeing things.
"You see...I'm kind of interested in a guy with...lighter hair. Yeah. Lighter hair."
"Lighter hair? That is the key to your heart, dear?"
"...yeah. The hair color definitely matters. That dark hair wasn't doing it. Yeah."
"Well, I can...I mean, my CRYSTAL BALL can certaintly fulfill that request!"
And so the crystal ball lit up again. The matchmaker did some "Ooooh!!!"-ing and "aaaAAAAaaaAAAhhhh!!!"-ing (calling spirits? Not exactly sure what was with the chanting.) and I stared into it...and proceeded to get blinded by the light just as I heard the familiar "THUMP!" of my Mystery Date falling from the sky onto my freshly manicured lawn.
And so arrived Victor Lillard. His hair was...red. Lighter, but...red. And what was with that big hairdo and that little stray piece hanging on his forehead?! Was he trying to look like some sort of mix between Howdy Doody and Elvis?! I wanted to grab the little pair of scissors in the sewing kit that I keep in my purse to snip away that little piece of hair. Either that or I wanted to give him a comb and some more hair gel to have him comb that stray piece away.
Uh oh. This isn't good.
He did seem polite, and I knew Meadow would throw a shoe at me (although not one of her black patent leather stilletto pumps!) if I didn't go out with this guy, so we took off for where else? P.U.R.E.
I figured if we danced the night away, I would be so busy dancing and enjoying myself that maybe I wouldn't notice the hair. Plus, with the bright flashing lights, maybe Victor wouldn't notice if I did start staring at the hair.
I managed to maintain my composure for most of the evening, until Victor noticed my eyes firmly glued onto something on his head.
"Uhh...whatcha starin' at?"
I started laughing. I couldn't help it.
"I'm sorry, Victor! I can't stop staring at that little piece of hair on your forehead! When you d-d-dance it swings like a pe-pe-pendulum!! HAAAAAHAHAHAHA!"
Then I gasped for air and realized what I had just said. I had, no doubt, completely humiliated him. He hardly knew me, we were in a public place, and I was busting a gut over a piece of hair on his head that he had, no doubt, not even realized was hanging down and swinging about.
"Yeah, I know it looks a little unique. For some reason, I've always had it. It's kind of a reverse cowlick sort of thing. It's become my trademark!"
Trademark? Oookay. That wasn't the response I was expecting, but it was better than embarassing him and ruining our date (which I had already let be tarnished by "the hair"). He laughed and shrugged his shoulders and the date continued until just past midnight, at which point I told him I needed to head home so I could go to work the next morning.
We gave each other a friendly hug and I headed home. Meadow was sitting on the front porch, giving me a skeptical stare and a smile.
"You're home later than I thought you would be."
"...um, hi."
"Karyn called from work to tell me you were out with Victor tonight. I figured you'd be home by around 9:00."
"...but P.U.R.E. opens up at 9:00..."
"Okay, let's start again. Are you going to see him again? He's a nice guy, isn't he?"
"No, I don't think so. We just didn't...click."
"Okay, what problem did you find with this guy?"
"...nothing...?"
Stupid answer for me to give. Meadow knew I was lying through my teeth. I have never been good at lying. Even a little white lie or a fib is always blatant.
"...would you quit LYIN' to me already?! I know who Victor is and I happen to know you two have a lot in common. I also happen to know you and I have a pretty good idea of what you decided to latch onto, so you might as well just tell me. I've already ordered a pizza for delivery and I plan on staying here tonight so that maybe I can talk some sense into you."
"Okay...so, he's got this piece of hair-"
Meadow started laughing at me, as if she knew that was going to be my answer. Was I seriously that easy to read?!
"HAHAHAHAHA....hehehe....hooo boy, Stella. You never surprise me. Luckily, you're a very nice girl, so I'm sure you haven't totally ruined any hopes of ever communicating with either Lee or Victor again...I'm going to go hop in the hot tub. Let me know when the pizza gets here."
Right. The pizza. I guess I AM that easy to read. Nothing cures my blues more than a steaming hot pizza with thick crust, pepperoni, and extra EXTRA cheese.
I think I ate about 5 pieces that night.
So, my second blind date was over, and I had found a way to ruin another potential relationship. This time, I had drowned my sorrows in pepperoni and cheese. I'd better stop being so fickle, otherwise I'm going to end up as big as a house and STILL single!