It was an unseasonably warm evening in Plattsburg as I walked down the street towards the B-Quik Mart. The sky was overcast and called for showers. Street lights flickered over un-manicured lawns and over grown hedges. The smell of freshly laid asphalt hung thickly in the air. Children playing baseball in the street were oblivious to the passing cars with angry motorists.
"Good evening Lois." I turned to see the resident snoop leaning across a window box full of wilted begonias.
"Evening Mrs. Gladstone."
"Have you found a man yet Lois?"
"Not yet Mrs. Gladstone."
"Well you know Lois, my nephew George is coming in from Boston next week. Lovely man. Perhaps you two can get together?"
"Oh, thank you Mrs. Gladstone, but I believe I'm busy next week."
"Fine dear, I'll have him call you."
Run! I thought as I felt my step quicken. In less than 20 minutes, I had been offered to George Gladstone and Paul Anka, neither of which I'd been formally introduced.
The "B" Quik Mart was quiet. Grabbing a red plastic basket, I headed towards the produce section. Fluorescent lighting made the vegetables rather unappealing. Unsatisfied with the selection, I leaned further in to the case. Simultaneously the overhead sprinkler showered the veggies with a fine mist.
"What the hell...!" I jumped back blinking water rapidly from my eyes.
"Oh I'm so sorry, are you ok?" He grabbed a paper towel. With water running down my face and neck,
I turned to see a very apologetic Adonis type fellow attempting to dry me off.
"Sprinkler system is on an automatic timer, but I probably could have warned you." He ran his fingers through jet black hair. "You just looked so darned intense, trying to pick the proper vegetable, I didn't want to disturb you."
His piercing, blue eyes made up for the poor attempt at humor. The 6 foot 5 inch, statuesque frame which should be the center of a Calvin Klein advertisement, continued to gently dry my cheek.
"Oh that's OK," I mumbled. I could feel my face slowly turning scarlet red.
(a.b��.���
YOU ARE READING
Story of My Life
HumorSweet Lois Phinney hasn't had a lot of luck with the opposite sex. When her mother and nosy next door neighbor try to encourage her to get out there. Lois decides to become the master her own destiny. This is a short story I had written almost 20...
