Paradoxically Yours...

Vital Attraction

'unforeseen' 10/3/17

Harry peered over the top of his specs as the back door squeaked and Kanute walked in.

"Well... that's an early night for you, son," he said, eyebrows raised questioningly.

"Yep. Sure is." His voice was as disgusted as the turned down corners of his mouth suggested. "Waste of time, that party. Thought I'd meet someone half-way decent. Or re-connect with an old flame. But no such luck!" He dropped onto the nearest chair, leaned back and propped one leg on the other knee.

"Wasn't that Barbara going to be there? I thought you said you fancied her and planned to sweep her off her feet with your irresistible charm. Said she'd be a pushover." Harry's mouth tightened and puckered to hold back a grin. "What happened, then?" He had a twinkle in his eye that suggested he didn't feel in the least sorry for his son's sad plight.

"Ahh... snob! Came with the Captain of the local football team, didn't she? Fat chance of competing with shoulders like his. Stinking show-off. Nothing to get excited about between the ears. I'd put money on that. Should've heard the voice - great big deep one, and then he spouts out a heap of 'Duhh-s' and 'Man! That's really sumthin' and 'I dunno' to almost anything he's asked." Kanute turned his foot backwards and forwards and round in circles impatiently. His curled lip showed he'd clearly like to be kicking something else than a football.

"So, what's wrong with the 'talent' that's right under your nose, then?" Harry's eyebrows lifted as he pushed his glasses higher on his nose with one finger, only to have them slide down into their familiar groove within moments.

"Where?" And Kanute glanced around as though a dolly bird was going to pop through the doorway to the Lounge. "What 'under my nose' talent? Huh?"

"Not here, you fool." Harry wagged his head. "At the office. That new little receptionist. The one with the great legs. I was talking to her today when I took my bill in."

"Christine? But she's only a kid. And she talks too much... and giggles." The up-and-coming young executive sniffed his superiority with derision. In both age and position in the company he was light years ahead of that little bimbo.

"Hmm... maybe so. But that's a kind and cheerful young soul there. You could do a whole lot worse than her."

Kanute tightened the corner of his mouth again. "That's what Mum says whenever we find her waiting at the bus stop and pick her up," and he sighed heavily. "But she's too young, I tell you."

"What? Five years? Tell you what son, give it another year or so and that will be nothing." And Harry took off his glasses and rubbed them clean. "You just wait and see."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Something triggered the memory, and here is Kanute, telling me the whole story for the 94th time as though it's all fresh knowledge to me. As always, I respond with, "Talk about unforeseen consequences. All 51 married years of them!"