Our Superheroes

The Date that could go Nothing other than Horribly Wrong

Alda knew she couldn't ask Briar for help when picking out a dress for her date with Antony. She was too nice. And she couldn't ask Jesse. She was too young to understand what Alda wanted and probably would pick something black. Alda didn't like the colour black. It reminded her too much of the funeral. So instead of asking someone she knew, she consulted the internet. As people said, 'Google knows everything'. She plugged in the words: Good dresses to wear on a date. This was a mistake. Google came up with tight-fitted, short, black dresses. She searched up something different: Pretty cocktail dresses. She found one she liked. It was a deep blue that stopped just above the knees. It had a bow wrapped around the middle. She clicked on it and it led her to the site where she could buy it. She put in the measurements and waited for it to arrive.

On Wednesday the day before her date the dress arrived. She tried it on and it fit perfectly. She had researched the restaurant to find any kind of fault, but the reviews were all five-stars and everyone loved it. She had to admit; Antony had gone all out on this one. She really hoped something would go wrong. She didn't want to love him. She was in love with her husband. But he was gone. Antony was his best friend. What was she doing going on a date with him? This was wrong. This dress. This restaurant. This date. It was all wrong. She was about to call Antony to cancel but she couldn't. No matter how many times she told herself that she didn't want any of the opportunities that came with a date, she really honestly did.

On the Thursday Alda put on the dress and walked over to Mrs. Blain's apartment and knocked on the door. When Mrs. Blain answered she was in her dressing gown again. It seemed as though this was the only thing she owned.

"Evening, Alda." Mrs. Blain said happily.

"Evening Mrs. Blain. I was wondering, if it's not too much trouble, if you could look after Bruno for a couple of hours? I have a date in half an hour and the day care isn't open and no one else I trust could look after him." Alda asked nicely.

"Of course, dear. It would be a pleasure."
"Thank you so much." She hurried back to her apartment and Bruno already had his bag packed with snacks, movies, general hygiene equipment and bedding and pyjamas. She grabbed Bruno's hand and lead him to Mrs. Blain's apartment. She hugged him and kissed him on the head. "Be good. Thank you again, Mrs. Blain."
"My pleasure." She said. And Alda hurried down to her car.

Twenty minutes later she arrived at the restaurant and waited outside. Antony arrived a few minutes later and smiled at her as he walked up the marble steps to the restaurant.

"You look lovely." He said. He wore a tuxedo with a black tie and a white shirt.

"As do you." Alda replied.

"Shall we." He held out his arm to her and she linked hers in his. They walked through the glass double doors into the foyer where a waterfall built into the wall flowed down into a small garden bed and the sound the sound of classical music flowed from the ballroom. They walked into the ballroom hand in hand. The ballroom had a large dome roof that had a beautiful glass chandelier hanging from the centre. An orchestra played on the stage in front of the large dance floor. A waiter lead them to their table, it was right in front of the dance floor and had a rose under a glass barrier in the centre of the table with bright fairy lights wrapped around it. The waiter pushed her chair in which she wasn't very happy about. She didn't want to be treated like a child at a dinner table who isn't capable of pulling their own chair in. A bottle of red wine was brought out and poured into wine glasses by another waiter. They were given menus and left for a few minutes before another waiter came back expecting them to order. She ordered a pasta because that was all she knew that was on the menu. While they were waiting for their meals they talked about the comic bookstore, the new comics they were writing and work until they got to a touchy subject.

"When are you coming back for his remembrance day?" Antony said.

"I don't think I ever am." Alda replied.

"Why?"

"I can't."

"Okay, I'll leave it be. We still wait twenty minutes for you, hoping you'll come."

"I'm sorry."

"It's fine," a really pretty classical song started playing and their food still hadn't arrived yet. 

"Come dance with me."

"What?" She stared at him wide eyed.

"Come dance with me." He stood up then held out his hand to her. She grabbed his hand and stood.

"Fine. One dance. That's all." They started to waltz on the dance floor and others joined in. This was fun. For the first time in four years she was actually having fun. She smiled and Antony looked stunned for a few moments then smiled along with her. He dipped her low and she laughed and then he leaned in and kissed her as he pulled her back up. She was stunned for a moment then kissed him back then pulled away. Then her smile disappeared, realizing what she'd done. She walked back to their table and sat down to continue to chat and wait for their food. The night continued on and the more she thought about the kiss, the dance and her dead husband the more she felt bad about it. She stopped thinking about it but somehow her mind always dragged her attention back to it.

After diner and desert they walked back out to the marble steps that lead up to the restaurant. He smiled at her as they stood there in the cold night.

"I haven't seen you smile in four years. Tonight I was reminded of how beautiful it was." He looked into her eyes and she looked into his then turned away.

"Well, I should go home. So should you. Don't want you getting pneumonia." She said.

He shrugged, "Yeah I guess." He leaned in to kiss her goodnight and she turned away and closed her eyes and he ended up kissing her on the cheek. "I should go. Goodnight, Alda." She opened her eyes but didn't dare look at him. She had just humiliated him and she knew it.

"Goodnight, Antony." She hurried away leaving him standing on the steps. She couldn't look back. If she did he would see the tears in her eyes. When she arrived in her car she gripped the steering wheel tight, her knuckles turning white. She screamed and started sobbing. What was wrong with her? Would she ever be normal?

"Stop crying, you stupid woman." She growled at herself. She sniffed wiped her tears away then started the car and started driving home.

When she arrived she didn't go over to Mrs. Blain's apartment to pick up Bruno immediately. She unlocked the door, stepped in, closed the door and collapsed onto the couch and started crying she hugged herself. This went on for half an hour. Once she had fully composed herself she picked up Bruno, thanked Mrs. Blain and then they performed their nightly routine of getting ready for bed and then went and lay down on the bed. She looked at her son his hazel eyes mesmerising.

"Were you crying tonight, mummy?" He asked, innocently.

"Yes." She replied. "But I'm fine now."

"Did he hurt you?" He said in a whispery voice.

"No. He made me happy."

"Then why were you crying?" He said stunned.

"Because I miss your daddy."

"Was he nice."

"Yes." She looked at the clock that hung on the wall. "I think it's your bedtime Mr." He giggled.

"Night, mummy." And he rolled over in the double bed clutching a figurine.

"Goodnight, munchkin." And she turned off the light, lay on her back and could not for the life of her sleep. This was how most nights continued until the next day for Comic Book Club.

And life continues on.