by J. M. Mason
With these facts in mind, I felt my fear releasing its hold on my soul, my jaw relaxed, and my shoulders didn’t feel so tense. I was determined to make this experience as positive as I could if my date has a good time, so be it. It isn’t my responsibility for him to enjoy himself. I was just a tool.
Oh, phooey, that was a weak thought. Being a tool isn’t good or bad. What does it matter? No one can read my mind, so no one will know how my brain works or will know I think of myself as an instrument.
For a change, my hair cooperated and stayed where I placed it with my brush, and I didn’t need to use super glue to keep it from waving or standing at attention. The tight red curls softened with the new hair products I was using and allowed it to frame my face to my shoulders perfectly.
Despite all the chocolate ice cream I’d been consuming, I lost fifteen pounds since my adventure began. It must be all the running away from my problems, frantically using my hands and the dancing like I was still in my twenties.
Who knows? I’m not going to question my good fortune. Just enjoy it. I’ve been waiting for twenty years to get rid of the baby fat from my last pregnancy. It was due.
Putting on my favorite royal blue sheath, that formed around my slimmer body with all the curves in the right places and a pair of red patent flats, because my poor feet were sore from the platform foot ware I wore all day at work. I lovingly put on the string of pearls and looked at myself in the mirror and smiled. I was the lady in blue who was one sexy vision.
OK, so I wasn’t a vision. I’m not perfect, but I can imagine what I want. This is my bathroom and my body, so it’s my story, and I’m sticking to it. You think your thing and I’ll think mine, just don’t share it with anyone. None of us needs to have others think we’re crazy. Let them continue to ponder.
I decided tonight was going to be the best night ever because I was going to take more control over the outcome. The only part where I could make a difference was creating the environment that was Stella friendly, to protect the innocent.
Taking one last look in the mirror at the smiling image reflected at me, I picked up my black evening bag with all the items I usually carried, minus the cute, little condom packets that Walter lovingly placed in my bag for my protection.
I changed my mind about the condoms, so walked back into the bedroom, retrieved two of the regular packets, no glow in the dark for me, and placed them in my handbag with the promise to myself to not spill them on the table for everyone to see, and then I walked to the curb waiting for Jenny to come and take me to the Steak House.
It wasn’t long before Jenny pulled up near me, honked her horn, causing me to jump like I was shot. The horn honking wasn’t the least bit necessary. She thought it was fun to scare the pee-wad-dens out of me.
No, I didn’t have an accident, and I remained alive, as was evident by the rapid beating of my heart behind my ribs. I opened the door, climbed in the passenger seat, and looked at Jenny as I fastened my seat belt. My brows bunched together in the middle to show I wasn’t amused that she honked for me.
“Why did you honk? I’m not invisible, you know. I saw you drive up and you saw me standing there waiting for you.”
“Oh, did I scare you?” She asked innocently. “I didn’t mean to scare you.”
“You saw me jump and try to run to safety. You remember high school biology about the fight or flight response, don’t you?”
We both laughed. Jenny is Jenny, and I love her as she is. She likes to tease people, and she takes the teasing back. It’s my belief she takes the teasing to use against others later.
While we were laughing, I noticed Jenny looked beautiful in her navy blue, form-fitting dress that hugged her like a fine leather glove. Her cleavage was framed in the rounded neckline. John was going to be one happy man tonight when he saw her.
“You look beautiful tonight in that dress,” I said. “John will have a hard time keeping his hands to himself. We both got the memo to wear blue I see.”
“Thanks, you look good yourself, at least the shades are different,” Jenny said, grinning from ear to ear. “That should make you feel more relaxed about tonight. What do you want to do to prepare for tonight? I really don’t see a need for doing this, but if it makes you more comfortable, I’m all for it.”
“The night I met Zac,” I said. “My problem started the moment I saw him standing next to John, I thought John was my date, and my embarrassment grew from there as I felt I was settling for the not as hunky man on the sidewalk. That’s why I’d rather my date come to me to be introduced to me when he sits down. I know it sounds silly, but I’ll feel more relaxed and able to be myself.
“Oh, wait, I was myself when I rubbed him to arousal. Maybe, I should be someone else.”
“Yeah, right,” Jenny said with a chuckle. “That should be something easy to pull off. Who would you be if you could be someone else?”
“Julia Roberts in Pretty Woman. She was pretty, and she was able to go from the street to the expensive dinner clubs and date a rich man. She did it with poise and a sense of humor.”
“OK, that makes no sense at all,” Jenny said. “Don’t you remember what happened with her snail in the restaurant?” She chuckled again. “You have a lot to offer a man. You don’t have to be anyone but who you are. What else do you need to get done before our men arrive?”
“I want to talk with Michael or whoever will be waiting on us to place things on the table that’ll help me not make a fool of myself. We can manage the rest.”
“Stella, really, you’re making too big a deal of this. You know that John won’t do anything to hurt you if he can help it. The date he’s arranged will meet his inspection. He has sisters, and he wouldn’t let anyone hurt them. So, sit back and relax, it’ll be all good.”
“I know, and I’m calmer than I was the last time, and I don’t have anything false on tonight. My bra is mine, and my hair is all mine.”
“Well then, I guess everything is good. I’m properly impressed you have your own bra and hair tonight.”
Jenny giggled and shook her head as she put the car in gear and pulled away from the curb into the street. The streets were busy earlier for a Friday night; the rush usually was later in the evening. We made good time despite the traffic.
“OK, then, I can’t get the fact nothing is fake out of my mind, but I think you got it covered,” Jenny said.
Jenny began to laugh about having it all covered. She remembered what I told her about my first date when I massaged my breasts to restore the cups of my bra before I went with John and her to meet Zac. It’s funny now, however, not so much back when it occurred.
We arrived at the Steak House at six twenty-five. My determination to make it as pleasant as I could for myself by setting the stage.
Chapter Fifty-Nine
Jenny and I walked into the foyer of the Steak House to be greeted by the same young lady who looked down her nose at us the last time we had dinner with the men. Her nose was still raised, and her mouth pinched like she was sucking a lemon while straining to have a bowel movement. She was standing behind the podium where she kept her reservation book hidden from the world.
Before she had a chance to say hello, I made my move to gain control of the situation. It was satisfying to see her standing with her mouth gaping open without a sound.
“How are you tonight? May we be seated in Michael’s section, please?” I asked.
Her eyes immediately widened when she set her sights on me. I knew instantly she recalled me from the last time when her eyes widened and her mouth lost the pinched look, she was amused I dared to return to the scene of the crime. I wanted to reach up and wipe that smirk off her face.
“Oh, I remember you. You’re the lady who…”
I raised my left eyebrow, narrowed my eyes and glared at her. She saw my evil eye and shut her mouth before she put her whole foot into her mouth. I turned and glared at Jenny for convincing me no one would think anything about my returning to the
scene of my titillating crime.
“Let me see if Michael is working tonight,” she said—like she didn’t know who was working already by looking at the seating chart. “I’m sure he’ll be delighted to see you again. I’ll be back in a moment. Please wait here.”
She hustled off trying not to run to share her news. I pictured her rubbing her hands with glee as she told Michael I was here and asked for him.
I bet he’ll love to see me do what I did the last time I was here, and he was our waitperson. Well, girly, no one will see a repeat of the night again from me.
She left us standing at the podium as she stiffly power walked behind the edge of the wall. My mind wandered to her physical condition. She may have a rod in her back or one of those bras that forces the girls up and the back straight. I swear she snorted as she hurried away from us.
We’d stood there for five minutes while she hunted down Michael. She was working hard not to laugh as she strolled back to us; this look didn’t improve the stiff upper lip attitude she used when seating persons at their tables. I think I enjoyed her pinched constipated, lemon sucking countenance the best. Meow.
She should’ve been proud of me because I didn’t pinch off her head and slap it around the room. The girl can be replaced. There’s a baby exchange downtown Junction City. Nowhere on the sign does it indicate that it takes anything except babies. That young twerp is someone’s baby so that she can be exchanged. A goldfish would be great, then I can flush it. Thoughts like these are weirdly gratifying to me.
“Michael is working tonight and said he would love to wait on you again. Will there be just the two of you tonight, or are there others to join you soon?” She, also, knew the answer to her question from the reservations book in front of her.
It was evident to me she wanted to ask if there would be someone new to join us so she could have a good time watching the show. Shame on her, I wish I knew her mother, I would gain great pleasure if we could have a great talk about her disrespectful attitude.
Keeping my eyes on her, watching her checking her chart for the best place to seat us, I saw her smirking like she did as she was walking back to us after finding Michael, causing the hairs along my skin to rise with goosebumps. Instantly, I knew she was up to no good.
When she looked up, she began to smile broadly. I’m not sure if I liked her best with her lemon face, smirk mouth, or the smug smile. All her expressions made me want to pinch off her head as I’d learned from a TV show years ago.
There are many times in life when someone deserves to have their head pinched off; however, the law frowns on this practice, and your mama will make you clean up the resulting horrible mess.
To pinch off a head with no muss, no fuss, close one eye, lift one hand up, bring your thumb and index finger close together, just enough to see the person’s head between the digits, don’t be surprised if you find the person’s head shrink in the process, which is very satisfying in itself.
Now press the index finger and the thumb together slowly. Watch as the head becomes encased between the thumb and index finger, effectively pinching the head down to nothing.
You can repeat this process as often as needed until your emotions improve. It can be performed quickly or slowly, you can pinch and un-pinch to make the event satisfying; however, your pleasure is intensified the slower you pinch. Any way is enjoyable and stress-reducing. This trick can be performed anywhere, at any time, and no one will be hurt in the process.
I refrained from pinching her head, real or imagined, yet when she turned, she saw I had a broader smile than she did, causing her to instantly sober. That was satisfying enough. When in doubt, smile, so no one knows what you’re up to. Making people guess gives you enough time to fix the mess you think you’ve made, and they never know how close they came to be minus a head.
Irony isn’t dead. She took us to the same table where we sat on that most unfortunate night. I swear the twerp was out to get me, yet I wouldn’t give her the joy of seeing a repeat of my embarrassing moment.
I tipped my head in a partial bow, sat down in the same chair I’d occupied that night, and mentally gave her one point for a job well done. The chair allowed me to have my back to the wall and my face toward the entrance to the dining room.
Michael sauntered across the floor with a smile on his face. He carried a pitcher of iced water, water glasses, and menus for our table. He filled a glass with water for Jenny as I patted the chair next to me to indicate I want him to sit down beside me. Michael sat down as I requested.
“You’re Walter’s friend, right?” I asked.
“Yes,” Michael said. “Are you mad at me for telling him what happened to you the last time you were here? I could get in trouble for that and for sitting down with you at the table.”
“No one is going to do anything to you,” I said. “I’m in no mood to have a boss or anyone else make my evening less than perfect. I just need your help, and that’s what your boss pays you for.
“Relax, I’m not mad, yet. As I said, I need your help to protect myself from myself tonight. I have another blind date, and you know, I don’t want a repeat of what I did the last time. I don’t want my sons ashamed of me.”
I had to stop speaking because I’d become so emotional, tears were threatening to form in my eyes. I sucked in deep gulps of air to prevent the dam from bursting.
“OK, how may I help you?” Michael asked. “I don’t think Walter was ashamed of you. He knew you were embarrassed and upset because you made a very public mistake.”
“I guess you can call what I did a public mistake,” I said. “It was something that ended up way beyond my control when the events began to unroll.” I rapidly blinked to get rid of the remnants of tears. “The last time I was here, I was hungry, at least I ate an apple before I left the house tonight. With that said, I need you to please place the breadboard in front of me, put the knife on the long edge, not the end opposite the handle. Can you please do this for me?”
Michael got up and quickly left the table without answering me, he ran to the back of the room, and disappeared. My eyes widened in surprise as I looked at Jenny.
“What the heck?” I said. Jenny shrugged too. What did Michael think he was doing?
He quickly returned with a basket made of metal, it was approximately two inches deep and a foot long, it held a ceramic board in the center. I looked up at Michael, my brows furrowed with confusion.
“I’ll bring the board as usual to the table with the bread because the boss wants it done that way,” Michael said. “However, when I get here, I’ll push the loaves onto this board and lay the knife alongside it, nearest to you, so it can’t fall onto the table if you all move the bread around the table.”
“Oh, great idea,” Jenny said. “Stella, then you can cut the bread and pass the tray around so everyone can take a slice. What do you think?”
“Perfect,” I said louder than I expected. “I could hug you, but Walter would go ‘Ew’ again if he found out. Thank you, Michael. I know you don’t get this kind of favor asked from everyone, so I really appreciate how you found a way to help me. If you think of anything else, just do it.”
“No problem,” Michael said. “I want someone to help Mom if she needs it and is afraid to ask me to help her. I just want her to have a good time out with friends. I get it. I’ll return when the men arrive. Enjoy the best evening ever. I have your back.”
Michael walked away to wait for the men to arrive; and other people sitting in his section. The drinks we ordered from the bar appeared before Michael finished with my request.
Chapter Sixty
Jenny and I discussed things pending at work for the following week when I saw the silhouette of a tall, male figure at the dining room entrance. He stopped to allow his eyes to adjust to the dim lighting in the dining room and looked around the room.
Jenny jumped up and walked toward John. She leaned in and up to kiss him on the lips. I averted my eyes to scrutinize the Wine List
in my hands to give them privacy, because of that, I didn’t see the man who walked around John move to our table.
A warm touch on my right shoulder caused me to look up. I felt my eyes widen as they focused on Zac’s face. What a surprise. From what I knew about the evening, I expected someone I didn’t know.
“Hi,” I said. “What are you doing here?”
“I’m your blind date again,” Zac said with a wide grin. “I told you I wanted to see you again, so Jenny, John, and I decided this would be the best way for us to meet again. A rerun, or a redo, so to speak. John and I didn’t involve Jenny until she had your answer.”
I looked up at Jenny and John, who stood beside Zac. They all stood looking down as I blinked to keep my eyes in their sockets. My eyes just kept widening as Zac told me why he was standing before me.
“Well…ah…I’m so, I don’t know, I think….You don’t expect a whole rerun of the events that transpired that night, do you?” I asked.
I swallowed the lumps in my throat so I could speak coherently. It took me a few seconds to gain control of my emotions and to take my tongue away from the cat.
“Would you guys at least sit down. I feel like I’m going to be attacked with you all hovering over me like that. I’m not going to hit anyone, you know, I’m so happy with you all.”
I know Zac told me he wanted to see me again, yet he didn’t contact me. So, what if he didn’t have a number for me, he could’ve sent a signal to let me know he was waiting to see me. Batman has a unique signal, and Zac is a computer person, so he should’ve the means to signal me his desires.
“I’m happy to see you again,” I said, relief and a touch of desire filling me. “I want to go on record that I booby-trapped the table so that you won’t get the same treatment as you did last time, even if it’s your plan.”
I stopped talking, realizing what I said may come off as inappropriate. It sounded to my ears that I was threatening them with bodily harm from something I hid on the table. My face was heating up, so I knew I was going to be blushing to the top of my head.