Blind Date

Date: 22.01.2010

Keywords: Blind, Date,

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I would leave our relationship to my fantasies.

As we approached her car it occurred to me that I was walking slightly differently; I was standing more upright and had my chest, if not actually puffed out with pride then pretty close. Once more, I was relishing accompanying this attractive, and as I had by then discovered, intelligent, young woman. We talked for a long time at her car, as if neither of us wanted to end the unexpected delight of the meeting.

Finally, after thanking me yet again for paying for the meal, Claire reached up and pecked my cheek before getting into her car. She started the engine of her Mazda MX5, a typically young woman's car, opened the window and said. 'Next time the meal's on me!'

She was watching my eyes closely as her words sunk in, or to be more precise two of the words sunk in, 'Next time'. When it did, she simply smiled and drove off leaving me standing there with my jaw dropped and mouth wide open.

The walk back home was a daze; dare I even hope for something more than an occasional meal with Claire. As usual I dissected my thoughts and analysed them individually. The first thing I worked out that my main attraction to Claire was NOT sexual. I had been without for long enough to know that. I knew that I there was a physical attraction, but no more than I'd had for many other women over the last few years and I'd had little inclination to pursue them. For a reason all my self-probing couldn't fathom I just wanted to be with her, where was irrelevant. As per usual in my life's dealings with the fairer sex I had absolutely no idea what Claire thought or wanted. I was confident enough in her to believe that she wanted to see me again, but the when and especially the why, totally escaped me.

A sleepless night left me none the wiser, so I decided to play it cool, or at least attempt to. Of course I failed miserably. Every time the phone went, I dropped whatever I was doing and rushed to it. Logic told me that Claire didn't know my number but it didn't stop me hoping. Typically I had calls from every Tom, Dick and Harry that morning. The only one of those numerous callers worth listening to was my daughter phoning to check on Steve and Mandy's evening out. Initially she was mad at her brother for chickening out but became at first, amused, and finally hysteric with laughter when I explained Mandy's substitution and the following events. I must admit to not mentioning just how much I'd enjoyed myself. My daughter gave me enough stick as it was without me providing more ammunition. An hour later I related the story once more when my son eventually managed to rise, with a similar mocking response. Stephen reckoned I owed him for 'fixing me up' as he called it. We laughingly agreed to disagree on that.

The rest of the day passed without note and come the evening I began to think that Claire had, in the light of a new day, had second thoughts. Sunday passed the same and by now I was sure that I would not hear from Claire. I was sad about it, but not upset, as I could not blame the young woman for not following up a date that wasn't, with a man twice her own age. I awoke on Monday morning with my mind half-filled with the cherished memory of Friday, believing that was all I would have of Claire.

At work, as at home I have a reputation for taking the proverbial, it is just my sense of humour I suppose, so that day, not being prepared to give my colleagues an easy chance to rag me, I kept quiet about Friday and when asked about the weekend, I claimed it had been as dull as ever, which was true if you did not count Friday as the weekend.

I got home, late as usual, to find my daughter and son sitting waiting for me. For my son, this was normal, he lived with me after all, but my daughter, I rarely saw her during the working week. Before I had even had time to remove my coat Tess showed why she was there.

'What did you actually do Dad?' She asked.

'Do?' I asked back, puzzled by her appearance and the question.

'Yes! Do?' She repeated impatiently. 'On Friday!' She explained seeing that I still had no idea what she meant.

It took a few moments to realise that she was talking about Friday evening and Claire. The first thing that went through my mind, perhaps helped by my daughter's insistent question, was, "had Claire complained that I had done something to her?' Before I could think more about that I automatically defended myself.

'Do! I did nothing. I didn't even touch her.' I exclaimed a little too loudly.

Tess looked exasperated and Steve was laughing, but he managed to explain. Unlike his sister, and probably because he was male, he didn't assume that I instinctively knew what was in his mind.

'Don't worry Dad. Nobody is saying you did.' He was still laughing and did so even more when he looked at Tess and added, 'and I don't think she would have complained if you had.'

Tess too, seemed to find this amusing.

'So what's this all about?' I demanded. After working all day I was not really in the mood for riddles.

Tess calmed down a little and said, still smiling. 'Apparently Claire has not shut up about you all weekend. According to Jen, Claire reckons you're the best thing since sliced bread.'

'Jen! And who is Jen?' I asked.

'Jen is Mandy's sister, the one I work with, you know, the one who helped set up Friday night.' Tess then had a little laugh. 'Although, of course! That was supposed to be between Steve and Mandy, not you and Claire. Anyway! Jen reckons that Claire reckons that you're the nicest man she's ever met.' She looked at me then with a grin continued. 'Which of course just means she doesn't really know you yet. That, or she's only knows complete bastards.'

'Cheers!' I said, but for the first time since arriving home I was actually smiling.

'Anyway Dad,' Stephen chimed in, 'just what did you do to have such an impact on her?'

'Yes Dad! What did you do?' asked Tess too.

'Nothing special! We just went for a meal and talked.'

'It must have been more than that,' complained Tess.

'Not really; when we first met she complained about men being after only one thing,' I looked at Stephen and he just grinned inanely, 'so, I did make an effort to treat her like a lady.'

'Whatever it was really worked,' Tess said. 'When are you seeing her again?'

'I don't know.' I answered honestly.

'You ARE seeing her again?' My daughter half asked, half demanded.

'I don't know.' I repeated.

'Do you want to?' Tess asked, serious for a change.

Before I could reply, my son said with another grin. 'Of course he does Sis, you should have seen his face Saturday, it was like the cat that got the cream.'

I thought for a moment, not whether I wanted to see Claire again, I already knew that, but whether I wanted my kids to know. I knew their amusement was not spiteful so I decided on the truth.

'Yes I would like to see her again. However she is a bit young for me or I'm too old for her, whichever way you look at it.'

'So are you going to ring her?' Tess demanded to know.

'Difficult, as I don't have her number.' I answered sheepishly.

My two children looked up at the ceiling, then at each other before simultaneously saying 'Parents!'

Tess immediately took her phone out and dialled a number from her phone's memory.

'Hi Jen!' She began, 'Have you got Claire's number?' She waited a few moments then said, 'OK! Talk to you in a few minutes.'

I looked hard at Tess and asked, 'Are you sure you don't mind? Claire is younger than you, you know.'

'Cradle snatcher!' was her reply.

A few seconds later the tune to 'The Addams Family' filled the air, signifying that her mobile was ringing.

Tess grabbed a pen from the shelf and started scribbling on an old envelope. 'Thanks Jen! I'll ring you back when I get home.'

'Give me your mobile!' my bossy child ordered.

I complied, expecting her to enter what I assumed to be Claire's number into my phone's memory. This she did, then immediately rang the number, listened until a reply was heard then handed the phone back to me. As soon as I'd stuttered a grunt that was close to 'Hello!' Tess grabbed her brother's arm and pulled him out of the room, shutting the door behind them.

'Hello! Who is this?' Claire's voice asked confidently.

'It's David!' I replied, my spirits rising at the sound of her voice.

'Oh hi! I'm glad you called.' Claire said; her words lifting my spirit yet higher, then adding with a smile in her voice, 'you took your time though! I was beginning to think you didn't want to.'

I then had to explain my doubts and worries, all of which were laughed away by Claire. Finally, she, somehow, got me to admit just how much I did want to see her again. I think she was rather surprised, as she went very quiet. So quiet in fact I thought I'd blown my chance of seeing her again. When she did speak, she made no mention of it.

'So what made you change your mind and ring me then?' is what she did say.

I explained my homecoming reception and Tess's actions in getting her number.

'Oh damn!' I heard Claire say, 'of course you didn't ring; I forgot you didn't have my number. It felt as if we'd known each other so long I never thought about it.'

'Same here,' I admitted.

We chatted for another half an hour about absolutely nothing, when during one of my longer listening moments, Tess and Stephen came back in.

Seeing I was still on the phone they both grinned and Tess mouthed the question, 'when are you seeing her again?'

Sensing that my attention had left her briefly Claire asked, intuitively, 'are your children back?'

I told her they were and after a few more words we agreed to meet on Wednesday evening. When I eventually hung up - acting all teenage by waiting for Claire to hang up first - I felt better than I had in years.
Once on top of me, she sat up and looked down at me.

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Keywords: Blind, Date,


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