Selfish?

 

MEL

 

This time the vibes were right. They were zinging. His picture in the dating book looked better than most, snow white hair, trim body, Goldwater glasses, really pleasant smile AND he played golf AND he was seeking a country club woman AND he responded to my request to meet him. Evidently my bio pleased him too. This was surely going to turn into something worthwhile. My usual negative attitude almost disappeared when I called him as his voice was strong, polite, and as close to anxious as I'd ever heard.

 

At first I suggested we meet someplace for lunch but he thought it would be much nicer if he picked me up. He slurped his coffee but that wasn't bad. He took me home and we would meet later. The time was set, my hair cut, my apartment more immaculate than ever, fresh strawberries, cherries, wine ready for when he could come back to spend more time with me. All of my terrace shades were up so the lovely golf course view would be impressive when he first entered. Music wafted softly through the rooms. My high hopes were dying as he didn't appear on time. I looked out the window over and over in case I saw him confusedly searching for my building. No Mel.

 

20 minutes after the appointed time I decided to call Security and was shocked that my phone was not working. Without it, Mel could not buzz me to be admitted. Nervously I hurried downstairs just in case he was waiting at the door. No Mel. Back upstairs to try the phone again and found one off the hook. My fault, my careless fault. I grabbed my car keys and rushed to the front gate and actually caught sight of a stranger with white hair trying to get through. I made contact with the man, calling him 'Murray' for some unknown reason, and got lucky. One second later and he would have been gone. From this point on I must take back my 'lucky' thoughts.

 

I felt terrible that he was so hot from driving around, arguing with the gatekeeper, but by the end of our visit I wish we hadn't met at all. We talked for a bit and then went to my selected restaurant, one I expected to be quiet but the noise of the young crowd was most annoying. Mel suggested we share something, a salad perhaps. That  was fine with me but that was all that was fine. The man seldom eats out, makes spaghetti and frozen dinners at home, has absolutely no interests other than saving things like string, barbed wire, doesn't belong to a club at all, reads only the paper, goes to movies alone, and has no social life. He  turned out to be a dud from Dudsville.

 

There was, however,  surprisingly some interesting conversation and he seemed very knowledgeable in a few areas, but I was quite sure I overwhelmed him with all of the things I do, interests I have. I tried to encourage him, excite him to tape his memories, his family history for his children, but he said he wasn't a good speaker. None of my suggestions to improve his poor attitude flamed any kind of spark and that alone doused mine. Finally he left, 3 hours together was more than enough for me, and so

 

I lay him to rest in my pile of discards, hoping he wouldn't call me again..and already wondering how to politely say, 'No thank you.' I'll find a way and then keep on trying to find that elusive somebody to make life even better.
My mind and growing file remain ready!

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Forgive me if this is a repeat. Thanks

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