Part II of Fail-Safe
As usual, she was running late. Time wasn't of the essence to her; it was more of a buzz-kill, a hindrance to spontaneity. Maybe I should cancel. Deliberately unhurried, she checked to make sure there was nothing stuck between her teeth, erasing the post-workout shine from her face with a swipe of translucent powder once she'd secured her twisted-up ponytail with a plastic tortoise-patterned clip. Yeah, she was going there. Nothing says "I'm not interested in making an impression" on a first date quite like showing up in a banana clip, an old T-shirt, and worn out jeans.
Hmm...could these mini-sombreros double as OR scrub hats? |
Allen, in one of his "I'm not amused" moments. |
Should I stay or should I go? |
Part I: Fail-Safe
Part III: Marvelously Fresh, Decidedly Vague Part IV: From Cupcake Epiphany to The Future Now
I feel the tension as you're about to meet, my stomach would have been turning over not knowing what's behind the screen, so to speak. I love the idea of leaving the car at a distance but that also means you'll be out of breath getting to it should you need to do a runner, ha ha ha.
ReplyDeleteAnyway, it looks like a good start with that 'easy smile', so welcoming but what happens next?
Haha, where to park one's car on a blind date is tricky business indeed. And yes, the "not knowing what's behind the screen" was always a bit daunting. Sometimes you get lucky, and sometimes you don't! :-)
DeleteKris, such a charming story and I love following it! I really like the way Allen helped direct the new you. He reminded me of my friend, Stephan. I didn’t put it in my blog post about him, but he’d made wardrobe and hair style suggestions for me when we were roommates (good ones, too). Smart and perceptive friends you have to be rooting for Kickboxer Guy over California Guy (knew guys like him when I first moved to CA, so impressed with themselves). I love your line, “driving off into the touch and go of that perilous First Encounter wilderness.” Well put! Had to laugh about how you parked as far away as possible. Excellent the way you built up the suspense at the end. Did she stay or did she grab her java and go? Can’t wait for the installment!
ReplyDeleteAfter reading about Stephan, I definitely saw a resemblance. I don't know what I would've done with Allen and Julie during those crazy times! Tune in next week for...*Paul Harvey voice*...the rest of the story.
DeleteWell Kris, I'm wondering how such an obviously wild child got through Medical School, with your experiences obviously giving you a good grounding to weave these stories.
ReplyDeleteI certainly get the picture with some of those lines...`seizure-inducing dubstep inferno' & `corn fed boy from Michigan'. Ha,ha
(Liked the pic mix btw. What a photogenic lot!)
Cheers, ic
You've got me pegged, Ian; sometimes, I wonder how I made it through medical school as well. That was a wild ride itself. Oh, the stories I could tell! I managed to get by with a little help with my friends. Glad you enjoyed the post and the pix :-)
DeleteWhat I love about your writing is, I can feel what you're feeling. So perfectly descriptive it puts the reader right there. Loved it! Ah dating....love it and hate it. It truly can catapult you back to high school on some level.
ReplyDeleteLoved the little hats! Too cute!
Michelle
Thanks so much, Michelle; I love hearing feedback like that! Yep, I honestly hope I never find myself having to date again. You're right, it conjures up a lot of that old insecurity from high school days.
DeleteAh, the kickboxer guy! But you have surely done your homework, at least you seem to be working at it on the go. Is it only me waiting for the next installment with bated breath? Incidentally, do you carry scalpels tucked in somewhere?
ReplyDeleteI love how you mix the suspense with subtle humour.
Haha, not scalpels, but I have heard of some anesthesia folks who keep a syringe of paralytic in their nightstands...kinda gives me the willies. Thanks for your comment, Uma...glad you're enjoying the story.
DeleteAh, Kris, no heroine of yours could possibly take the safe and prudent road. I sense thrills and danger ahead as we approach chapter three and what lies behind that easy smile.
ReplyDeleteYou're got me pegged, NP. I'm really having fun, thinking back to that particular afternoon and what was going on inside my head right before my date.
DeleteI've never been on a blind date, but I was able to get a good idea of the experience through your storytelling. Well done, Helen!
ReplyDeleteThanks, Kyle. My sister and her husband met on a blind date 26 years ago, and they're still married! It is sort of a crapshoot, though.
DeleteKris,
ReplyDeleteBlind dates are not for the faint of heart...lol. Another beautifully written piece. I can feel the simmering neglect and the perilous first encounter tension. Looking forward to the next twists and turns.
Definitely not for the faint of heart, especially if the other person has lied about his or her age! Working on the next installment now.
DeleteWhat a story so far. Such enjoyable details and I love reading what's going on in your head. Even though I know the ending, I don't care. It's the journery, not the destination -- and what a fun journey! Waiting for the next one!
ReplyDeleteI thought about that when I started writing this, Janene, that people already knew the ending, so what was the point? LIke you said, it's about the journey. The evening I met Spartacus, and the weeks to follow, was a pivotal time in my life. It's been such a fun exercise, remembering that moment in time.
Delete