What had I gotten myself into now? A good friend of mine had set me up with a blind date. His intentions were good but I wasn't really into dating at the time since I had recently been dumped. Maybe he sensed that I needed a diversion or else I'd slip into a deep depression. I had done that before. He promised that my date would be fun and this woman would surprise me.
He sent me the details of the date the next day. On Saturday night I was to go to a restaurant named Tenebrae at 6pm. My date will meet me there, her name is Ellen Smith.
Of course I searched for her online but with thousands of Ellen Smith's I couldn't figure out which one was her. I also searched for the restaurant. Tenebrae is Latin for darkness. The restaurant's eating area is in total darkness. Who ever planned this date had a hell of a sense of humour, a blind date in a totally darkened restaurant.
I arrived at the restaurant at 5:55 pm. A hostess greeted me and asked that I put all light emitting objects in a safe locker, phone, watch etc. I was reminded that if I would need the washroom I should go now. She told me my dinner partner was already seated, then asked me to put my hand on her shoulder and she would guide me to our table.
There was a staircase leading to the basement, there were no windows of course. We passed through a very dim ante room and then a small room that was totally dark, eventually entering the dining room. There was a lot of sound in the room, diners talking and plates and glasses clinking. Eventually I was told that I was at my table and the hostess placed my hand on the chair. I felt my way down to the seat.
"Hello, Ellen Smith?"
A voice from across the table, "Richard Green?"
"Yes, I am Richard. I would say it is great to see you but..."
She laughed, it sounded lovely.
"My little idea of a joke, what better place to have a blind date."
"It is quite disorienting isn't it? I can't see anything at all."
The waiter came to the table and introduced himself as John. We had a choice of a prix fixe meal, vegetarian, chicken, seafood or beef.
I chose seafood and she ordered the chicken. We ordered wine as well.
"So Ellen tell me about your self."
"I am 29years old, single, working as an accountant for 3 years now. I enjoy my job and love music and the theatre. I play piano."
"So why did our mutual friend set you up on this date?"
"I was in a relationship. I had high hopes that we would make it as a couple. The sad thing is, I was expecting an engagement ring, he broke up with me instead."
"I'm sorry to hear that Ellen My story is similar. My girlfriend decided that I wasn't enough for her. She couldn't handle telling me so she arranged to me to meet her at her apartment. She said she would leave the door unlocked and I should just walk in. I walked in, she and a man were naked and going at it on her couch. I closed the door and never heard from her again."
"How long ago?"
"A month now."
"That's so sad. What do you do for a living?"
"I am a writer and a freelance journalist. I dabble in song writing and I play occasional solo gigs when ever I get the chance. I am 28 years of age."
The wine arrived and I managed to get it raised to my mouth, nearly putting it up my nose. The darkness makes simple things hard.
I find her voice very soothing. It has a slight smoky sexiness, almost a raspiness to it. The voice is pitched low in a woman's vocal range. That sets me on edge but it is definitely a woman's voice. It is soothing but also animated.
The first course comes. I can tell by the shape it is a shrimp dish. It is very tasty and well cooked. Ellen's was an apple Gorgonzola salad which she loved.
"Do you live in the city Ellen?"
"I do. When we broke up I moved out to a small one bedroom apartment downtown. It is expensive but it was one of the few available at the time. What about you?
"I am living in a tiny bungalow that my aunt willed to me. I love the place and living rent free is a bonus!"
"Lucky you! Have you considered renting out a room?
"I have never thought about renting out a bedroom but it sounds like a brilliant idea. Gosh this is hard talking to a disembodied voice."
"I have been enjoying listening to you speak Richard. You really have a nice rich baritone voice. You should have had a career in radio."
"Hah, my friends always said I had a face for radio."
"Seriously, you could be doing voice over work with those pipes. You have a very sexy voice."
"You too Ellen, I could listen to you and your laugh all day."
The main course came and we chatted as we ate. There was small talk and laughter. The food was excellent but it was awkward eating in the dark. You ended up using your hands so napkins were essential.
With that course finished, I asked Ellen to lay her right hand on the table. She said I will give you my left hand. I then reached across and held her hand. It was warm and soft, long graceful feeling fingers.
She asked me to give her my left hand so I placed it on the table and I felt her hand on mine. She wore no rings that I could feel but I could feel that the back of her right hand was very rough.
"Cold hands, warm heart," she stated.
"Your hands are lovely and warm but I sure your heart is too."
"What do you look for in a girlfriend?"
"An equal, someone who wants to be my companion and partner as well as my lover. I want her to be able to be herself around me and know that she could tell me anything."
"I notice that her physical attributes were not mentioned. Are they not important to you?"
"My last girlfriend was drop dead gorgeous. She was way out of my league and both of us knew it. Beauty is truly skin deep and even then it is in the eye of the beholder. What about your ideal boyfriend?"
"My guy would also be an equal. We would share things between us. He would be kind, talented and trustworthy. He would want to be with me so badly that the the thought of breaking up would nearly kill him. He would marry me eventually and we would grow old together."
