This is a very short story about a totally unexpected stroke of good fortune. I am 38 years old and married. We have two kids and on the odd occasion that we go out for the evening we ask a neighbour's 18-year-old daughter to baby-sit the kids. Her name is Jane and we have known her about 10 years.
Last Saturday morning, I was running an errand to our local shops when I saw Jane crossing the road. She went in the shop next door to the one I went in. When I came out she had gone round the corner and started the half or so mile walk home. Driving back home, I knew I was going to pass her at any moment. I saw Jane up ahead walking along the street with her back to me and I slowed up along side her.
"Do you want a lift?" I called out as I lowered the window and stopped next to her.
"What?" she asked.
"Do you want a lift?" I asked again and then she stopped in her tracks and I suddenly realised my error. It wasn't Jane but someone who looked exactly like her. In fact, if could have been her double except this girl was about 19 or 20 years old. "I'm sorry," I said, "I thought you were someone else."
She laughed, possibly startled, possibly embarrassed, but then smiled and I was instantly attracted to her. "It's OK," said the stranger.
"I'm really sorry," I said. She laughed again and then some more words came out of my mouth. "You can still have a lift if you like." It was speculative and just a spur of the moment suggestion.