I met Joy at a party my friend Jerry arranged for Christmas. He was the one to introduce us while warning me, "Dan, we are good friends, so I hope you treat her with kid gloves. She is 19 years old and never had a serious boyfriend. My wife and I like her a lot. She may be shy and naive about relationships but she is intelligent and very smart. From the pictures you can see for yourself she is very attractive."
I remember joking, "If she is so perfect, how come she agreed to meet me?"
He giggled, "I went out with multiple girls and married for 3 years and still never figured out how women think. On a more serious note, she saw you at our conference in Las Vegas. You gave a talk, and she was impressed. I told her we were friends. She blushed and commented, 'Mr. Monroe's talk was excellent. You can feel he knows the subject well and does not BS us like most other speakers.' And then she added, 'And he looks good, too...' I told her I could introduce you two, and she didn't respond. A week later, we met her for coffee, and Joy asked about you again. I thought it was the right time to try and arrange a meeting. I got from my wife, Janet, 2 pictures of them having fun on a trip. I cut Janet from the pictures and showed you. You liked her photos and seemed interested, and the rest is history."
Our first meeting was at a Starbucks coffee place. Joy wore a simple blouse and a long skirt. Her dark, long hair was tied in a ponytail, and her face was devoid of cosmetics. She looked naturally pretty and... angelic. The pictures Jerry showed me underestimated her beauty.
I introduced myself and said Jerry suggested I meet her because she was educated, smart, and a catch. In the photos he showed me, she looked amazing yet still less impressive than the original. Joy's face turned ruby red, and she smiled. I inquired, "I told Jerry that based on his description, you were too good for me. How come you are not hitched to a billionaire in Monaco yet?" He answered, 'She is too shy to meet strangers or go online to select a mate.' So what is your story?"
Joy was reluctant to talk much and gave a few details about herself, "I am 20 and an only child. I study computer science at USC and agreed to meet you because I liked your Las Vegas talk."
I joked, "So pretty soon you'll be my rival. Perhaps I should stay away before your knowledge exceeds mine."
She giggled. Her face lighted up, and she mumbled, "Sir, I doubt it very much. Your clear and concise talk proved you know the subject better than my current professors."
"Getting such a nice compliment from a girl I just met means the world to me. However, I am still scared that with your smartness, you'll be better than me very soon. Can you give me another compliment to calm my nerves?"
Her throaty laugh was very pleasant, "Dan, Jerry mentioned you are a good guy, an excellent speaker, with vast knowledge of computer software, and nice to be around. He never mentioned you were funny."
"It's because he is always with Janet, and I am terrified of her. One time, I joked with Jerry and said he was dumb for lending money to an unworthy friend. You should have seen Janet; she raised her fists to me, and almost Mike Tysoned me..."
Joy burst into loud laughter, "Are we talking about the same Janet? The 5'2", 100-pound sweet girl who couldn't hurt a fly?"
I whined, "Yes. She was mean to me."
"Well, big boy, next time, call me, and I'll protect you."
We continued chatting, and slowly, Joy opened up to me. I found out she liked traveling and photography, which were my hobbies, too. She also liked classical music, reading romantic stories, and exploring the lives of insects, which were not my cup of tea, but it didn't matter. Time passed fast, and the next time I looked at my watch, it was becoming late.
I stood up and said, "Joy, it was a pleasure meeting you. Sorry to have spent too much of your time. So far, I like everything about you: Your looks, your attitude, and talking to you. I'd love to meet you again to watch a movie together or go to a restaurant of your choice. I don't want to pressure you to answer now, so I'll give you my phone number and e-mail. Think about it, and if you feel the same, contact me. Take care, and if you see Jerry and Janet, give them my love."
...
I haven't heard from her for 3 days. I was sad - I liked her from the first moment I saw her and wondered where I screwed up.
The following evening, my phone rang. Joy whispered, "Dan, it's Joy. Can we go to an Italian restaurant?"
"I'd love to. What made you hesitate for 3 days before calling me?"
She giggled, "I had to push all my 10 other suitors before accepting your offer. To be more serious, I was frightened. In our first meeting, you were so perfect that I felt you couldn't be real. You must have hidden something from me. Are you a closeted murderer or rapist?"
I chortled, "Yes, both, but please, don't tell Jerry or Janet; otherwise, next time they invite me to dinner, I won't be allowed to use a knife."
"Dan, are you ever serious?"
"On occasion, I am, but despite my efforts to impress you, you bring out the worst of me."
"If what I saw until now is your worst, I still like you. How about we eat dinner at Drago Centro sometime this week?"
"Give me your phone number. I'll find out when I can reserve a table for 2, and let you know. Would you like me to pick you up, or would you rather drive yourself to the place?"
"I forgot to ask Jerry if you are a safe driver. I'll drive."
"Well, dear, I haven't had a serious accident for more than a week now, so I'm OK..."
"If you don't get more serious soon, you'll find out I can be scarier than Janet."
...
I arrived at the restaurant slightly earlier to ensure our table was ready. The receptionist showed me the empty table with the sign 'RESERVED.' I waited for Joy outside.
I could hardly recognize her. Her dark hair was now loose, and her face was done beautifully. Her midi-style dress displayed a narrow waist, which contrasted nicely with her generous bosom and shapely hips. She saw my expression, noticed I had on a simple shirt and blue jeans, and smiled, "Did I overdress for the occasion?"
"Not at all. You look gorgeous. I thought if I used my best outfits, you'd be concerned I thought it was a date, but it's only a dinner."
"Dan, you overthink things. If it's only a dinner, why would you care what I would have thought?"