Nick Nelson was walking towards the bus stop, as usual. It was just after 7am, the sun was shining, and there was a light breeze, making an almost perfect day. He crossed the road and started up the hill. At the entrance to a group of town houses, a smartly dressed redhead stepped out of the driveway just as he reached the same spot.
"Good morning," he said, with a wide smile on his face.
"Good morning," she replied, and stopped a short step away from him.
"Heading for the bus?
"Yes," she replied, "and you?"
"The same. You must be new in the neighborhood, right? My name is Nick Nelson." he said, holding out his hand. She stepped forward and shook his hand.
"My name is Julie Ward." she said, "and how do you know I'm new here?"
"That's easy. I usually ride the 7:14 bus and I surely wouldn't have missed someone as beautiful as you."
Julie blushed slightly and said, "Why, thank you. As it happens, I just moved in over the weekend. I'm renting a unit in the complex."
Nick turned and pointed across the road. "Do you see the house on the far corner, the high set with the white fence? That's where I stay." Turning back to face Julie he continued, "We had better walk up the hill or we'll miss the bus. I realize this may sound like the inquisition," Nick started out as they walked alongside each other, "but conversations between relative strangers usually become a series of questions."
"What would you like to know?" she asked.
"Just for starters," he replied, looking at the sky "how about your age, IQ, size of your bank account, and marital status."
"Gee, for a minute there I was afraid you were going to ask something tough." she said with a grin, realizing the joke value to his question. "OK, I'm 51, my IQ is about average, my bank account is really low but I start a new job today, and I'm divorced with two grown children. What about you?"
"Firstly, I don't believe for a minute that you're 51! Pull the other one, it has bells on it."
"Well," she asked, "then how old do you think I am?"
They stopped and looked at each other. Nick studied her face for a moment, then said, "If you're a day over 35, I'd be really surprised."
"Nick Nelson, you just made my week." she said, "Thank you so very much." Julie stepped forward and kissed him lightly on the mouth, then started walking up the hill.
Nick was shocked by her response but recovered quickly and caught up with her in two steps.
"What was that for?" he asked, "Not that I'm complaining."
"That was for being a wonderful liar." she said, "I really was telling the truth. I turned 51 this past March. And you haven't answered the questions yet."
"Right. Well, I'm 54 going on 27, my IQ is about average, my bank balance is reasonable now that I have a permanent job, and I am divorced with grown children and subsequently remarried to the wrong woman."
"What do you mean by 54 going on 27?"
"That will take a little longer to explain."
When they reached the bus stop, Nick introduced Julie to the other regular members of the commuter group, then just listened to the morning chitchat while they waited for the bus. As usual, he allowed the women to board first when the bus came, then he boarded.
Julie picked an unoccupied seat and moved towards the inside, allowing him to sit with her. Nick asked about her job and she told him the details as they rode into the city. It turned out that Julie was starting with the same company as Nick, but in a different department and floor. Nick explained that he was in the habit of stopping for coffee and a doughnut in the morning as he wasn't due in the office until 8:30. Julie accepted his invitation to join him and they ended up seated next to each other in a booth at the coffee shop.
"So tell me, Nick, what did you mean by 54 going on 27?"
"Just that I have decided to enjoy life in the way I want to enjoy it, not necessarily in the way other people think I should behave. As an example, I have been taking motorcycle-riding lessons these past few months and I am nearly ready for my license test. I absolutely love it and wonder why I didn't do it thirty years ago!"
"I think that's marvelous. Will you take me for a ride when you get your license?"
"Absolutely." Without warning, he leaned over and kissed her lightly on the mouth. "Now it's time to go to work."
On the short walk to their office building, they quietly held hands and Nick told her of the "first day" ritual of the company, an indoctrination course that would probably bore her to tears, but it was required. Nick had completed just such a day only a few months previously. When they reached the lobby of the building, he asked if she would like to share the ride home. When Julie said yes, his heart soared.