The first time I ran into Cheryl Kaniki, we literally ran into each other.
Both of us had just gotten our eyes examined and our eyes were still dilated.
As we started to exit the office we bumped into each other.
I squinted at her and thought she looked like a young Mary Tyler Moore when she played Laura Petry.
I opened the door and let her go first as we headed to the elevator lobby. We chatted while waiting for the elevator to come and continued our conversation on our short journey down to the lobby.
When we went outside we put on our little sunglasses.
I felt a sort of chemistry in talking to Cheryl, so I asked her if I could get a number.
"Sure Mike," She said as she handed wrote her number on a sheet of paper.
I wrote my cell and home numbers on my business card.
"I'll call you later Cheryl," I said.
She smiled and gave me a hug as she headed off to her card.
After a few hours, my eyes got back to normal. I took Cheryl's number out of my pants pocket.
I dialed her number and I got her answering machine. I started to leave a message when she picked up.
We chatted for a bit and then set up a time to meet.
We met at Carey's pub and cafΓ©. The menu had a great variety. She ordered a salad and I ordered a burger and fries.
We talked more about our jobs. She told me that being a first-grade schoolteacher was quite exciting. Young minds still learning, but always a wiseacre in each class. But every day she felt rewarded.
I explained to her that I sort of babysat too , but more of the adult kind in a corporate office.
Then we got into talking about our interests. We had some similar ones and some we sort of made faces at each other. I think we realized that each relationship needs some dissimilar interest to not get boring.
After dinner, we decided to walk off our dinner by walking Main Street in downtown Mayville.
It wasn't too long before she slipped her hand in mine as we walked down the street.
When we got back and I walked her to her car, she leaned into me and gave me a full-mouthed kiss.
This was the beginning of a beautiful friendship.
The days turned into weeks and one night after watching the latest blockbuster movie, Cheryl invited me into her apartment.