"So what's this I heard about you living with someone? A real firecracker by all accounts."
"Yeah?" I looked up from my beer, suspiciously. "What else did you hear?"
"Nothing, really. Only that you were hot and heavy with some hot young chick." Matt looked at me closely. I stared intently at the glass before, lips pursed, mouth set. He could detect, in that sixth-sense sort of way that good old friends can, a deeper story – much deeper. Involuntarily, I heaved a long, emotive sigh. "Wanna tell me about it?" he asked softly, laying a hand on my arm.
I sat up and took a long draw on my beer. Matt had been out of town for the past year. We were there just to catch up. I'd known him for over 35 years, and I really needed to tell someone – someone who wasn't involved. We had nothing beyond beer and a visit planned. I guessed he was the one – and now was the time. Shaking my shoulders, I replied, "Yeah. Why not?" I smiled at him and added, "you're not going to believe it anyway, but it makes for good, rousing entertainment – or perhaps that should be arousing!" I called for another round –, waiting, draining my glass, before I began.
"Well, first time I saw her, she took my breath away. Really." I sipped my beer as the memories filtered back. Dabbing my mouth, I continued. "She was standing behind the counter at the Silvercoast Chocolate Shop in Silver Creek mall. I remember just catching her in the corner of my eye. Jeez," I snickered, "my neck snapped around so fast it hurt. I couldn't take my eyes off her. She looked like something mystical – supernatural. She was a goddess – a chocolate goddess." Matt nodded, as I thought about it, again. "Although not quite chocolate," I muttered, more to myself, "more mocha. But – whatever – she was... she was ... so ... so incredibly beautiful my mouth went dry – literally!" I glanced at Matt to see if he understood. He was taking it all in; not yet passing judgement. "Well, I grabbed something, without even looking at it, and went to the counter to make the purchase. Up close she was even more spectacular. I couldn't understand why the place wasn't lousy with slathering males, but at that moment, I was the only customer in the shop. As she rang it in, I couldn't help myself. 'Excuse my boldness,' I stammered like a teenager, 'but, you are... I mean...' – I didn't really know what to say. I mean, everything that came to my mind sounded so trite – so crass, but I had to say something. My brain was reeling, and I didn't have any idea what was going to come out, even as it came. 'You are the most stunningly beautiful woman I have ever laid eyes on!'
"I stood there frozen – feeling like such a geek, and she looked at me wide-eyed for just a moment. A flush suffused her cheeks, before she dropped her eyes once more – ostensibly to complete the transaction. 'Thank you,' she cooed.
"She put the candy in a bag with the receipt and handed to me, kinda shyly. I felt awkward as I took it, taking care not to touch her hand – though, man, let me tell you I desperately wanted to – take her hand, that is." I could feel a blush rising to my cheeks as I recalled the intensity of the moment. "So I just took the bag, muttered a thank you and turned mechanically to leave. Christ, I would have loved to stay there and just stare at her all evening, but to what end, with what excuse? Anyway, another customer had just come in.
"So I exited, rather woodenly – not that I had a hard-on, or anything," I explained, looking up again. "No, it was way more than that – way more complicated than a simple sexual turn-on.
"Anyway, as I left the shop I thought he heard her say, really quietly, and breathy-like, 'I get off in an hour.' It was a hallucination, I was sure – wishful thinking, nonetheless, my head just about wrenched itself off my shoulders. She was looking at me. I couldn't believe it. And she gave me this sweet, innocent, coy smile, before turning back to the next customer.
"I just about fell down. My heart was pounding. I felt so adolescent; still, I wandered the mall aimlessly for a few minutes letting her visage echo around my brain. Finally – actually, it was only a few minutes later – I found a shielded bench from which I could watch her without her seeing me." I chuckled at the thought, raised my glass, and added just before taking a gulp, "I sat there trying to find the best description of her complexion. I think what I settled on was 'a Grand Marnier mocha melange.'
"Well," I began again, after a few moments of quiet reverie, "to make a long story short, or perhaps, to make a long, convoluted story a little more tellable: I had watched her sign out, and gather her belongings, and I met her at the door about an hour later. She smiled shyly – shyly but alluringly. She seemed more pleased than surprised. Anyway, we approached one another tentatively, or timidly – almost warily – a little stunned and a little bashful. Taking a deep breath, I said 'Hi,' and invited her for coffee; she accepted. Somehow, I knew she would.
"'So, Tillie,' I says, checking out her name tag, 'I'm Simon.' She smiles, a sort of goofy, toothy smile, and says hi. We just started walking down the mall. I just didn't know where to go with it – literally or figuratively, so I asked her what Tillie was short for." I snorted at the memory of her response. She was both embarrassed and indignant. "Her name is Mathilda – which she hates – Mathilda Gertrude Sampson, both Grandmothers' names. She said it with such disgust it was almost funny. Somehow or other we found our way into a coffee place and got our orders. Then we began to exchange our – what would you call them? – superficial life-details. Matt," I glanced up at him, to see if he was bored with me yet, "I was watching her face the whole time we spoke. I felt like I was enchanted, but what was really weird was that, and this is no word of a lie, the look in her eyes was one of infatuation – I couldn't believe it, but she was no less enthralled than I was.
"Even looking back, I've never been able to figure out what she ever saw in me – a plain, round, white guy, well past forty; thinning hair and thickening waist. She, on the other hand, was perfect – perfection manifest. Full lips; glittering deep brown eyes, impeccably set around a pert nose, with just a tiny hint of the Dark Continent still evident – if you know what I mean; flawless mocha skin – creamy coffee-coloured with just a hint of orange spice undertones. Her black hair hung to her shoulders in neat, tight braids. Her breasts swelled proudly – not large, but perfectly shaped – her nipples just a slight insinuation under her sweater. Her hands were fluid, her fingers fine, her legs obviously shaped and toned beneath her slacks. At 23 years old... – too young? I still don't know. Anyway, at 23 years old, she was, to my mind, the ideal specimen. She was exactly what had been intended when mankind had first emerged in central Africa.