First of a series writing of "opportunities" I have enjoyed as I have traveled.....
The first time I noticed her was at a party for her 42nd birthday. The ladies at the local library were having a party for Sarah behind the check-out desk, complete with balloons, a big "Happy Birthday" sign, cake and punch.
This was my third trip to the library in this town of 22,000 people, having taken a contract job in a large nearby city. I much prefer small town living, and still only had a 25 minute commute to work.
I design and set up offices for sports medicine and physical therapy offices, my "experience" being I played linebacker at a major college football program, but tore a knee my senior year. So much for the pros. However, I did continue to work out, keeping my 6'6", 285 pound body in shape.
I also read β a lot. Primarily spy and intrigue novels, especially when the good guys are going after the bad German Nazi's or the old U.S.S.R. KGB. So getting a library card was a priority.
Checking out an armload of books, one of the librarians invited me to have some cake and punch. I would never turn cake down, so I took a small square of cake and a cup of some kind of punch. Looking at Sarah, I wished her a Happy Birthday and thanked the ladies for the refreshments.
Sitting down at home that evening, for some reason I looked up the library staff online, learning that Sarah was Sarah Kinney, the head librarian. It noted the college attended and other background items, and included as hobbies were reading (who would have expected that), antiques and touring art galleries. Married to Gary Kinney, with no children.
One week later I was returning books and checking out some new ones. Nobody was at the counter, and I noticed Sarah at her desk looking at a computer.
"Hello, did you have a nice birthday?
"Oh, I'm sorry. Mary must have stepped away, let me help you with those books. And yes, I had a very nice birthday, thank you".
Reaching out my hand, I said "Hello, I'm Matt Brattain. I happened to be here last week when they had your party." Shaking my hand she said "And I'm Sarah Kinney".
Checking the books back in that I had returned, her face flushed at one of them. I was surprised at the book myself, as it had some rather graphic sex, something not usually in the type of books I read. Apparently Sarah had read this book also, I thought, smiling to myself.
Waiting for her to check the new books out, I looked more closely at Sarah Kinney, realizing how small and delicate she was. About 5'1", she had to barely weigh 100 pounds. Her silk dress hung nicely on her body. She was small breasted, maybe a 32B at the most, and thin with just a slight flair to her hips. Her hair was cut in a not very becoming bobbed style, and her face was petite, for lack of a better description. Very little, if any, makeup. The black glassed perched on her small nose completed the "librarian look".
Over the next several weeks I would see her at the library, always saying hello. Sarah always gave a little wave, smiled and said hi.
Working out at the local gym, I had gotten to know some of the guys β all of them seemed pretty cool. I also met Gary Kinney, Sarah's husband. He did not seem to quite fit in with the others. Apparently he had lost a car dealership that was inherited from his father , felt like others thought less of him because of this, and so carried a chip on his shoulder. Instead of owning the dealership, he now sold cars there β but heck, nothing wrong with that in my estimation. Gary and Sarah had dated through high school, I found, and were married one week after graduation. With no children, one of the guys made a crude remark about Gary "shooting blanks". That happens, or maybe there were other reasons β none of my business.
One evening I was browsing an antique store in a neighboring town β my brother ran some Victorian style bed-and-breakfast's in the city, and I'm always on the lookout for anything he might find interesting. Walking around a corner I literally ran into Sarah, knocking her 100 pounds to the floor with my 285 pounds. After we got sorted out, I apologized once again and invited her next door for a coffee.