Daniel sat on a bench under the old Elm tree just across the pond from the bandstand. Lately, City Park had become the place he went to enjoy the outdoors. With the sun arching high across prettiest of blue skies these early days of summer had been nothing less than perfect.
This was the kind of weather that brought out the best in people. Everyone seemed happier. Bright smiling faces could be found everywhere. Summer was finally under way, with short skirts, even shorter shorts, and the occasional colorful flash of a bikini top here and there to truly signify the season was in full bloom. It was the kind of day Daniel loved to just sit back and watch the parade of pretty girls go by.
As Daniel sat enjoying the view, an older man dressed in tattered clothes came to sit on the bench, parking himself just a foot or two from Daniel. The thought of a homeless man sitting so close made Daniel cringe, and he readied himself to fend of the beggar's requests for money.
But the old man didn't ask for a thing, and soon their heads were moving in unison. Both silently admiring each pretty young lady as she walked, skated, or biked along the path in front of them.
So it went for quite some time. Two complete strangers, a generation apart, unknowingly linked together by doing what men are seemingly made to do. There they sat and watched, paying absolutely no attention to one another. That is, until the old man finally spoke.
"Son," the old man said in that crotchety way an older man addresses a younger man when he doesn't know his name. "I see you've got your eye on that blond filly over there."
Daniel hoped like hell the old man wasn't talking to him, and made no effort to acknowledge what was said.
The old man continued anyway... "And who could blame a young man like yourself for wanting a girl like her. But let me tell you something son, that ain't the woman you want."
"Mind your business old man." Daniel spouted, realizing the man was indeed talking to him.
"I'm just saying, she's not the one you want."
"The hell she isn't. She's fucking gorgeous." Daniel purposely tried to sound extra incredulous, hoping the man would get the point and shut the fuck up.
"Yeah sure, she's got hair of gold, the face of a goddess, and soft shapely legs that go clean up to the nicest ass you and I may ever see. And don't forget about those fun bags... Those tits of hers could probably feed an entire orphanage. But I'm telling you son, she ain't the woman for you."
"What? I suppose you think she's too good for me or something."
"No, no, young feller. Don't go gettin' me wrong. You're a damn fine looking young chap."
"So then, It's settled. As soon as I catch her eye I'm going to go put the moves on her and show you how it's done these days."
"Oh you don't have to wait for her to look at you. She knows you are here. Believe you me. A woman like that is aware of every man in the park, but that woman is already taken."
"You're crazy old man. I don't see any guys here with her, and I don't see a ring on her finger either. That makes her fair game."
"Okay, she may not be engaged. She may not even have a boyfriend, but that don't matter right now son. Take another look. Look past that beautiful face of hers. Try and see her the way I see her. See what her body is telling you."
"Her body says that she's hot as fuck, that's what it says."
"No doubt. That woman is a walking can of boner fuel for sure, but that ain't what I'm talking about. Don't just look at her body. Look at what her body is saying. You know, her body language."
"Body language? What the hell do I need with that?"
"Body language tells you what a woman is thinking... What she's feeling... What she wants. For instance, take a look at your beauty queen's feet. A woman's feet are going to point towards whomever she is most interested in, and for the last twenty minutes that girl's feet have been pointing straight towards that handsome, clean cut man over there. Mark my words... that man over there is precisely who she wants."
"You mean that guy with the puppy? Look at him. He has the arms of his stupid sweater draped over his shoulders trying to look like he's got money. He's a total douche bag. She couldn't possibly be attracted to him. She's just checking out the puppy. Chicks love puppies. You know what? Maybe I'll get a dog."
"Oh there is no doubt she is looking at that puppy. Girls do love puppies, but that's not the end of the story. Not by any means. Look again son. Check out the look on her face. There's an unmistakable kind of want in those eyes. She's just angling to use that puppy as a way to introduce herself. I'm telling you she's already got her eyes on the man she wants."
"No way. I don't know if you can still see at your age, but I sure can. I can clearly see that man is wearing a wedding ring. I'm sure she sees it too. She has to know she couldn't have that guy even if she wanted... and he's still a douche."
"Oh kid, you don't know the half of it. A married man is like kryptonite to a woman. It makes them weak, and if he's happily married it's even worse. It's precisely because she can't have him that makes her want him so badly. Yup, that beauty queen you've been eyeing has looked directly at every one of us here in the park today, but we all might as well be a bunch of old tree stumps. That guy with the puppy is her kryptonite alright."
"So what if you're a douche? Tell me, o' learn-ed one. What kind of kryptonite do you bring to the table when you're a total douche?" Daniel snickers to himself about implying that the old man is a douche.
The old man ignores Daniel's insult and continues. "Worst of all that young lady doesn't even realize what she is doing. Not really anyway. She has no idea that she has singled puppy boy out. She's acting on pure instinct right now Even in her own mind it's all about that puppy, but if that guy gives her half an opening, she will be on him like white on rice. If that guy plays his cards right, she'll be blowing him before nightfall."
"No way. She'd never do that. Pretty girls don't have to do that."
"Sooner or later they all do it my boy. It's in their nature. Even as pretty as she is, that beauty couldn't keep from slobbin' puppy boy's knob if she wanted. Like I said, It's all about instinct, and that particular instinct tells a woman she should blow the man she really wants.
"Instinct you say. Now why the hell would a woman have an instinct to do something like that?" Daniel implies that the old man is just making stuff up.
"Yup, it's in her instincts alright. Playin' the skin flute is how a woman gets her hooks in a man. It's the evolutionary equivalent of a dog marking its territory. It looks to me like that blond goddess is getting ready to blow that guy. She wants him in the worst possible way, and that means she don't want you. You'd be best off to just leave that young filly alone."
"That's not true. You watch. I can get her attention, and when I do, I'll win her over. Chicks love being pursued, maybe even more than they love puppies, and that's something I'm good at. She'll be better off too. I won't just use her and toss her aside like that married douche bag will."
"I have no doubt that you could win her over young feller, but you shouldn't. She don't really want you, and besides, there are better women for you right here in this very park today."
"Better than my beauty queen? I doubt it."
"Believe me kid... There are. Take that one over there. The young looking girl with the bike over by the big oak tree."
"Who? The one in the red top?"
"No the one to her right, in blue."
"You mean that nerd with the small tits and pale skin? That's the girl you think I want?"
"Yes sir, that's the girl for you. I've been coming to this park for weeks and I see her almost every time I'm here. Hell, she's ridden by here and eyed you half a dozen times today alone."
"It sounds to me like you're the one that wants to hook up with the nerd girl, not me. Why would I go after a girl like her when I've got a line on that hot blond."
"I'm telling you that you've got nothing going with blondie over there. The woman you have a line on is over by that tree. Look at her feet son."
"What is it with you and feet anyway? You got a foot fetish or something? Or maybe this is how old guys like you get their kicks... going around and challenging younger men to pick up on some girl they are way too old to get."
"I ain't challenging you to do nothin' son, but let me clue you in if I may. I was once like you. I was a handsome young man on the prowl. Always looking to put the make on the hottest chick in the place. Had my share of arm candy spend a little time with me too."
"Then I screwed up. I did exactly what you are about to do. I introduced myself to a young filly, not unlike your beauty queen over there. I had no idea she didn't really have eyes for me. I had no idea what I was in for, but I put on my best charms and asked her out on a date."
"So what happened?" Daniel smugly smiled. "You got shut down didn't you... And now you're bitter because you didn't have what it takes to get the woman of your dreams into your bed. Am I right?"
"Nope. That's not at all how it went down. Not at all young feller. She agreed to the date. I went and picked her up, gave her flowers, the whole nine yards. Took her to the most expensive restaurant in town, then we went and saw a show. From the moment I stepped on that woman's front porch I vowed I would do whatever it took to win her over."
"Oh so now you think you got game..."
"Yeah I had what you youngsters call game. I spared no expense on dates. I showered her with affection. I bought her jewelry. I even sprung for a romantic trip for two."
"So let me guess. She took your money and ran. Is that what happened?"
