Post Office Part 2. (Julie's story)
"I'll take you out for dinner tonight!" he said boldly.
Derek was about fifty, arrogant, posh, well off and honestly a bit of a prat that liked the sound of his own voice. He wasn't attractive but always well groomed. He clearly spent too much money on kitsch clothing and gaudy accessories. Brightly coloured shirts and neck ties, odd non matching shiny shoes, an array of hat styles rarely seen in the last century. He was short, a little overweight and the clothes a little too tight. He'd wear these over the top outfits any time or anywhere and look completely out of place, he never felt so though. I kind of respected him for that, for being himself even though it came from a place of feeling superior to others.
He was loud and loved to be the centre of attention, everything he said was shallow, either about himself or showing off, he'd buy drinks for the whole bar and be sure everyone knew it. He had an odd side parting hair cut, it looked like hair implants. No doubt expensive fake teeth and he was no stranger to a fake tan and manicure.
Despite it all he wasn't a bad person, meant well and was well known locally as a bit of a character who liked to portray himself as a ladies man. He was a bachelor who lived in a lovely house at the expensive end of town, not far from the pub he liked to frequent, The Brewers arms, known locally just as 'Brewers'. Many times he'd donated money to local causes, to save a kid's football team or similar, as long as his face was in the local paper he was happy. Despite his motives I admired that.
Derek would turn out to be a mistake.
I'd chatted briefly many times to Derek in Brewers, I generally tried to get away from him as fast as I could. He was like an excitable dog running around chatting to anyone that would listen and trying to chat up ladies. At fifty eight I was a little old for his tastes (by about thirty years) and so was generally safe from his advances.
This particular day I was out with two younger friends , Sam, (Twenty five), and Rachel, (Thirty). I'd known them for a few years and generally got on better with younger women than my own age. Today was Sam's birthday and we'd gone to Brewers for some (virgin) drinks. Both Sam and Rachel are very attractive, great figures, big breasts and great legs and they were dressed to impress. They both work as nurses and were on shift tonight, hence the day celebration and sober drinks! I guess I'm their quirky older friend.
A fairly quiet Brewers plus two hot young women dressed in little slutty dresses of course attracted the already tipsy Derek. "Happy Birthday! Drinks are on me! Barman these ladies don't pay for any drinks or you'll have me to answer to!" He said loud enough for the whole bar to hear as he stumbled over to our table in the corner. "Oh no," we collectively mumbled. Sam was wearing a large Birthday sash which was like red to a Bull for Derek.
He pulled up a chair and sat down uninvited. Our polite hints and unresponsive answers doing little to put him off. We put up with his gibberish for about an hour, at least he was buying the drinks and I was drinking alcohol so that helped a little.
Some of the gems he came out with were, "You must all be models, if not you should be!" " Did it hurt when you fell from heaven?" and "You look like my next ex wife!"
More and more Sam and Rachel began to chat amongst themselves and just ignore him, so he aimed his nonsense at me just to stay near them no doubt. Before long I whispered to them they should go on and I'd stay. They had plans to see other friends anyway and I was going to head home, at least this way I could distract him from following them. They mouthed a thank you as a they made a rapid exit disguised as a toilet break.
I waited about ten minutes before telling Derek I was heading home, by now he'd realised the other two were long gone.
"I'll take you out for dinner tonight." he said boldly. At fifty eight you become pretty straight talking, at least I am. I told him I wasn't interested and explained his seedy behaviour to younger women wasn't welcome and he wasn't the player he thought he was, that we hadn't had a real conversation in an hour.
He dropped his guard for a moment, looking hurt and offended. "Well let me take you out and you can see there's more to me, what have you got to lose? You'll tell me if you're not interested and you can leave anytime."
"Fine." I said feeling slightly challenged. In truth I hadn't been asked on a date in years and just thought 'What the hell'. I'm retired and enjoy life and have interests but generally like to say yes to new adventures even if they may seem a bad idea, at least there's a story there. I didn't feel unsafe around him so that was the main thing. Somewhere under it all I felt there was a real person and I like to give people a chance.
He made his arrangements looking very proud of himself, we swapped details and the date was set for later that night.
He'd booked a fancy restaurant, not my type of place but I appreciate good food. I didn't make a particular effort dress wise. I have a kind of youthful hippy style I suppose. I dress how I feel comfortable and don't wear much make up. I'm a very sexual person but at my age find it hard to meet someone compatible, I don't find men my age or older attractive and younger guys can be immature or rarely interested.
We met at the restaurant, he was dressed in a blue three piece suit with a bright pink shirt with some kind of a tiny ducks pattern all over it. The restaurant was too stuffy for me but the food was delicious. To be fair he toned down his arrogance significantly, we had a pleasant enough conversation about nothing in particular. I felt he'd played this role for so long he didn't know who he really was or what he wanted. Towards the end of the night he let his persona down a little, "Do you find me attractive?" He asked a slightly sorrowful tone as if knowing the answer.
"I don't, I'm sorry. But I did enjoy our dinner and thank you for taking me out".
He looked dejected as if he knew deep down no one bought into this persona of his.
"I'm lonely," he said in the first real statement he'd made all day. "Most women aren't interested in me, I've actually not been with anyone in a very long time."
