I'm in New York on business. I arrive on Sunday; have a meeting scheduled for Monday. I've been itching to see the Turner exhibit at the Met. I heard that it's been there since July and will soon be gone. Back to the Tate I presume. I decide to walk there from my hotel, which is on 91st, near 1st. It'll be a nice walk to the Met at 82nd and 5th Avenue...it's a lovely September day...spectacular, in fact. Bright sun, not a cloud in the sky. I'm in no hurry of course, so I stroll more than walk, taking more than a few turns along the way to pick up parts of Lexington and Park Aves.
The usual crowd awaits me at the entrance to the Met. I endure the line, which is not that long, really, and get inside without too much hassle. I'm partial to modern art so I begin with that, wanting to save Turner for last. I'm standing in front of a Pollack, when something soft bumps into me from behind. I hear an "Excuse me!" as I turn to see a lovely lady (you) who was apparently backing up to get a better view of a larger painting on the opposite wall. Oh, that's quite all right, I reply. Not at all minding coming into contact with such a well-formed derriere. I unconsciously scan the rest of your anatomy in a split second...a reflex all of us males are prone to. I'm taken aback for a second by your obvious voluptuousness, but you fill the void with your enchanting smile. I'm really sorry, you say. Please, I'm okay, no harm done, I lamely reply. What I'd really like to say is, Do it again, please! But decorum dictates otherwise. :)
You've dropped your museum brochure in the "collision", so I pick it up and hand it to you. I immediately notice the delicacy of your hand as you reach for it. Slender, feminine, graceful. And your hair flowing off your shoulders has me in a whirl! I'm hoping I'm not too obvious. You thank me for retrieving your brochure, then you ask, Do you know where the Turner exhibit is, by any chance? I'm supposed to meet my friends there and I'm not sure where it is.
Now my heart is pounding. You must see it in my eyes, because you seem to be teasing me when you say, I'd love to have someone show me the way. Of course I cease on that with, I'd be glad to do that; in fact, I was headed there next. Great!, you exclaim, I'd really appreciate that. I'm Allie, by the way, extending your soft hand. I take it briefly, I'm Jack, nice to meet you. It all seems to have happened so fast! I'm alone one minute, and the next I have a gorgeous sort-of-companion. At least that's the way I'm thinking about it as we make our way toward the Turners.
Your heels are clopping on the marble floor in a very appealing way. And I can't help but take my furtive peeks at your jiggling rump as you bump along. Oh god, what am I getting myself into? My mind is racing. What am I going to say when we get there. I can't just let you go. Leave you off with your friends...and never see you again. I'd love to spend the rest of the day with you, get to know you, start something up with you. But how is it going to happen if you go off with your friends?
I'm relieved when we get to the Turner exhibit and your friends are nowhere in sight. I offer to view the exhibit with you until they show up. With a radiant smile, you readily agree. Out of curiosity, I ask how many friends we are looking for. You quickly respond with, Oh sorry, yes, there are two of them. The three of us planned this little outing weeks ago. We work together and every now and then, we take a "girl's day out", so to speak. It's a break from our husbands, and a chance to have some girl fun, you wink.
I do my best to conceal my elation at the thought. Are you game? Or am I reading too much into innocent openness? How should I take your wink? I am getting some very nice eye contact too! Hmmm. Think! Don't blow this, Jack, this woman is extraordinary! You ask what brings me here, so I explain my business plans in the city and my desire to see the Turner paintings while I'm here. That seems to be a satisfactory answer for now.
We first encounter "The Shipwreck", a famous Turner masterpiece. I remark about its power and the dark palette he uses, hoping you don't see through my lack of any real depth of knowledge. You either don't detect it or you pretend not to. Either way, I'm grateful. I notice that you're standing closer to me as we move along to each painting. I'm taking in your pleasant fragrances, and enjoying your little looks up at me as we move. I sense that you might be experiencing some of the same attraction that I am.
After viewing a number of paintings, and getting more and more comfortable with you, I suggest that if your friends don't show, we should go get a bite to eat. You seem enthused at the idea! Now I'm REALLY hoping your friends don't show!