"No, Vicky. NO! NO! NO!" Bob yelled into the phone.
"C'mon, Bobby, do it for me. You always tell me I'm your favorite sister," Vicky pleaded.
"Yeah, well if you don't stop bugging me," Bob replied, "I'm going to ask mom and dad to have a third child so you won't HAVE to be my favorite sister. I've told you a hundred times: I don't do blind dates."
"It's not really a blind date, Bobby. I know her, and I know you."
Bob let out an audible sigh. "You know, for a smart woman, I find it hard to believe you don't know the definition of a blind date. Here, try this. When the party of the first part doesn't know the party of the second part, and the party of the third part matches them up for a date, even if the party of the third part knows them both... IT'S STILL A BLIND DATE!"
Vicky was laughing. "Wow, you obviously studied really hard during your legal terminology class at law school. Look, she's a lawyer, too. And she's smart. She went to UVA for law school and she works for the FBI."
"I don't care," Bob said. "I don't want anyone fixing me up on a blind date. Let me guess: if I ask if she's pretty, you'll say she has a nice personality, right?"
"Actually," Vicky said, "she DOES have a nice personality. But she's also beautiful. I'm telling you, you'll love her."
"Uh huh. She's perfect. That's why she needs someone to fix her up on a blind date."
"Jesus Christ, Bobby, give me a break. Just like you, she was in a long-term relationship until a few months ago. She's not ready to just start going out with rando guys, but I think you two would really hit it off. Please trust me -- I wouldn't set you up with someone I didn't think was a perfect match for you. You will have a wonderful time."
Bob's resolve was being worn down.
"Send me her picture," he finally conceded.
"Nope," answered Vicky.
"What do you mean, 'nope'? She's so ugly you won't even send me a picture?"
"I already told you," Vicky stated calmly, "she's absolutely beautiful. But I want you to be overwhelmed when you first see her. Further, I don't want you basing your judgement about her just because she's hot. I'd like to think my brother isn't quite that shallow."
Bob laughed. "You know," he said, "it's a little hard to believe a person who says she wants to set you up on a blind date with a beautiful woman, but you can't see her picture because she's SO beautiful, she wants you to not see her in advance."
Vicky sighed heavily into the phone.
"Look, Bobby, do this for me. You're really doing it for yourself, but do it for me. If you call me up afterwards and tell me you're not interested, I'll never try to set you up again."
Bob laughed again.
"Fine, fine," he said. "I don't really believe you for one second that you'll never try again, but just remember what you said.
"Thanks, Bobby!" Vicky gushed. "How about Saturday night. You free?"
"Well, yeah, but can't I call her to make plans myself?" he asked.
"No, I'll handle it. I've got my reasons."
"Sheesh," Bob replied. "You are so damn controlling. What's her name?"
"I'll tell you Saturday," Vicky replied.
"Seriously? I can't even know her name?"
"Thanks, Bobby! I'll call you with time and location. I love you!"
Before he could even reply, Vicky had hung up. As pissed as he was that he let Vicky talk him into this, he laughed. She ALWAYS got her way. The fact that he did or did not want something was never part of the equation when talking to his sister. She was only three years older than his 31 years, but she treated him like she was his mother and he must always do what she said. He loved Vicky dearly and actually WOULD do almost anything she asked, but even when he didn't want to do something, she always talked him into it. She always won.
Thursday night, Vicky called. She told him the restaurant where she had made reservations for 7:00. She said his date would be sitting at the bar wearing a red, satin blouse. She still wouldn't tell him her name, which made him laugh.
Saturday night, Bob texted his sister. "Still waiting for a name."
Vicky replied: "In due time."
Bob: "I'm leaving in 15 minutes!"
Vicky: "You'll have it at 6:55"
Bob just laughed. He was still not sure why he couldn't know his date's name in advance, but there was nothing he could do about it. He ordered an Uber, and he was pulling up to the restaurant at 6:55 when Vicky texted him. "Her name is Marci." And that was it.
He walked inside, and sitting at the bar was a beautiful woman wearing a red, satin blouse. She had brown hair that went just past her shoulders and blue eyes. He couldn't tell how tall she was, since she was sitting, but the legs sticking out of her skirt looked long. As he walked toward her, she smiled and stood up.
"Bob?" she asked, extending her hand. "I'm Marci. Nice to meet you."
Bob offered his hand, and as they shook, he said, "very nice to meet you, too." Now that she was standing, he noticed she was fairly tall -- maybe 5 foot 10 inches, but that included her heels. He also noticed she had a thin waist and small breasts that looked just right for her. He thought her body was fantastic.
"Apparently my sister already made reservations, so should we be seated? I suppose we should check to see if she already ordered for us."
Marci laughed, already thinking Bob had a sense of humor.
They checked in at the desk and were shown to their table. Marci appreciated the fact that Bob pulled out her chair for her to sit down.
"So," Bob started, "you seemed to be pretty sure I was your blind date when I walked in. Did my sister stalk out my front door and text you with what I was wearing?"
"Knowing Vicky, she certainly might have staked out your front door, but, no, that's not how I knew. She sent me your picture."
Bob laughed.
"So, you got a picture of me, and I was neither sent a picture or even allowed to know your name until five minutes ago. What the heck is going on?" Bob asked.
"C'mon, this is Vicky we're talking about. Don't ask ME to explain her -- she's YOUR sister!" Marci said with a laugh. Bob couldn't help but laugh, too.
They chatted for a while before ordering drinks. The conversation flowed smoothly, and both of them quickly felt comfortable with the other. There was none of the normal awkwardness when first meeting someone new.