It had been a long flight and now a hot drive. The temperature was high as I noticed a sign for exotic ice cream specialties. Apparently it was a small ice cream parlor. I thought for a moment and reasoned that an ice cream parlor must have air conditioning and so I pulled in to get out of the heat. I was on my way to meet someone for the first time, but another forty five minutes might not be a problem.
I swung in off the highway and locked the car before walking across the parking lot to the door. I paused outside and looked in. It was crowded but that might be a good sign. I reached for the door and pulled it open just as I heard the sound of rushing high heels. I turned to hold the door for her and looked up. It was her, the gal that I'd come all this way to surprise. She was even more beautiful than on my computer monitor and the photos she'd sent me. I could swear that I smelled a hint of mint in the air as she passed.
She didn't recognize me because I had never sent a photo of myself. I'm sure that my mouth was open as I waited. She smiled at me and thanked me as she passed. It was a few moments before a gal came up and asked if we were together and looking for one table? She shook her head and the gal apologized. The gal said that she had only one table and then brightened and asked if we'd like to share it. I raised an eyebrow and looked quizzically toward my chance meeting at the door. She looked back at me and then shrugged and murmured something like 'Sure... why not?'
We followed the gal to a table that was set back in the parlor and against a wall. I hurried forward and held the chair while she sat and the gal handed us each a menu. We studied it while I stole hurried glances at this beauty I'd come to see. A few moments passed and an old-fashioned wheeled cart was rolled up to our table and an older man asked if we were ready to order. I looked at her quizzically and she replied for both of us and then we ordered.
Her's was what sounded like a simple cone called Caramel Surprise, while my own was more dramatic in a dish and called a Mint Dollop. I guess that minted scent as she entered was still affecting my mind. As the waiter opened the cart I watched her beautiful legs through the clear glass top of the table. The waiter pulled out some metal gimmick and filled it with ice and then a paper napkin was carefully inserted into a small recess at the top. It was a full moment before I realized that it was a holder for the cone and the ice around it was to intended slow the melting.
Next he pulled out a frosty glass dish that appeared large enough to have been made for a banana split. He inserted a dark brown French vanilla waffle cone into the holder and scooped and deposited a scoop of French vanilla ice cream atop it. He took out a small tool from a drawer and carved a small recess at the center and then placed a small 'bullet' shaped piece of caramel into it. Next he took another scoop of cheesecake ice cream and repeated the process after depositing the scoop on top of the first, but this time it was the caramel topped with a Maraschino cherry. He'd made a two-scoop cone. Next he coated the top with a chocolate dip that hardened as quickly as it touched the ice cream.
He turned his attention to my treat as the chocolate dip completed hardening. Mine was a scoop of mint ice cream followed by two clove sweetened pear halves. He carefully removed each clove and then formed the two halves around the scoop of ice cream... he brought the two halves together at the top and deposited another cherry in the center but pushed it half way down and into the ice cream. Next he covered the top with a light green mint liqueur glasse', and inserted a large fresh strawberry into the center and covered the whole with the dipping chocolate.
Finally, he covered her cone and my dish with a generous topping of whipped cream and sprinkled them with nut pieces. Both desserts looked fabulous as he delivered her's first and then mine. A small demitasse spoon was delivered with mine. He asked if there would be anything else and then deposited a check on the edge of the table. She reached for it, but I was faster. I asked if it would be alright if I picked up this tab. She looked slightly perplexed and then graciously accepted.