I had worked in a library after graduating from college. It was kind of a depressing time, barely making enough to make ends meet. My social life was zilch. I was a studious type, and at 5'11 and rather flat chested, I didn't feel sexy at all. I had had a few relationships with men in college but they didn't work out well. One guy decided he was gay and started going out with another man (believe me, it does nothing for your self-esteem when you get dumped for a man!). Another guy really liked me until he got my shirt off, and I could tell he was disappointed by my small breasts. I thought of myself as Kari the erection killer. My self-image was terrible. I used to wear loose fitting blouses, and in public I guess I slouched my shoulders forward to try to appear shorter, and to hide the fact that my breasts were so small. I would never ever wear high heels.
At the library, I had known this fellow Danny for quite some time. He was interested in a variety of subjects and was always ordering special materials, usually involving his hobby of astronomy. I was pretty sure it was because he liked to talk to me, although a romantic interest seemed impossible because he was about five inches shorter than me, and moreover he was a very attractive young man, a Filipino, athletic with broad shoulders and a great smile. I didn't think a fellow like that would be interested in a flat chested beanpole like me.
Anyway, one day out of the blue, he asked me out! At first I thought he was joking, and I feared being the "odd couple." But no, no he said he really wanted to go out, and so I said yes! I felt my heart flutter. I had a date! We went to a little hole-in-the-wall Thai restaurant which was well known for great food if not great dΓ©cor. We chatted, and I confessed I hadn't had a date since college. I also expressed my anxiety about being too tall for him. But he said it was not a problem for him, and at that point I realized that my height might actually be an asset. After dinner, I insisted that he show me his apartment. I wanted to see what a pristine bachelor apartment looked like, I said. Laughing, he agreed and so we went to his place. It was actually very well kept.