Today, the clock turned counterclockwise. The last two days dragged on without conversation or confirmation of the date set between them. It was assumed the original plan would hold. Tonight, Jack would be meeting Patricia on a "personal level" and he had mixed feelings about it. Was she really married? What would this meeting involve -- casual small talk over a drink? It could be something, but then again, it could be nothing at all - just a cocktail and some small talk. Yet, it could be the beginning of something good. To say the least, interesting. Jack was interested but for what reasons? He, himself, didn't really know. She was attractive, intelligent and seemed interested in him. What could go wrong?
Jack finished the monthly Supplies Report and put in on the secretary's desk for typing, duplication, and distribution on Monday - just as the clock ticked over to QUIT. He walked back to his office and bidding everyone a pleasant evening, as usual, a tidied his desk, grabbed his keys, turned out the light and walked out toward the door on time, this time. He usually avoided the rat race and traffic of rush hour by staying a little past quitting time so the employee parking lots would have time to empty. He felt differently about this today. He wasn't just going to the Holiday Inn this time for a couple of beers and some bar food while their house band played for Friday Happy Hour, as usual. He had an early date in another direction.
Gawd, Jack hated rush hour traffic, but he kept his calm and took his time by driving in the right-hand lane. His meeting wasn't until six and there was plenty of time. He wanted to get there first to scout out the rendezvous venue and have a thoughtful drink at the bar to cool his nerves before she arrived. The drive didn't take as long as he thought, but he pulled into the parking lot of the upscale hotel bar area and walked in. He was still light-blind and took off his sunglasses as he walked into the quiet, but comfortable bar called, 'The Library Room". It was an intimate place and filled with comfortable burgundy leather chairs and dark wooden cocktail tables with the obligatory candles at table center. The rows of bookshelves along the back wall separating the bar from the restaurant gave the place its name.
Approaching the bartender, he ordered a Scotch and water. With quick service to seemingly the only customer in the place, the drink was furnished in a flash. Jack left his cash on the bar, thanked him, and took long sip while casually glancing in the mirror above the bar before turning around. Patricia was already here with a glass of her own and sitting in a booth toward the middle of the sidewall. Startled, he raised his glass toward her and walked over to her table. Her silky white blouse was vertically striped with opaque panels in between the white so you could view her skin tone underneath and had a hand-tied bow at her neckline and simple but elegant jewelry. Looking up at him, she smiled. "Disappointed?"
"Well hardly, but I don't even get the pleasure of ordering you a drink, but it's good to see you. What are you having?
"Gin and tonic. How are you?" Patricia replied.
"I hate to say it, but I'm great,... now. Seeing you here has really made my day. It's been a couple of days since we spoke, so you've had plenty of time to change your mind."
"Why would you hate to say it?"
"Well, you know how male-female encounters go. If you show too much eagerness in the beginning it makes the other person feel like they've won the battle of the sexes without firing a shot - so to speak." Jack wondered if she would object to the battle metaphor.
"In that scenario, then Jack, what do you think about a girl who shows up first for a date? Do you feel like you've won the battle without firing your shot?" Patricia fired back with a coy grin.
"As I'm early too, I suspect we were both anxious to meet each other tonight and couldn't wait for the appointed time. We said six and it's only 5:30. Then again, I guess we both could have gotten a break with Friday night traffic. Wouldn't you?" Jack replied.