By Archangel__7@yahoo.com
Date: 23 August 2000
Stood up?
....."Well, I'm at The Rock, right,"explains Daniel to his friend, Frankie, over the phone... "And I got here at around 4:45."
"And you say she was supposed to be there at 5? Daniel, it's nearly six!!!! What are you still doing there??"
"I dunno," answers a despondent Daniel Allen. His mind races,"What's happened? Is she okay? I hope it's not about her friend's grandfather..."
It's 6 PM now ... the staff behind the counter of The Rock creamery just continue their work on this rather slow night. They couldn't help but to be sympathetic for the young man who only minutes ago seemed obviously excited about meeting someone. Across from him is a couple playing cards, laughing as they play their hands. Next to them is a woman sipping her coffee slowly as she silently reads her evening newspaper...
"Yeah... I know it's getting late. [sigh]." And as he sits in his seat, he stares at the pink rose wrapped in tissue and pink ribbon he had gotten earlier for the occasion...(she LOVES that color!) He motions over to the flower,"...yeah. now what am I going to do with this rose?"
"YOU GOT HER A ROSE?!?!? Daniel!!!!! you don't even know her that well!"
"Frankie, I know!!! Believe me, I know this sounds crazy---even for me!!! But I just thought it'd be a nice thing to do...I bet you any girl would feel special if a guy would just be THAT thoughtful on a first date..."
"I WIN!!!", shouts the man excitedly as he throws down his hand on the table...the woman simply gives him a look of brief annoyance and then seems to make the affirmation that she was going to win at least ONCE tonight...
"Daniel," replied his equally annoyed companion with a tone of disbelief in his voice,"You're a loser!!! You only met the girl on AOL!!!! What'd you expect?!?!"
"Frankie, I KNOW this sounds weird!!! I've never done this before, you know that...."
The sun is beginning to set over the roof of Sikes Center across the street. The rays of sunlight begin to peer through the window panes as the room takes on a warm tone of golden auburn. Frankie continues to "mentor" Daniel on his obviously foolish mistake, and though for a moment he starts to wonder if she really was ever interested, He makes the affirmation that something had to have gone wrong, and there has to be a good reason for all this.
"Frankie, she doesn't seem like the kind of person to do this... There had to have been a good reason!!"
"Daniel!!!......... look... I know she's a nice girl and all, but think about it... YOU'RE LEAVING for the Air Force in a month!!!! you just need to forget about her."
"Maybe..."
"Well, anyway, you know the youth rally is tonight. Are you coming?"
"Yes, I'll be there."
"Well, okay then, but don't let this get to you...there's gonna be one for you, I promise... I'll see you there. Bye, Daniel."
The earpiece gives an abrupt "click!" and the line goes silent. The room is empty now, and the evening lights inside are now being turned on. Daniel reluctantly gets up from his seat, and hands the phone back to the room attendant...
"You gonna be alright, man?"
"yeah... hey, thanks for the cappuccino..."
"No problem, man. It's on the house. You take care then, okay?"
"Sure."
Helplessly, he stumbles across the room in a growing sense of defeat, leaving the rose on the table...for the next couple to walk into the room.
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