That Would Be Nice

There are single men, and then there are single men. Some of them choose to be that way, others not. Phil was a single man but not by choice.

Several months ago he was spoken for. He lived in a comfortable house with a wife and a dog and an herb garden in the back. He mowed his lawn. He planted trees. He took out the garbage twice a week. Being single was not something he would have given a second thought. Nevertheless here he was, single again living the apartment life.

Vicki was a single woman. Phil met her once at a party. He was there because of his empty refrigerator. She was there for the Halloween festivities.

He and she chatted a while. Given different circumstances, he might have asked her out, but he wasn't in the mood. He had only recently become single and frankly didn't have the energy. So it stopped at a chat.

Months later, Phil was looking for friends after work and saw a woman gazing at him from across the room. He didn't recognize her and anyway was certain that no good looking woman would be smiling at him, so he continued searching for his friends.

Hello, she said as he walked by. Remember me? Looking at her again, he realized he did. They spoke for a moment or two, but as she was standing by another man they didn't talk long.

Then yesterday, Phil went home at noon to work out at his apartment complex gym. (It is a funny thing about being single again that you find time for such things where you had no time before.) He went to the gym and began his routine.

And there was Vicki. He and she chatted while they exercised. She talked about her cold. He talked about his yoga class. And they both finished at the same time.

Outside she went one way and he the other. He said goodbye, but that was all he could bring himself to do. As he returned home, he lamented being so shy. He should have said more.

Back home, he showered. He ate. He went to check his mail. And as he got in his car to drive back to work.

And there she was again. Here. Take this, she said, handing him a piece of paper. It had a phone number written on it.

Call me. Tell me more about the yoga class.

He looked up at her and in a great moment of spontaneous courage said, And maybe ask you out for dinner.

That would be nice, she said.

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