noticed that the room was arranged with 50 round cocktail tables; each had two chairs on opposite sides. The event appeared to be very well-planned with warm lighting and a playlist of instrumental jazz renditions of popular love songs playing over the sound system. The room was beautifully decorated, almost as if the high school homecoming dance was scheduled afterwards.
The announcer continued, "You have been provided with a list of names of all the participants today; women are on one side, men on the other. As the men move between the tables, everyone should mark the name of the person they've just met. We suggest you add a special mark by the name of any person you would like to get to know better."
"We will take a five minute break every half-hour. Use that time to review your choices, stand and stretch, visit the restroom or get something to drink. When the event is over, we will collect your lists and match the names. If someone you have selected, also picks your name, KISS-LOVE 91 will hook you up at our next live event. Are there any questions? OK, let's get ready to speed-date!" Clicking the microphone off, the host left the podium and assisted the last of the participants to arrive.
Finishing her cheese and crackers, Nita wrapped the last few grapes on her plate with a napkin and stuffed them into her pocket. She carried her cup of punch to her desk. Perusing the list of men's names, she noticed the usual guy names and looked around the room to match each name with the man who looked like he owned it. She was relieved there was no one who shared his name with her ex. A couple of names on the list, she had never heard before. Attempting to pronounce them, Nita asked herself, "How could their parents seriously name them that?"
The "ding" of the bell sounded, and so began the parade of potential love interests with their naivete', nerves, confident flirting, fearful insecurities, and deceptions. It was a diverse bunch. Sometimes, between men, Nita would look at Hannah or one of the cousins to see how they were doing. Her view of Hannah was obscured by other speed daters in her line of sight. Gina studied her paper with her pencil in hand as if she was taking a final exam. Elle was leaning back in her chair, eyeing the next few prospects that were headed her way, evaluating them in advance. Nita had met a few interesting men, but, so far, none of them seemed promising.
During the last break, Nita left her assigned table to get a refill on punch. When she returned, she found an envelope on her chair. It was sealed and labeled with "Beautiful" in large but unfamiliar handwriting on the front. She looked around for who might have left it for her but no one seemed to be looking to see if she got it.
"Ding!" Break was over. Nita hid the envelope under her list as the first of her final set of daters approached.
Chapter 7
Mysterious Envelope
The four women planned to meet after the event to dish about the men they had met. As each woman handed back their dating lists, Nita excused herself so she could go to the bathroom before they left for the restaurant. Locking herself in the stall, she pulled out the envelope she had hidden inside her scarf. She opened it carefully as if she was going to reseal it to look as though it had never been opened.
Unfolding the paper, she noticed the unusual pale teal-gray colored stationary with carefully penned words in neat handwriting that conveyed a brief message.
"Hi Beautiful!
I'm your secret admirer.
I really want to get to know you better.
Please don't say "no".
(I want to be) yours, truly."
An e-mail address was scribbled at the bottom.
Nita felt a warm excitement. "Aw, how sweet!" she thought. "Some guy anticipated being here and brought stationary with him to leave note for someone he liked." Whoever he was, he had also broken the rules. No one at the event was supposed to exchange contact information with anyone
The announcer continued, "You have been provided with a list of names of all the participants today; women are on one side, men on the other. As the men move between the tables, everyone should mark the name of the person they've just met. We suggest you add a special mark by the name of any person you would like to get to know better."
"We will take a five minute break every half-hour. Use that time to review your choices, stand and stretch, visit the restroom or get something to drink. When the event is over, we will collect your lists and match the names. If someone you have selected, also picks your name, KISS-LOVE 91 will hook you up at our next live event. Are there any questions? OK, let's get ready to speed-date!" Clicking the microphone off, the host left the podium and assisted the last of the participants to arrive.
Finishing her cheese and crackers, Nita wrapped the last few grapes on her plate with a napkin and stuffed them into her pocket. She carried her cup of punch to her desk. Perusing the list of men's names, she noticed the usual guy names and looked around the room to match each name with the man who looked like he owned it. She was relieved there was no one who shared his name with her ex. A couple of names on the list, she had never heard before. Attempting to pronounce them, Nita asked herself, "How could their parents seriously name them that?"
The "ding" of the bell sounded, and so began the parade of potential love interests with their naivete', nerves, confident flirting, fearful insecurities, and deceptions. It was a diverse bunch. Sometimes, between men, Nita would look at Hannah or one of the cousins to see how they were doing. Her view of Hannah was obscured by other speed daters in her line of sight. Gina studied her paper with her pencil in hand as if she was taking a final exam. Elle was leaning back in her chair, eyeing the next few prospects that were headed her way, evaluating them in advance. Nita had met a few interesting men, but, so far, none of them seemed promising.
During the last break, Nita left her assigned table to get a refill on punch. When she returned, she found an envelope on her chair. It was sealed and labeled with "Beautiful" in large but unfamiliar handwriting on the front. She looked around for who might have left it for her but no one seemed to be looking to see if she got it.
"Ding!" Break was over. Nita hid the envelope under her list as the first of her final set of daters approached.
Chapter 7
Mysterious Envelope
The four women planned to meet after the event to dish about the men they had met. As each woman handed back their dating lists, Nita excused herself so she could go to the bathroom before they left for the restaurant. Locking herself in the stall, she pulled out the envelope she had hidden inside her scarf. She opened it carefully as if she was going to reseal it to look as though it had never been opened.
Unfolding the paper, she noticed the unusual pale teal-gray colored stationary with carefully penned words in neat handwriting that conveyed a brief message.
"Hi Beautiful!
I'm your secret admirer.
I really want to get to know you better.
Please don't say "no".
(I want to be) yours, truly."
An e-mail address was scribbled at the bottom.
Nita felt a warm excitement. "Aw, how sweet!" she thought. "Some guy anticipated being here and brought stationary with him to leave note for someone he liked." Whoever he was, he had also broken the rules. No one at the event was supposed to exchange contact information with anyone
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