The manager hired a handsome boy. We sold men’s clothing, from casual to formal, and his off-season minor league baseball form was sleek in that suit. “Good marketing,” said the manager. The both of us were shy. I tried to hide my red face when I marked that suit for the tailor. He did not have the soft waist of the usual suburban dad customer. The handsome boy’s neck was pink when I reached up to adjust the shoulders.
For weeks we barely spoke. Just furtive looks. Sometimes catching eyes in a mirror. Folding a table of shirts from opposite ends to meet in the middle. Accidentally brushing together in the tight space behind the cash register. Glances, smiles, stuttered questions, switched shifts (oh everyone knew, watched, conspired).
End of the day. Everything folded, straightened, tidied, counted, put away. Our coats were on, and he adjusted his gloves only to pull them off again. We stopped just outside the storefront. Twisting his gloves, he asked, “Would you…..”
I looked up, he was so tall. The mall lights were dimming, and only the echo of workers eager to go home lingered after a busy day. The pause went on forever. My hands clenched hard the strap of my bag, but I wanted to reach up and push that fall of hair from his eyes. Then I heard him exhale. “Would you like to go to a Super Bowl party with me?”
Wait…is it frowned upon to ask to bring a book to a superbowl party? When a handsome boy is asking you?
IS THIS WHY IM STILL SINGLE?
I have dont this, egads, I have done this 3 times in my life. A cute boy has asked me to a superbowl/regular party and my answer has been—can I bring a book?
I’ve gotten much better at saying, No, I will NOT be attending your party and have you EVEN met me? What part of me says “lets invite that woman to a party?” And I convey all of that with a look over the top of my glasses and an eyebrow raise. They quickly take that invitiation back before I can say something.
Can I bring a book,
What food should I bring/Will there be food (*cough* because that’s nicer than saying, ‘There had better be food’),
and will there be dogs/cats/pets/children.
i feel bad loving this so much, because i know its true and it sounds like something i might have said and so i can totally relate to the feelings it must conjure even in retrospect — but i really do love it so much. eye flirting is the best and you describe it so well, capturing all the angst and delight it brings. and that ending falls so perfectly flat, as with its own clang. so well written. <3 <3 <3
egads aka Dame Maggie
February 3, 2019 at 9:26 AM
A True Story
The manager hired a handsome boy. We sold men’s clothing, from casual to formal, and his off-season minor league baseball form was sleek in that suit. “Good marketing,” said the manager. The both of us were shy. I tried to hide my red face when I marked that suit for the tailor. He did not have the soft waist of the usual suburban dad customer. The handsome boy’s neck was pink when I reached up to adjust the shoulders.
For weeks we barely spoke. Just furtive looks. Sometimes catching eyes in a mirror. Folding a table of shirts from opposite ends to meet in the middle. Accidentally brushing together in the tight space behind the cash register. Glances, smiles, stuttered questions, switched shifts (oh everyone knew, watched, conspired).
End of the day. Everything folded, straightened, tidied, counted, put away. Our coats were on, and he adjusted his gloves only to pull them off again. We stopped just outside the storefront. Twisting his gloves, he asked, “Would you…..”
I looked up, he was so tall. The mall lights were dimming, and only the echo of workers eager to go home lingered after a busy day. The pause went on forever. My hands clenched hard the strap of my bag, but I wanted to reach up and push that fall of hair from his eyes. Then I heard him exhale. “Would you like to go to a Super Bowl party with me?”
“Can I bring a book?” The gate fell with clang.
The End
Love, February
egads aka Dame Maggie
February 3, 2019 at 9:27 AM
And that my friends is my Super Bowl inspired tale of love lost.
@kimbapnoona @bammsie @justme @greenfields @leetennant @sicarius
@wishfultoki @raonah
@ally-le @moana @anothernicole @snarkyjellyfish @khalessymd
@hotcocoagirl
@waadmay @oppafangirl @katakwasabi
Waadmay
February 3, 2019 at 9:30 AM
Was that Mr.egads 😉😉
egads aka Dame Maggie
February 3, 2019 at 9:31 AM
No.
I don’t even remember his name, but I still cringe when I think of this moment.
Waadmay
February 3, 2019 at 9:33 AM
Ah ok , that was your once upon a time adventures 😂😉
Waadmay
February 3, 2019 at 9:34 AM
Or should I say once upon a super bowl party 😂😂😂😂😂
isa: I'm not a serial killer I'm just really passionate about things
February 3, 2019 at 10:47 AM
Wait…is it frowned upon to ask to bring a book to a superbowl party? When a handsome boy is asking you?
IS THIS WHY IM STILL SINGLE?
I have dont this, egads, I have done this 3 times in my life. A cute boy has asked me to a superbowl/regular party and my answer has been—can I bring a book?
I wouldnt do a cotton pickin’ thing differently.
egads aka Dame Maggie
February 3, 2019 at 10:49 AM
Now that I have books on my phone, I don’t even ask. I will be reading at your party.
isa: I'm not a serial killer I'm just really passionate about things
February 3, 2019 at 11:00 AM
I’ve gotten much better at saying, No, I will NOT be attending your party and have you EVEN met me? What part of me says “lets invite that woman to a party?” And I convey all of that with a look over the top of my glasses and an eyebrow raise. They quickly take that invitiation back before I can say something.
bam 🐢🐌💖~
February 3, 2019 at 9:39 AM
I love that you used one of the three questions that must be asked in response to a party invitation, Egads.
egads aka Dame Maggie
February 3, 2019 at 9:54 AM
Can I bring a book?
What food should I bring?
What’s the third?
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
February 3, 2019 at 11:55 AM
I think do you have a dog/cat?
Or that’s what I would ask… cos then I can hang out with the pet…
bam 🐢🐌💖~
February 3, 2019 at 12:27 PM
@sicarius is right.
Can I bring a book,
What food should I bring/Will there be food (*cough* because that’s nicer than saying, ‘There had better be food’),
and will there be dogs/cats/pets/children.
oppafangirl
February 3, 2019 at 1:10 PM
oh, I am learning manners! Finally, now I just have to wait for people to invite me to party.
*waiting*
bam 🐢🐌💖~
February 3, 2019 at 1:15 PM
*chuckle* We should write an etiquette guide!
egads aka Dame Maggie
February 3, 2019 at 1:17 PM
The Social Situation Survival Guide for Introverted Beanie?
bam 🐢🐌💖~
February 3, 2019 at 1:42 PM
@egads That’s the one!
another woodalchi nicole recruit
February 3, 2019 at 9:53 AM
i feel bad loving this so much, because i know its true and it sounds like something i might have said and so i can totally relate to the feelings it must conjure even in retrospect — but i really do love it so much. eye flirting is the best and you describe it so well, capturing all the angst and delight it brings. and that ending falls so perfectly flat, as with its own clang. so well written. <3 <3 <3
LT is Irresistibly Indifferent, Dame Judi
February 3, 2019 at 11:07 AM
Geez you made me laugh. That’s perfect.
💜🍍☠ Sicarius The Queen of Melonia ☠🍍💜
February 3, 2019 at 11:54 AM
ASDFGHJKL This is cute and hilarious.
🍙 kimbap noona
February 3, 2019 at 12:40 PM
Now I feel like I have a little bit more of understanding of your partiality for tailored clothing! 😆
oppafangirl
February 3, 2019 at 1:12 PM
“The gate fell with clang.”
I loved this line. So metaphorical!
RenOIshi
February 3, 2019 at 1:14 PM
Hahahah! That was cute and hilarious!
Cocoa, The Fake Poet of February
February 3, 2019 at 2:00 PM
I love this far too much…
mugyuljoie is preciousss
February 3, 2019 at 7:36 PM
😂 Fatal mistakes to ask if you can bring a book. Books are a given. And earplugs, I mean headphones.
greenfields
February 3, 2019 at 8:19 PM
😅😅😅😅 but you asked the most relevant question! If he doesn’t get it, his loss.