The Perfect First Date

Carolyn was a little nervous as she got ready to go out. She was happy to be going out because the day’s events and significance were a bit depressing and she could use a pick me up. She wasn’t fond of surprises because she was a woman who liked planning and this seemed like spur of the moment. The phone call was quick and a bit mysterious. “Wear a blue dress and be ready at 7:30 pm. I’ll come get you”, was all that Jimmy said.

At 7:30 pm sharp her doorbell rang. She walked downstairs, proceeded to open the door and started to say, “Hello Jimmy, you’re right on…” Her words drifted off as she stood there taking in the sight. She chuckled and asked, “What’s going on?” “It’s a surprise. Let me walk you to the car”, Jimmy stated. As she approached the car Jimmy opened her door and helped her get in. She still didn’t know what was going on but liked the chivalry being displayed that had long since been thought dead. As they drove off Carolyn asked, “So where are we going?” “You’ll see”, Jimmy said while trying to suppress a smile. “Why are you dressed like that and what’s with the hair?” she asked. Jimmy repeated, “It’s a surprise.”

Jimmy turned down a street and Carolyn asked, “Oh, are we going to Mary’s?” Jimmy pulled over to a parking spot and simply said, “No, not tonight.” He got out of the car and walked around to the passenger side, opened her door and helped her out. Jimmy then opened the trunk and pulled out a coat. He said, “Here, put this on” as he started to drape it over Carolyn’s shoulders. She was more confused now as she asked, “What’s with the coat? It’s the end of May.” Jimmy smiled. “Please, just until we get to the place and then you can take it off.” Carolyn was growing even more curious of what was going on and didn’t know where this was leading. As they walked down the block she noticed something even more peculiar. Christmas lights were blinking further down the block. Here it was late-May and there were Christmas lights dangling outdoors. As she and Jimmy walked on she realized that the Christmas lights were hanging outside of their apparent destination. She couldn’t help but smile in amusement and her curiosity was piqued by this unexpected display. They stopped in front of the lights and Carolyn turned to Jimmy. “Are you going to tell me what’s going on now or wait until we get inside?” Jimmy stated, “I’m actually not going in with you. I’ll be waiting outside for a while.” Carolyn was surprised and said, “Oh, I thought you were taking me to dinner. Why won’t you come in?” Jimmy chuckled, “We all have a role to play tonight and mine is to get you here and wait for you outside. Don’t worry, I’ll join you later on. Go in and enjoy your time.” He leaned in and kissed Carolyn on the cheek and started to walk away. Carolyn stood there a little stunned and watched a few moments as Jimmy walked off thinking, “Why would he get me here and leave?” She did say aloud, “Well, whatever is going on I want you to know that you look very dashing. I’m not sure why the white hair but I guess I’ll find out later.”

When she proceeded towards the door her eyes caught sight of the sign overhead; “Alexander’s Italian Restaurant.” Her smile widened a bit but her eyes started to mist a little and she needed a moment to take it all in. “That explains the white hair and the uniform”, she mused. As she reached for the door it opened slowly. “Welcome to Alexander’s. Please come in”, said a young lady’s voice. “Mary, what is…?” “I’m sorry, it’s Madeline”, replied the young lady as she walked behind a podium. “Are you here to meet someone Ms. or are you dining alone?” she asked as a small smile crossed her face. Carolyn started to piece things together and said, “Yes, Madeline. You’re right, my apologies. Ummm….I’m here to meet someone.” “Ah, there is a gentleman who was just seated a few minutes ago who was waiting for a Ms….” “Scacal…no ummm…Brennan…Ms. Brennan”, Carolyn chuckled. “Yes! That’s who he’s waiting for. Would you like to check your coat?” the hostess asked beaming. Just then the coat check girl walked up beside her and said, “Allow me Ms. Brennan”, as she helped her off with the coat. Carolyn laughed out loud, “Oh, thank you very much.” “Right this way”, the hostess said and Carolyn proceeded to follow her. As she neared the table she could smell the wonderful aromas of Italian cooking and her eyes caught sight of him. He turned, saw her and stood as she approached. She let out a soft but audible, “Awww…how handsome!” She noticed his hair parted on the side, slicked back and his navy suit looking crisp and clean. He had a bouquet of yellow roses with a tinge of red at the tips of the petals. “Good evening, Carolyn. You look beautiful in that blue dress”, said the young man smiling as he held out the bouquet. “I’m sorry I couldn’t pick you up because my dad’s car is in the garage. Please thank your dad for me later on when you see him.” Carolyn smiled and laughingly said, “Oh, thank you for the lovely flowers! I will certainly thank him for dropping me off.” “Shall we sit?” her date asked. The hostess pulled out Carolyn’s seat and she sat down while the hostess took the flowers from her. “I’ll put these in a vase for you while you enjoy your dinner. Your waiter will be right with you.” Seconds later the waiter came to the table and introduced himself. “Good evening. Welcome to Alexander’s. My name is Matthew and I will be your waiter tonight. May I start you off with a drink?” the waiter asked as he handed the wine list to her date. “Would you mind if I ordered for us, Carolyn?” asked her date. “Please, go right ahead”, she answered. “Ah, I see the perfect one. Can we each have a glass of your Angelini Avio Merlot?” “Good choice, sir. I’ll be right back with your drinks and to take your order.” He handed the menus to Carolyn and her date and she saw on the very top printed, “Alexander’s Italian Restaurant: December 15th, 1957.”

“I want to let you know that I picked those flowers because the yellow stands for friendship with the tips red to symbolize the blossoming of deeper feelings. I picked the wine because Angelini reminds me of an angel, which is what you remind me of.” Carolyn blushed a little and said, “Oh my, you’ve become less shy since we first met and a bit corny. I will call you “corn-boy”. “Oh, is that the new nickname for me? Will that replace “squeaky”?” he asked. Caroline laughed, “Oh no, how did you know about that?” “Well, I overheard two of your girlfriends on the elevator where we work say something about you asking about the guy with the squeaky shoe. One said you refer to him as “squeaky”. They didn’t see me towards the back of the elevator.” They both laughed out loud at that.

The waiter came back with the two glasses and placed one in front of Carolyn and the other in front of her date. He took out a pad and started to say, “May I take your ord….” but stopped. He picked up the glass in front of her date, took it up to his nose and sniffed it. He then laughed, said, “I’m so sorry.” and switched her glass for his and his for hers. She could hear lots of laughs coming from the kitchen area and she too let out a hearty laugh. The waiter took a moment to compose himself and started again, “May I take your order?” Carolyn’s date said, “May I suggest the veal parmigiana? It’s very good!” “Hmmm…I’ve never tried that but I’m always open for new ideas and suggestions. It’s not spicy is it? I don’t do well with spicy”, Carolyn asked. The waiter said, “No, it’s not spicy at all and I agree that it is very good!” “Then I’ll try that. My taste buds are at your mercy”, she playfully said to her date. “I’ll have the same”, her date said. “Very good. I will be back with your meals shortly.” As the waiter walked away Carolyn picked up her glass, as did her date and said, “Thank you for finally asking me out. I was starting to worry that you weren’t interested in me in that way.” “Oh no, I was totally interested from the moment I saw your beautiful blue eyes and practically tripped up the steps by the reception desk!” Carolyn laughed, “Yes! I saw that unfold and was trying so hard not to laugh. I didn’t want you to think I was laughing at you.” “Well, thank goodness you didn’t because the moment I was out of your sight I was slapping myself saying, ‘What the heck is wrong with you? She’ll think you’re a square!’” They clinked glasses and she took the first sip saying loudly, “Yes, that’s definitely mine, thank goodness!” More laughter from the kitchen. Her date drank a sip also and playfully joked, “Yep, no laws broken here.” The laughter got louder and a voice from the kitchen said, “Alright, let’s keep it going.”

“So I’m going to ask you a question, which may seem weird but I am curious. Where do you see yourself in 5 years?” her date asked. “Well, I would hope to be in a better job and hopefully with someone who is caring, honest, loving and faith filled”, Carolyn answered seriously. “And what if I told you that I would love to be given the chance to be that guy? Yes, I know it’s our first date but I’m not into playing games and would love for there to be many more dates afterwards. I would love to take you out again and again and again, if you’d let me.” Carolyn leaned forward and said, “We haven’t even finished with this date yet but my heart is telling me that I should also give you that chance to be ‘that guy’”. She took his hand as the tears welled up in her eyes.

“How did we do, grandma? Did we recreate your “perfect first date” as you and grandpa would tell us? We wanted to remember him today by recreating the beginning of your love for one another and to remind you that love never ends. ” Carolyn cried softly and then chuckled, “Yes, Steven. It was practically the exact recreation of the dinner with your grandfather, Raymond. From my father driving me to the restaurant, to the hostess’ name, the coat check girl and waiter’s name and the merlot…well, except for the mix up of my wine and your grape juice. It was the ‘perfect first date’.” Boisterous laughter erupted again from the kitchen and Steven got up and went over to his grandmother and hugged her. Carolyn said loudly, “Ok, everyone out of the kitchen! Is Ray in there? Is he the chef?” Carolyn’s grandchildren came out as did her daughters, Suzanne (coat check girl) and Mary (hostess) and her sons, Steven (waiter) and Raymond (chef). “Someone call my ‘father’ Jimmy and tell him to come in!” Carolyn chuckled. As Jimmy walked in the door Raymond said, “Ok everyone. The whole family will be dining downstairs. Everything is set up and we’ll be serving the food soon. Let’s all make mom and dad’s special day a wonderful memory for her to have on this anniversary of dad’s passing.”