Blind Date

Part VI

“You need a girlfriend.” Cody swiveled the office chair in Danny’s direction.

“I don’t need a girlfriend. It’s not like I’m going to die because I am single.” Danny replied as he made sandwiches in the kitchen.

“Yeah, but then you wouldn’t be so lonely when I go to college next year.” Cody swung back to face the computer. “Look this dating website looks good. Sign up.”

“I’m not signing up on any online dating website.” Danny cut the sandwiches with force.

“What’s wrong with online dating?” Cody challenged.

Danny paused in thought, trying to find a way to explain how he felt about internet dating.

“It just doesn’t feel natural to me. Looking through all those pictures of women, how can you tell which girl is for you? It feels more like shopping than dating to me.”

“Yeah, I get your point but nothing else is working for you. You didn’t even get the number of that hot nurse at the rodeo the other weekend.” Cody drew tears down his cheeks to imitate the sad situation.

“Here.” Danny placed the sandwich next to Cody at the computer. “You’re supposed to be doing your homework, not finding me a girlfriend.”

“It doesn’t make you a loser you know. Lots of people internet date for different reasons. Too shy to meet people, too busy, don’t like bars, home bodies.”

“I don’t think it’s for losers. I just don’t think it’s for me.” Danny took two drinks out of the refrigerator.

“Homework.” He said as he handed Cody a can.

“OK.” Cody turned back to the computer and started researching his science paper.

When Danny left the room, Cody switched tabs to the internet dating site and started making an account for Danny. After he finished, he started scrolling through the hundreds of women’s profiles listed in the local area.

He stopped abruptly. He couldn’t believe his eyes at the beautiful woman smiling at him. Lisa, he thought to himself. Without a second thought he opened the contact request tab and wrote Lisa a message.

“Hi Lisa, It’s me Danny. We met at the rodeo the other weekend. You fixed ummm how should I say, my behind for me. You know the guy that looks like Billy Bob Bunt because his barber gave him a mullet. Yeah, well I would really like to catch up with you again if you are up for it.” Cody typed, trying his best not to sound like a 17-year-old boy while also not sounding like a stuffy old man pervert.

Click, Cody hit the send button and the message was gone. He sat there looking at the screen waiting for the message status light to turn green to indicate it had been read. The light stayed red. Cody closed the dating website tab. He would check the site again tomorrow.

“Right, I’m done.” Cody stood up and walked over to the front door. “I’ll see you tomorrow.” He waved at Danny as he walked through the door.

The Next Day

After school, Cody went straight to Danny’s house. He was keen to see if Lisa had seen his message. He knocked on Danny’s front door and Danny answered holding a kitchen knife in his right hand.

“Hey, man don’t cut me.” Cody jumped back from the door with his arms up.

“Yeah, me right, attack anyone. You’re just in time for sandwiches. Do you want one?” Danny let go of the door so Cody could enter.

“Yeah, of course. Always hungry man.” Cody pushed past Danny, went straight to the computer and sat down. “Do you mind if I use your computer again? I still need to do some more research.” Cody started turning on the computer without waiting for an answer.

“Sure. You know you’re always welcomed to do your homework here.” Danny handed a plate of sandwiches to Cody.

Cody stuffed the sandwiches into his mouth with one hand while navigating the web browser with the other. Danny was occupied in the other room, so Cody took the opportunity to take a sneaky look at the online dating profile he had built for Danny yesterday.

He clicked into the site to find that Danny had a message from Lisa. Cody clicked the message open to find the message was displaying a green light indicating that Lisa was actually online at that very moment.

“Hello Danny, yes, I remember you, the Billy Bob Bunt look a like with the really cool mullet. How is your rear end? Hopefully, on the mend. A catch up sounds nice. Where and when would you suggest?” Cody read the message enthusiastically and started to reply quickly while the online light was still green. He didn’t want to miss his chance to talk live.

“Hello Lisa, great to hear from you. I’m glad you remember who I am. Would you like to meet up for a coffee at the coffee shop called High Octane, on the corner of West and Clive Street at 3pm this Sunday afternoon?” Cody hit send quickly.

Cody buzzed with excitement as he could see that Lisa was writing a message back. He watched the little dots bounce as she wrote, waiting impatiently. Suddenly, the online light turned from green to red and Cody’s heart sunk.

What? Why did she go offline? He thought to himself.

The green light flashed back on. Cody’s excitement rose. Then the light went orange.

What does an orange light mean? Cody thought to himself. He looked through the help menu. Do not disturb. What does that mean? Cody sat there staring at the screen wondering if Lisa was going to reply straight-away.

The light went red then orange again. What is this woman doing? Cody thought to himself. Then suddenly the light went green, and a message popped up and then the light went red again. Cody clicked into the message

“That sounds lovely. I’ll see you there and then.” Cody read the message.

That’s all! What took her so long to write that? Cody thought to himself. Nevertheless, he was buzzing and very chuffed with himself.

“Hey Danny. What are you doing on Sunday? Do you want to meet at High Octane, you know that café on the corner of West and Clive Streets?” Cody yelled from the computer.

“Sure.” Danny yelled back from the kitchen. “What time?”

“Does 3pm work for you?” Cody held his breath.

“Yeap, that works for me.”

“Great, I’ll see you Sunday.” Cody closed the online dating tab, jumped up and was through the front door before Danny could reply.

A Few Days Later

Cody stood outside High Octane eagerly waiting for Danny to turn up.

“You’re late!” Cody almost jumped on Danny when he saw him.

“Sorry, I was helping a friend move an extremely heavy cabinet. I don’t know how I get myself into these things.” Danny opened the door and allowed Cody to walk through first.

Cody pushed passed Danny and looked around. He couldn’t see Lisa. Surely, she hadn’t gotten tired of waiting and left already. No, stupid thought. I was standing outside 15 minutes before hand. I would have seen her leave at least. He thought to himself.

Cody grabbed a table right in front of the door so Lisa would be able to see them easily.

“Today’s specials are there on the board. When you’re ready order at the counter.” A waitress handed a menu each to Danny and Cody. Danny started perusing the menu.

“I think just a normal long black for me. You decided yet?” Danny asked Cody. Cody had his head buried in the menu trying not to look like he was playing for time. He didn’t want to order before Lisa arrived otherwise, they would look rude, but he didn’t want to give the set-up away either.

“Nah, still looking.” Cody replied pretending to read the menu. Cody tried to make small talk about school, the rodeo and other things but he could see Danny was growing impatient to order.

“Long black.” Cody said standing up. “My shout today.”

“Did you win lotto?” Danny joked. The boys were engaged in a bit of banter when Lisa walked into the café so she was already pulling out a chair and sitting down when Cody noticed.

“Sorry, I’m late.” She smiled.

“No worries.” Cody said. Cody looked at his phone. “Crap. Excuse my language.” He blushed at Lisa. “I forgot I promised my mom I’d watch my little brother while she did a shift. I have to fly.” He shook Lisa’s hand and slapped Danny on the back and left before he could get dragged into any conversation that required an explanation.

“Kids!” Danny looked at Lisa exasperatedly. “But anyway, it’s so nice to see you again. Can I get you a coffee?”

“Sure, a café latte would be great, thank you.” Lisa smiled. Danny left the table and ordered the coffee. “So, how’s the butt?” Lisa asked when Danny sat back down.

“Oh, much better thank you. I had some really good first responder care.” He flirted. Lisa gazed into his smiling eyes.

“I see you’re still supporting that lovely mullet.” She flirted back.

“Yes, someone said it looked good on me, so I decided to keep it.” Danny ran his fingers through his hair and gave his head a little flick.

The waitress brought the coffees to the table and the pair chatted, flirted and sipped their coffees slowly. Then Lisa said something that struck Danny as a little odd.

“By the way, I love your profile name.”

“What profile name?” Danny looked puzzled.

“On the dating website we reconnected through.” Lisa replied. “Accidental Mullet.” She added with a giggle.

“Ohhh, that profile name.” Suddenly things started to make sense. That rat listed me on that dating website without me knowing. He set this whole thing up. Danny thought to himself. He smiled to himself. I’ll have to thank that rat when I see him next.

“I hope you don’t find it too forward of me to ask for your number. I’d love to give you a call and organize to meet up again some time. Maybe ice skating or something else if you like.” There was no way Danny was going to let this second chance go by.

“Sure. That sounds nice. I love ice skating.” Lisa took a piece of paper and pen from her handbag and wrote her number down then passed it to Danny.

Neither of them could hide the big smiles on their faces.

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