First Encounters

"You look different than your profile pic."

"How so?"

"I don't know... a little younger... or wiser."

"Haha, you're trying to flatter me!"

"No, really. I'm kind of impressed. You're cooler than I thought, too."

"Gee - thanks, I guess."

"No, don't take offense. Okay, I'll start over. I'm Sean, and it's really nice to meet you."

"And I'm Mel, and it's really nice to meet you, too."

"Want to get something to drink?"

"I'd rather go for a walk, and burn off some energy, if it's alright with you."

"Nervous?"

"A bit. And you?"

"Yeah."

"Why? You seem so laid-back."

"Yeah?"

"Hmmm."

"I haven't dated in a while. It's... it's been a while."

"Oh? Why?"

"Just lost in grief, I guess. Tried to keep myself busy."

"Oh, the whole avoidance and distraction trick."

"Yeah, pretty much."

"So what changed?"

"Uh, I just kind of got bored with my own company. There's only so much you can say to yourself, without getting an answer back. I miss..."

"Yeah. I miss good conversation. It's hard to find someone to talk to, these days. Everyone's on their phones."

"Or playing videogames. I'm not into that."

"Me, neither. I know a lot of people are, but, it's not for me."

"There's an art gallery up ahead. Do you want to duck in there, for a sec?"

"Yeah, sure.

"Just to browse, of course."

"Of course."

"I like some of the pieces here, but, I admit some of them are a bit too avant-guard for my liking."

"Too modern?"

"Too something! 'Abstract,' I think."

"Like this one, over here, with the metal wire and some string."

"Yeah. Like, I could do that! I'm not going to pay to see that on my wall!"

"I think the owner's watching us."

"Let him watch. Someone should tell him the truth about some of these 'pieces.'"

"What about this one? What do you think?"

"Is her purple hair coming from that spotlight or did she just dye it that way?"

"I think it's a reflection off the back wall."

"Oh. Okay. "

"I'm more a landscape person, myself. Or something a bit more realistic."

"I guess this was a bad idea. I'm sorry. We could -"

"No, it's fine. we get to laugh and criticize. My daughter would say that's one of my favourite things to do."

"You have a daughter?"

"And a son, too."

"I have a son. Always wanted a daughter, but - my marriage didn't last that long. Haha!"

"Okay, well, this looks like a very small gallery. Where do you want to go next?"

"You lead the way. I seem to have picked a dud."

"The boardwalk, along the waterfront. I like looking out at the ocean."

"Who doesn't. After you, madam!"

"Oh, I just thought of my favourite - one of my favourite spots to get a bite to eat - and it's near where we'd be going, anyway... Care to join me?"

"I'm not good with spicy food."

"Oh. That cancels that idea."

"Sorry. I had a bad experience."

"Just one experience?"

"Yeah."

"And you never tried spice again?"

"Nope."

"Would you ever try it again?"

"No way!"

"Oh. I - oh darn - I just remembered. I'm supposed to take my daughter out, at 7 o'clock. Ah, I really should get going, soon. We'll just take a quick walk down to the boardwalk, and then... I'll... I'll see you later?"

"Fine."

"Okay, well, um, here's the boardwalk. You've been here, before?"

"Yep."

"Yeah, it's a nice place. Oooh, yikes. It's a bit later than I thought. I... should get going. So, um, really nice to meet you."

"See you around."