The Wrong Place At The Wrong Time
Sometimes I can get myself in such awkward situations, by just trying to be kind. This happened earlier this year, in January, on the first day of the new school year; shortly before joining CS. A nine month relationship had just been terminated.It was about 7:15 am. I was opening my car gates when a car pulled up to the curb. The passenger window started sliding down. A very attractive young lady in her late 20’s leaned over the passenger seat and said: “Excuse me! Can you help me please?”
“Sure,” I said moving closer; expecting her to be lost and needing directions. As I came closer I noticed a 6-7 year old boy sitting on the passenger seat. As I bend down she stuffed a rolled up school tie into my hand.
“This is his first day at school,” she said, “and I’m a single mother. I don’t know how to tie it.”
And there we stood on the pavement, in front of my open gate, on our knees facing the lad. Mommy and I were tightly together, as if renewing vows; learning and teaching how to make a knot in a tie. As fate would have it, everybody who knew me would drive along blowing a horn and pointing a finger while grinning knowingly.
All this happened in plain sight of my neighbours.
Some of them still unaware that my previous relationship had ended. And this was complicated even further when the same young lady was seen entering my house a few days later with a gift-wrapped bottle. “Just a token of appreciation,” she said. I accepted the bottle of brandy with grace. Three hours later, when I walked a giggling young lady to her car after we polished off a bottle of mint liqueur, we were observed again; as the devil would have it.
I had all hell trying to explain the story. Nobody believed me, but eventually the story died. Or so I thought. Saturday night the story – and all the explaining – resurfaced. They still do not believe me; neither my friends, nor their wives.
As one of the wives summarized it with an elaborate wink: “We admire your discretion, but we find you guilty as charged.”
Something tells me that this discussion is far from over. Maybe I should really toss the cat in amongst the pigeons by asking her to act as my hostess when next we do something at my place.
Comments (50)
You are never gonna live that one down! I love the idea of her acting as hostess. What the heck, give them something to talk about!
that is exactly what I'm going to do.
I is quite a comprehensive 'case' they made of if. My gates open with the garage doors still closed? As if I was not planning to go anywhere and that the car was on my driveway all night. This in view of my newly wrecked relationship a few days earlier and my preference for younger woman (not this young though).
One of my friends who claimed to have seen us when she left in that giggling mood, swears high and low that we were hanging onto each other and that she kissed me before she got into the car. Which is nonsense.
Of course all teasing. No, I think they do believe the story, but it will rob them of a lot of great teasing opportunity if they admitted to it.
And... there is something that I'm withholding here that will put new colour to the whole story, if you can get the drift of my conversation.
Not very likely
I can see a poster on your front lawn, "Will tie ties for food or liquor".
I think you got it.
Are you starting as well?
But I live in a strict residential area where no backyard industries are allowed. Only Stay off the lawn signs are allowed.
Or as one wise crack once said: "Stay off the grass, I still want to smoke it!"
Over here, the exchange rate is taking a big bite on my meager budget.
but we pay through through our necks for imports, gasoline, bank charges and phone calls, amongst other things. No stay where you are.
Enjoy your walk in the forest and be careful of the big bad wolf. And don't talk to those little pigs again. They're real pigs.
Although the streets and pavements are wide, no need here for binoculars here, but the way some can know your business, I wonder is they don't have periscopes installed. Sometimes you don't see them, but they see all. Wish they would join the neighbour watch. Very alert!
i do not know whether to kneel before you (for having the luck of having such a young lady chat you up) or dislike you, ( for having such a young lady chat you up)
Butg i bet you are loving reliving the story no matter how innocent you think you are.......
beware the chinse whispers from those hiding behind trees.
No big deal, here. She wanted a knot in a tie and I was the closest at hand.
Whose reward?
Be still my restless heart!
i am already jealous, no need to rub it in.
Still you chase the youngins and i'll stick to the lovely mature ladies here and dream.
You're making fun of me.
But I would advise against such strategy. We could both get stuck with them and when they get fed up with us sooner than later, they may pair up together and leave the two of us stuck with each other.
I remember a song about stuck like glue
something about senior moments
Toy boys and sugar lollies can be a very expensive hobby.
By Cat see you soon
Who Me? Never!
No I don't think so.
Now I understand your neighbours - to help a drunk woman into her car saying - thanks darling this was great... its definitely supposed to mean something big
That sounds like a perfect " You didn't see anything ok?? "...
but, I'm very sure that insect did not hear anything..
DAN! I LOVE that song!
Aisha,
You are terrible. You make me feel like a shark!
My neigbours and I have all been there for eons. We have known each other for very long. They are used to by me now. Nothing I do can surprise them anymore.
I felt a bit tired after lunch
I'm going to ask her the first time I see her. I have her phone number, but I like to arrange these things face to face. I'd love to see my friends' faces. It will leave them wondering for ever.
Are you talking about Patsy Cline. Gosh, she is ancient. I thought I'm the only one left in the world who still listen to her music. She was one of my mother's favourites.
That is no problem if you have a small son. Bring him along with a tie. I'll teach you too. Though... I cannot promise I let you get off that easy.
That should be satisfactorily. Come around any way. I'll see I can do.