Jeremy Saint paced up and down the path outside of the Arts Centre in downtown San Myshuno. He checked his watch...a minute past 8pm. Would she delayed? Will she show up? Jeremy's heart beat faster as time ticked on and he couldn't see his date.
Then, emerging around the corner at a brisk pace, she came running: Barbara Dubois, Jeremy's date. Only last weekend had they decided to go steady and this was the first time they'd seen each other since then. They both smiled the moment they saw each other and ran towards each other for an embrace.
"Of course...you don't think I'm going to miss the Hijinks Festival with you!" she replied. "I'm starving, let's get something to eat."
"I know you love spicy food, Barbara, and I know a good little eatery just over there. Do you like Cajun?"
"I LOVE Cajun!"
"Come on, let's go!" they grabbed each other's hand and ran off to the vendor.
Jeremy and Barbara both sampled the Tagine and caught up on each other's news of the week. Soon they were joined by another person, a man.
"Excuse me" he said. "I require a place to sit so I can ingest this sustenance. As all other designated seating surfaces are occupied, may I sit at this place so I can eat this meal?"
"Erm, yes, that should be fine" said Jeremy, awkwardly. The man's over formal speech was jarring but it what was on the plate that caused Jeremy and Barbara to wince.
Jeremy noticed something unusual on the man's plate. "Erm, I think I can see something moving on your plate" he said.
"I know. They are hi-protein insects and worms; very nutritious" he said, taking a mouthful.
"Well, I don't know about you, Barbara, but I'm full...shall we head on over to the bar?" Jeremy said, wanting to get away from this strange man and his even stranger meal.
"I'm good to go" she said, pushing her plate away from her.
The two of them got up and went far away from the man to where music was playing and people were dancing.
"Shall we?" said Barbara grabbing both of Jeremy's hands and spinning him onto the dance floor. Jeremy did the Economy Shuffle whilst Barbara flung her hair back and treated him to a fine display of funky go-go dancing.
"You're good!" said Jeremy, feeling like he was stuck on a washing machine spin cycle. "But, phew, can we get a drink?"
"Sure" she said. They went over to the bar, got a couple of drinks and as this was the Humor and Hijinks Festival they decided to check out tonight's stand up comic.
"I'm having a lovely time" she said, leaning her head on Jeremy's shoulder.
"I am too" he replied, smiling.
"Yawwwwn, I'm getting tired but I don't want the night to end" she said, looking into his eyes.
"Well....it doesn't have to" he said nervously. "I mean, we could always head back to...." he didn't know quite how to end his sentence.
"yes?" she asked, expectantly.
"I mean, if you don't mind that is....but you could always come back....with me....to....my place" he said, gulping at the end.
"Great! Let's go!" she said, grabbing his hand and leading him to the subway station.
"You're good!" said Jeremy, feeling like he was stuck on a washing machine spin cycle. "But, phew, can we get a drink?"
"Sure" she said. They went over to the bar, got a couple of drinks and as this was the Humor and Hijinks Festival they decided to check out tonight's stand up comic.
"I'm having a lovely time" she said, leaning her head on Jeremy's shoulder.
"I am too" he replied, smiling.
"Yawwwwn, I'm getting tired but I don't want the night to end" she said, looking into his eyes.
"Well....it doesn't have to" he said nervously. "I mean, we could always head back to...." he didn't know quite how to end his sentence.
"yes?" she asked, expectantly.
"I mean, if you don't mind that is....but you could always come back....with me....to....my place" he said, gulping at the end.
"Great! Let's go!" she said, grabbing his hand and leading him to the subway station.
They paused outside of Jeremy's house. This was a big moment; inviting a beautiful woman back to his place.
"You can have my bed and I'll sleep on the couch" he said.
"Don't put yourself out on my account" said Barbara.
"Well...it's no trouble really"
"We can decide the sleeping arrangements inside" she said. Jeremy showed her in and led her to the bedroom.
"Here's the bed, bathroom's down the hall on the right, here you'll find a light switch..."
Barbara patted the space on the bed next to her. "Plenty of room"
"Well, as this is a first date" he said, nervously.
"Second" she corrected him.
"Oh...right. But you know a single man, a single girl together in the same bedroom..."
"It's 1966, Jeremy..."
"But are we ready?"
"Let's just snuggle"
"Oh, OK"
They settled down but within minutes both were fast asleep.
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