Walk That Walk

Grocery shopping was always such a chore.  Eliza filled her cart with the weekly necessities.  This trip was the one for her round in the feminine hygiene department.  With three girls and herself, it could take awhile.  Wings, deodorant, maxi, mini, slims, longs, flushable, light, heavy, the variety was darned near endless.  In the old days, there was one type and you made it work.  Somebody would swear she was planning to bleed to death.  All this stuff was really expensive too! Oh well.

She wheeled her cart out of the aisle and almost collided with a guy coming the other way.  With eyes lingering, he smiled and apologized.  She smiled back, and continued on her way.  She hoped he wasn’t still watching her as she walked up the next aisle.  Although he’d just come from that direction, it was no surprise to see him coming toward her up the row.

“Oh boy,” she thought, “Just keep walking.”

“Hello again.”  He seemed so cheerful!  She wondered what kind of toothpaste he used to make his teeth that white.  With him standing in the center of the aisle as he was, she had to slow down to maneuver around him.

“Hi,” Eliza hoped he wouldn’t look down into her cart.  Of course he did, and his smile got even broader.  Then, he looked full into her face and cocked his head in a quizzical manner.  Not wanting to know or waiting to hear what might come next, she kept going, but still felt his piercing stare.

“Hey!  Hey, wait!  I know you!”  Now he rushed to catch up with her.  Great!

She stopped and looked at him with a doubtful, “Oh?”  Actually, he was looking a little familiar at that point, especially that smile!

“Maybe I should take my clothes off.” His eyebrows arched.

She gasped and her eyes got big.  Now she remembered.

“We never formally met.  My name is David.  David Payton.”  She felt awkward, and there was a pause.  “I bet you have a name too!”  He seemed to be enjoying her unease.

“Eliza,” she said simply, but her smile returned.

“Woman of few words, huh?  Well, Eliza, can I interest you in a cup of coffee or tea, maybe a soda?  Lunch?  I promise to stay dressed.”  This time only one eyebrow went up and he had a mischievous grin on his face.

“I’m sorry, but I need to get home after I leave here.”  As embarrassed as she was the first time she’d seen him, she began pushing her cart faster.

“Wait a second, I was just kidding.  I didn’t mean to offend you.”

“No, it’s okay.  I’m not offended.”  She felt odd, like she was having an intimate conversation with a stranger.  Only, somehow he didn’t really seem like a stranger. 

“Okay, good, so would it be all right if I call you sometimes?  I mean, that’s if you aren’t married or otherwise engaged, would you give me your phone number?  All jokes aside, I’m a pretty nice guy.”  She hesitated, still a little off guard.  He figured if she was spoken for, she would have just come out and made it clear right then, plus, there was no wedding ring on her finger, so he plunged on. “I’ll tell you what.  How about I give you my number and you can call me?  I’m not a psycho or anything, but I can appreciate that an attractive lady like yourself has to be careful how she gives out her info.”  He searched his wallet for a piece of paper.  “Do you have a pen?”

“He would ask,” she thought to herself, then aloud to him, “Let me look.”  But even having to dig around in her cluttered purse was better than looking in his face now that she knew who he was.  She took his number.

“Are you going to call?  Promise you’ll call.”  He certainly was persistent.  She smiled, rolled her eyes slightly upward, then nodded her head.  “Today, okay?