It was a rainy Friday evening in the big city and architect Violet Murphy stood on the city bus, sandwiched between a damp jogger caught out by the rain and a very loud businesswoman on the phone. /This sucks./ Violet didn’t like going out on Fridays. She preferred to do what she called “beaching” – planting herself on her couch like a beached whale till Monday morning. Unfortunately, she was dispossessing of the capabilities which enabled one to say “no” to situations one would rather not be a part of. So there she was, on her way to a dinner date with a co-worker.
Todd Landgrave was nice. He worked in accounting and looked like it too. He ate a Caesar salad for lunch every day and drank two Americanos. He made Violet’s acquaintance by making a pitiful joke about her “Herbie Fully Loaded” laptop sticker. Looking back on it, Violet regretted sparing him a chuckle for it seemed to encourage him in his effort to win her affection.
People-pleasing aside, Violet was compelled to accept Todd’s invitation for the simple and austere reason that she hadn’t been on a date in quite some time. Violet had been letting love find her instead of her finding it but since it seemed lost in its course, she decided to say yes to the benign and inoffensive Todd from accounting to stay any danger of dying alone. As she texted her friend her live location through the gap between the businesswoman’s elbow and handbag, the bus lurched forward as it braked, initiating the commuters to domino. Violet swam her way out of the crowd and spotted the neon sign of Fratelli’s Italian restaurant across from the bus stop. She took a deep breath and crossed the road. /It’s only one date. What’s the worst that could happen?/
x
“How’s your bolognese?”
Violet momentarily left her reverie behind to answer the billionth inane question of the night.
“It’s good. How’s your...tofu burger?”
“Mm. It’s fine. Not as good as the one I usually get.”
“Well, this is an Italian restaurant.”
“Any restaurant worth their salt should have a good tofu burger in their repertoire, it’s the healthiest option. Next time I’ll take you to the organic café I usually go to.”
Violet choked on her pasta. “Next time?”
“Mmhmm,” he replied through a mouthful of inadequate salad. “On our next date.”
Violet stared at him. She couldn’t tell if he was joking but considering his last attempt at humour, she considered it unlikely.
“Uh..so..s-I’m sorry, our next date?”
“Yeah, silly, our next date. That’s usually how dating goes, you know?” he chuckled at her inexperience. She stared at his lack of awareness.
“I was thinking we should probably wait until the third date to get intimate but considering how well tonight is going we can skip ahead if you want.” He took her hand brazenly.
“Uh..um..I don’t..I don’t know,” she stammered out.
Todd’s face dropped. His hand remained on hers.
“Why not? Don’t you like me?” His tone was desperate and pleading.
“No no, I do, I do.” Even as she was saying it Violet felt her conscience facepalm. /What am I doing??/
Todd’s face lit up. “And you wanna go on another date, right?”
/SAY NO!/ “Mmhmm,” she nodded. /Idiot./
Todd smiled. “Great.” He squeezed her hand.
x
“Honey? Have you seen my blue gel pen?”
“Isn’t it on your desk?”
“No, silly, or I wouldn’t’ve asked you.”
Todd Landgrave planted a kiss on his girlfriend’s head as he walked past her in search of his pen. He was still nice. He still ate a Caesar salad for lunch everyday but reduced his two daily Americanos to one. It was a humid Friday evening and home-maker Violet Murphy got up from her spot in their couch to help her boyfriend. She walked straight up to his desk and found his blue gel pen underneath a wad of papers.
“Oh my dear. What would I do without you?” he said fondly as she handed him the pen. “You should start getting ready, by the way, we don’t wanna miss our reservation.”
/Leave me alone./ “Okay,” she said. It was their anniversary and Todd was taking her out to dinner. She put on a blue midi dress which was a gift from Todd. /I hate this dress./ They drove out in Todd’s Toyota Camry that smelled of sweat. /I hate this car./ Violet’s eyebrows raised in surprise as she spotted the neon sign of Fratelli’s Italian restaurant.
“I thought you hated this place,” she asked.
“Yeah but this is where we had our first date. This is a special anniversary.” He smiled knowingly at her. Violet didn’t know what was special about a third anniversary but she’d long ceased any attempts at understanding most things.
After they had eaten their tofu burgers, they were waiting for champagne to arrive when Todd took Violet’s hands in his.
“Violet. This has been the best three years of my life. I’m sure it’s the same for you.”
/I want to die./ Violet smiled.
“And I want to feel this way for the rest of my life.” Todd let go of her hands. She watched helplessly as he knelt on the ground and pulled out a ring.
“Violet Murphy. Will you marry me?”
/NO NO NO NO NO NO-/
“Mmhmm.” She still smiled.
He joyfully slipped the ring onto her finger and kissed her. The other patrons clapped while the champagne arrived. Violet clinked her glass with Todd’s and downed her drink. /At least I won’t die alone./
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