PANDORA

Yes, it was his first date, with the wild and mysterious girl hed just met, but it was also going to be his birthday at midnight.

He pulled out his little black book that he kept all of his most important names, phone numbers and data in. He didnt trust mobile phones anymore, there were so many lost phone numbers,images,photographs and videos over the years.With mobile phone brakeages and losses,computer and laptop break downs and data corruption.

Nope thats why everything important goes in my little black book now, yes that was the smart way, he thought to himself. He flicked through the pages and searched for her phone number. He had a romantic evening planned for tonight, a candle light dinner followed by some dancing and then a cruise on the boat. The Ammara was clean, the champagne was on ice, everything was set up and it was going to be perfect.

Dinner reservations were at 7.00pm dancing at 8.30pm and the boat by 9.30pm. Now all he had to do was get his car washed and get ready.

"knock knock,its your beautiful grandma, happy birthday,"she cried as she hugged and kissed him. "I got you a present". "Nan its not my birthday until tomorrow," he laughed, as he smiled at her. "Oh well, better early than late," she said and handed him a small envolope."Its a ticket in the draw at the club for tonight $20,000". "its drawn tonight at 10pm, but whatever you do, dont lose the ticket, you will need it to claim the prize if you win."Its ticket number 17 your favourite number, I thought it might be lucky for you", she gushed.

"Thanks Nan, ill put it straight into my little black book, with all my other important stuff, he grabbed out the ticketand very carefully slid it into the black sleeve of the cover." There you go Nan, safe and sound". he said as he hugged her.

The day went quickly, before he knew it, it was time to get ready for his date. He washed and style his hair,showered,deodorised,cologned,pulled on his best pair of jeans, a nice new shirt and his new leather jacket, it was beautiful soft italian leather and well worth the small fortune he had paid for it. He grabbed his phone,car keys, wallet and last but not least his little black book, he tucked it away carefully into the inside pocket of his jackey and he was ready.

It was 6.35pm resorvations were at 7pm just enough time to stop for flowers and chocolates on the way and hed still be 10 mins early, this was going to be an unforgettable evening. As he pulled into the packed carpark at 6.48pm he thought that he was glad he had booked them a table. This place was really busy tonight, he made his way to the front desk.

He was asked for the name of his resorvation." A table for two?"the waitier enquired with a strange look. The table was booked for 7pm, she hasnt arrived yet,"he said trying to sound casual about it. "Perhaps a drink at the bar first then sir?", " Um yes, yes that would be wonderful".

"I can direct her to the bar when she arrives" the waiter replied. "Thank you", he said as he passed the waiter a large tip. "Right this way sir," said the waiter and led me to the bar.

As he ordered a drink checked the time, it was 6.55pm already, so he took a deep sip of his drink and waited. It was 7.25pm now and he was on his third drink.The flowers looked droppy and the chocolates felt like they were melting when the waiter came his way with a message from Pandora.

Pandora even her name was sounded beautiful and mysterious. Pandora was stuck at her bosses birthday knock off drinks and she couldnt leave just yet, she was sorry and she would be there A.S.A.P.

He thanked the waiter and tipped him again for the message. He ordered another Johhny Walker Blue Lable he sipped it slowly, he didnt want to be drunk before she arrived. his stomach was making loud hungry noises, he realised he hadnt eaten today and he was starving.

he reached into his jacket to vhrck his phone it was 7.35pm, great his phone only had 22% battery left he had forgotten to charge it, he figured it would last to around 9.30-10pm before it went flat, hopefully Pandora would be here by then he thought.

Then suddenly, like out of some old movie, she appeared in the crowded resturant. Pandora, she was breath taking and the entire room noticed her beauty, she had dark hair and caramel skin, a flawless complexion she was tall and graceful in her high heels and black lace cocktail dress with her full pink lips and sapphire eyes that sparkeled in the light.

The waiter.whom was also obviously captivated by her beauty, was leading her towards the bar where he sat. "Hi", she said "Im so sorry Im so late, my boss refused to let me leave, until I had three drinks with them. "Thats ok Im glad your here now," he grinned, Are you hungry? Im starving I skipped lunch and breakfast too". Pandora laughed. "Me too," she smiled."Ok Ill get the waiter to get us our table".

After talking to the waiter, who said that the place was fully booked out tonight and another table wouldnt be available for at least another hour. It was already 8.00pm if he was going to make it to the boat on time they might have to skip dinner.

He went back to the bar where Pandoras beauty was captivating everyone around her, she now had two new drinks that some admirers at the bar had sent her. Damn, he thought he shouldnt have left her alone so long while he was talking to the waiter, who could blame them really, she looked like a princess from some olden day fairytale.

"Can I get you another drink?" he asked,"our table wont be ready for awhile now". " Yes please and thank you kind sir", she replied with a smile and they sipped thier drinks and chatted about thier days. By 8.45pm he realized he was feeling pretty drunk, his vision and balance wasnt so good either, oh no this wasnt what he had planned at all.

The next thing he knew it was morning, he was waking up alone in his own bed. How had he gotten home? Where was Pandora? What had happend at the resturant last night? his head was pounding, he had drank way too many drinks last night and his memory was pretty much non exsistant.

He searched the room for some kind of clue as to what had happend. First he'd check his phone. Where was his phone? Oh, he thought, its in his leather jacket, wait where was his leather jacket? Thats ok he would get out his litle black book call Pandora and find out exactly what happend last night. Crap, his little black book was in his inside pocket of his new leather jacket. Ok maybe his wallet would have a receipt or something in it that would help him. What no wallet either. What had happend last nigh? he had just finished the thought when his door burst open.

"Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you," it was Nan with a birthday cake and a party blower "happy birthday to you,"she gushed. Guess who's lucky number was called out at the club last night? "You won the $20,000 I told you 17 would be lucky." "I What?' he stammered.

You won the draw at the club last night, all you need to do is, take in your lucky ticket down to the club and the $20,000 prize money is all yours. "Oh...", he replied. "Whats wrong?, I thought you would be over the moon, so whats with the long face?"

So he told her the whole story or at least what he could remember of the story, which was he had woken up at home alone with, no moblie phone, no wallet, no new leather jacket, no little black book, no lucky winning ticket and worst of all no way to find the beautiful and mysterious Pandora. "Wow, that doesnt sound like a very good start to your birthday honey". "No it doesnt, does it Nan". "Have you called the resturant to see if you left anything there yet?" "Good plan Nan"he said, as he grabbed a shirt pulled it on,he kissed her cheek. "Thanks heaps Nan got to run", he said as he dashed out the door.

He ran to the resturant which was less than 1km from his house so he was there in no time. The waiter from last night was there, "Hi", the waiter laughed" I assume you have come to collect your wallet?" "My wallet?" the waiter laughed" Yes, you were a little bit intoxicated last night sir, when you left Without your wallet I put it aside for you, I knew you would be back". "You did?" "Thank you so much, its my birthday today." "Happy birthday sir", he smiled and handed over the wallet, which was still heavy with money he gave him a large tip, thanked him again and ran home.

He had a shower got dressed, he wondered what had happend to Pandora and his new leather jacket with all his treasures inside it. Looks like this was going to be a terrible birthday no moblie phone, no new lether jacket, no little black book, no lucky winning ticket and no Pandora.

There was a knock at the door, he opened it and there like someone from a dream stood Pandora. "hi Pandora", he stammered. " good morning" she said she was holding his new leather jacket. "I had a really nice time last night, you were are great dancer by the way", she smiled "I thought id return your jacket, phone and your little black book this morning before we go for breakfast I know how important it is to you. "We are still going for breakfast at the club and then for a sail in the boat for your birthday arent we?". "Of course we are", he said "I was just getting ready". Pandora smiled at him "Ok good, ill wait out the front til youre ready then".

He had no idea what had happend last night, but he looked inside his jacket pockets and there was his mobile phone which was flat, he reached inside his jacket pocket there was his little black book and tucked away safely in its cover was his lucky ticket worth $20,000, wow he had no idea what had happend last night, but perhaps this was going to be the best birthday he had ever had. They arrived at the club he signed them both in and collected his $20,000 check looked over at Pandora and smiled this was best birthday ever.