dating
All about dating. First dates, three years into a relationship, Tinder, and more.
Bambola Merlot
My name is Merlot Chen. Yeah, I know. What parent names their kid Merlot?! Apparently, my Chinese father and French mother, that’s who. All my life, I wished I had a middle name that I could have used instead, but no, I’m just Merlot Chen. I would even take the nickname my dad calls me: “Little Blackbird” over my real name. I have midnight black hair and dark brown eyes, so it makes sense. Do you know how difficult it is to date with a name like Merlot? Speed dating with name tags are the worst! I can thank my best friend, Mina Whitmore for that experience. She begged that I go with her and the famous pick up line is still burned into my memory. . .
By Theresa Riley6 years ago in Humans
One Thing in Common
----- [Her:] ----- I hate first dates. I hated them before the quarantine, and they sure can’t be better now. You never know if you’ll have anything to talk about together. My friends say it’s easy: “Just find one thing in common, then go from there.” Easy for them, maybe. And maybe easy in real life at a restaurant or a coffee shop. But half a continent away, in two little boxes on a computer screen? This is no way for dating. Not that I dated much before.
By Gary D. Cannon6 years ago in Humans
THE DATE
She admired the scenery, the soothing evening breeze stroking her hair and relaxing her muscles. No wonder they call it L'île de la paix (Island of Peace) She is excited and nervous, being her first. She has heard from frnds countless stories about bad dates, things to do and things not to do on a first date.
By Julius Topohozin6 years ago in Humans
All Jumbled Up Inside
I can’t believe I’m showing up without a date. I shuffle past the parade of international nannies. Their fluttering accents tickle the air as they wrangle four year olds dressed like middle-aged Eddie Bauer mannequins. Next, I pass the runners. First, the actual runners listening to curated “pump it up” playlists and avoiding eye contact as they zip by, followed by the runners who don’t run at all. These are the gals that wear yoga pants and sip high calorie frappuccinos while sharing this week’s dating mishaps. Rushing past the Lululemon clad crew and under the stone bridge, I wish I had more time to eavesdrop on the menial, but highly entertaining, exchanges. Rounding the bend, I pass the grassy knoll, my favorite spot in Central Park. This is where young lovers on blankets soak each other in. Hailing from small towns in Michigan or Vermont, chasing their destinies of singing on Broadway or being the next big stand up comedian, this is their first big city love.
By Megan Rose6 years ago in Humans
Dream Date gone Rogue
Yukiko, dazzling, smart, successful. We had been friends since art school. She had eschewed the career in films, that I so ardently pursued, for a position at Mizuho Bank in London’s financial district. Rapidly promoted, she was soon ‘playing hardball with the big boys’ as she liked to put it, her expression reminiscent of a cute but stealthy Ninja.
By Sandra Chas Hines6 years ago in Humans
Magical Merlot
The lift doors part, the bar bright and bustling. The busier the better. “Table for Cleo,” I say. The pony-tailed receptionist, no jacket, no tie, no standards post-Corona, taps his tablet and instructs me to follow him. Past the bar and a family of five, two kids colouring, the teen scrolling on her phone, a few years since the parents were on their first date. Longer still for the old couple two tables along, more interested in their menus than each other.
By Mark Glover6 years ago in Humans
Waiting for Two Glasses of Merlot
The belt buckle was having its way with him and the man didn't like it one bit. Cursing, he fumbled with it for the umpteenth time before finally managing to secure it in place. Well, I guess that doesn't look so bad, the man thought to himself as his eyes lingered on the silver accessory. The tailor had assured him it was the newest style and that it would compliment his ensemble very well but it had been a long time since the man had purchased new clothing, let alone one belt worth more than all his others combined. For a moment he gawked at just how much he had spend on said ensemble but then the man remembered why he had spent so much on the first tailored outfit he had purchased in thirty years. He recalled the awkward meet-cute at the grocery store and the way that Vivian's hair had been so perfectly done up in an air tight bun. The man began tying his tie and thought of her regal walk, the way she commanded attention, and of the delicate yet fierce way she had of speaking. Chuckling softly as he quickly got the better of his tie, the man recalled fondly how she had asked him to grab the corn starch for her. “Always on the top shelf”, she had said as though rehearsing a practiced line, “how am I supposed to reach it up there?” He chuckled as he thought of how he had nearly dropped the box upon passing it to her. Vivian's eyes had shone with the most wonderful glow just then, a look that had filled the dullness of life ever since. The spark they showed at that moment re-kindled an energy in him that he was desperate to latch onto. And so, bumbling his way about, he had proceeded in asking her to tea. When she agreed without hesitation he was beside himself with a new found excitement and of course a new set of clothing was in order for such an occasion. At least I still know how to tie a tie, he thought snarkily as he glared down at his belt and then smiled with self satisfaction.
By Kyle Greifenhagen6 years ago in Humans
Me, Merlot, and a girl named Rosealee
The glowing stars were brilliant in all their glory on that warm June night, only second to my perfect bottle of Merlot and my date, a girl named Rosealee. My Merlot, a perfect choice, as I used a carefully designed algorithm to perfectly match the wine in a harmonic cadence of my sensual taste. The night would not have been wasted sitting under the stars drinking the Merlot with the perfect company, Rosealee. However, star gazing was not on the agenda for the night.
By Jeff Crise, Amanda M.G. Busch, Josh Crise6 years ago in Humans
The Recital
She was definitely nervous. She had never done something like this before. She thought “is this too weird for a first date?”, especially with all the effort she had put into it. It was not really something you heard of people doing on a first date. However, with this pandemic and lockdowns, it forced more conversation through texts and video chats.
By The Bastard Jack6 years ago in Humans
