The Perfect Date

My eyes popped open 30 seconds before the alarm sounded, beep beep, beep. It was 6:30 a.m. time to go to get ready for work. I showered and dressed in 45 minutes. I threw on a navy blue pant suite, white shirt, with black kitten heels. I'm 5'10 so I can get away with not wearing high heels. My make-up was very minimum black mascara with a very light pink lip gloss, and a smokey eye. I threw my hair up in a sloppy pony tail; before feeding my cat Jasper, and heading out for work. I was a bank teller at First National Bank of Philadelphia. It was the largest bank in Pennsylvania. I just became head teller last Friday, my co-workers were throwing me a little celebration when he walked in the front glass doors of the bank looking polished and dreamy. He stood in line and I went over to greet him.

"Good afternoon Mr. Johnson." I purred. He turned to look at me then smiled. His smile was intoxicating.

"Good afternoon Ms. Adams," he said. Oh he knew my name I thought.

"Can I be of any assistance to you this afternoon?" I asked. "You don't have to stand in this long line, what can I help you with?" I asked while motioning him in the direction of my new desk. He then got out of line, followed me to my desk and sat in one of the new blue cushioned chairs. My name sat prominently on the desk, all new shiny and gold. I smiled at it before turning to meet his beautiful Hazel eyes. Oh, did I forget to mention he has Hazel eyes? Well, he does. "How can I help you this afternoon?" I asked while smiling.

"Do you treat all of your customers like this?" I looked over at the line with the people wandering in and out of the black stanchion posts. Obviously not I thought.

"Just the best customers," I whispered careful not to offend anyone within ear shot. He smiled.

"Please call me Jason," he suggested while pulling a wad of money out of his inside left pocket and lying it on the desk. It said $5,000.00 on the money band. I looked up at him curiously, he smiled. I then pulled open my desk drawer and held up two deposits slips.

"Will that be checking or savings Mr. I mean Jason?" I giggled, he reached for my left hand which was holding the savings deposit slip and slowly removed the slip from my hand making sure to touch it in the process. I took a deep breath through my nose, and when I did I could smell his cologne. MY GOODNESS THIS MAN SMELLED AMAZING! I thought. Once he had finished filling out the slip he then handed it back to me along with the money. I then took it to the cashier station, deposited the money then printed his receipt. While depositing the money in his savings account I saw he had $356,000 in his savings, and $86,500 in his checking. What the the heck did this man do for a living I thought. I returned to him smiling then handed him his receipt.

"Is there anything else I can do for you this afternoon?" I asked.

"Actually, yes there is; you can accompany me to dinner next Saturday," he replied. "I'm in commercial real estate, my partners and I have to go to California for a week." I was quiet, my mouth was probably hanging open because one of the tellers was making close your mouth gestures with her hand. "Is that a yes?" he asked after I didn't respond.

"Oh, I'm so sorry yes I would love to," I replied while nodding awkwardly.

"Great its a date," he said happily. I'll pick you up at 6 p.m. next Saturday," he replied quickly as he got up and walked toward the large glass doors.

"Don't you need my address?" I asked quickly. He stopped mid walk, then turned and walked toward me. He then leaned forward to whisper in my ear.

"I know all about a person before I ask them out." He replied, he then recited my address zip code and all. He placed a light kiss on my right cheek, and then he was gone.

I was so excited that I couldn't sleep. I laid there thinking the man that I had been admiring for the past three months had finally asked me out. I hope the weather was good on Saturday, it is May in Philadelphia so you can never be sure. I peered over at the clock, the blue numbers read 3:02 a.m. My mind was racing, what should I wear ? what do I do with my hair? should I ask him where we are going? No, I want it to be a surprise, but what if I wear heels and I should be wearing sneakers? And what if I wear sneakers and I should be wearing heels? Just go to sleep a little voice in my head whispered, just go to sleep. I closed my eyes, but all I could see was him, with his caramel colored skin, curly hair and straight white teeth. Ok, Charlie get yourself together I though. Go to sleep, I laid there staring at the ceiling and eventually fell asleep.

Saturday "The Date"

I bounced out of bed as if I was late for a marathon I showered threw on a puma sweat suit, sneakers and was off to the hair salon. I arrived before Shawn my hairstylist or her assistant Michelle arrived.

"Really Charlie really you're like 20 minutes early." said Michelle.

I know, I just have a big date tonight, and I want to look good."

"Well dang what time is the date, noon?" We both laughed. She washed, then conditioned my hair. I was almost dry when my stylist Shawn showed up. I saw her red Benz truck pull up in front of the salon. I was bouncing up and down in my chair. "Yo, cut it out Charlie you are driving me crazy." Michelle stated irritably. I stopped instantly, well I did little bounces instead. After an hour I was looking amazing, Shawn pin curled my hair then I left for the nail salon. I picked a light lavender color for both my toes and hands. The color popped on my beautiful brown skin. I went home and starred in my walk-in closet for what seemed like an eternity. I called my sister Sheena on face time.

"Hey sis, I need help I haven't been out on a date in like 6 months, I don't know what to wear."

Sheena sighed, "You act like men have changed they are still visual creatures. Wear the black DKNY dress, with the zebra patterned ya-ya belt and accessories. Also, the red leather Yes Saint Laurent clutch you know the one I bought for you for your birthday. The one that that you NEVER use." She emphasized the word never. "That is your pop of color, and that dress shows everythang you got in a classy way. And yes I mean everythaaang. " We both laughed, our mother hated improper English, it drove her crazy. We talked while I did my make-up and took the pins out of my hair. My hair fell to my shoulders, my curls were just right. I looked like a million bucks if I do say so myself. I stepped back so my sister could see. "You look very beautiful." she said while looking like a proud momma.

"What if he he shows up in sweats pants and sneakers?" I asked.

"Is he 12?" was my sisters response in an annoyed tone.

"No," I responded while rolling my eyes.

"Then he better come like a gentleman in a suite or at least slacks and a button up shirt." I never told her about his bank account; that would be unethical anyway. So, the fact that she expected all of this without knowing that, made me feel as if I didn't know my worth. "If he's late, even by five minutes open the door show him what he missed out on then close it. If he blows the horn, don't answer at all. If he comes with sweats, jeans, shorts or any type of material that my screams polyester or denim don't go. Get a glass of Merlot and find something on Netflix to watch. If he doesn't open the car door don't get in, and if he passes all of these test and you have a great dinner with all of the ambiance that you deserve. If he doesn't pay for you both AND leave at least a 25 percent tip, there is no second date. Understood? I took a deep breath, my sister use to be a waitress at a five-star restaurant; one of her biggest pet peeves is a cheap person. Her service was always immaculate; and she expected compensation for it.

"Understood," I stated nervously. The doorbell rang. I looked at the clock it read 5:59 p.m.; no 6 p.m. sharp. He wasn't late.

"Lets go see what we are working with this evening," my sister said while raising her eyebrows. I went down stairs peeped through the peep hole and saw tulips in every color, my favorite flower. I looked at the phone. "What?" she asked alarmed.

"All I see are tulips, lots and lots of tulips in every color." She smiled. I opened the door and a familiar voice came from behind the tulips.

"Good evening Ms. Adams I hope all is well. These are for you, your favorite right?" I looked down and saw black hard bottomed shoes and blank pants. I turned the phone to show my sister, she put two thumbs up as if to say yes, yes.

"Can you come in and put them down on the kitchen counter?"

"Of course, " was his response. He moved them slightly to the left so he could see where he was going. As he passed by I saw he had on a suit jacket. I showed my sister, she was silently clapping. After placing the tulips down on the kitchen counter he turned to face me, and to my surprise he had on a light lavender tie. "I match your nails," he said while smiling.

"You most certainly do!" yelled my sister from the phone. We all laughed. "Have fun," Shenna yelled while blowing me kisses.

I grabbed my shawl and we were off, Jason opened the door to the house, the truck, and restaurant. Check, check and check. We were seated on the rooftop overlooking center city as it was all lit up, it was beautiful. We talked and laughed for hours. We talked about our childhood, siblings, likes, dislikes, movies, food, wine, favorite vacation spots, dreams, and aspirations. I have never in my life felt this comfortable on a first date. This man has given me my dream date.

"Would you like another glass of Merlot?" he asked.

I most certainly would," I replied as I pushed my lass over for a refill. The restaurant was closing so we had to leave. I peeked at the bill it was two-hundred and seventy dollars. He left a seventy dollar tip. He had a driver so I was able to lay my head on his shoulder, as I was being driven home, I fell asleep. When we arrived he woke me up with a kiss a top of my head and a slight shake. I raised my head slightly to meet his eyes, he bent down to kiss me. Just as his lips were about to reach mine beep, beep, beep. I was awakened from my sleep by the alarm clock. I looked at the bottle of Merlot sitting on my nightstand. Well I thought, if I have dreams like that I'm subscribing to Bright Cellars for a monthly wine subscription.

The End