sweet stranger (go back »)

So I've been reading this book called Women Who Run with Wolves: Myths and Stories of the Wild Woman Archetype Clarissa Pinkola Estes. There is a chapter or section called Skeleton Woman that I am very intrested in because it tottally speaks to my current situation with this beautiful man I met back in September. It was a Friday. I  was off work that day and decided to take a friends daughter to the zoo. The day was long and hot and after lugging  a 3 year old around all day I was ready for some R&R. So I decided to treat myself to my favorite West Indian dish, Brown stew chicken from Jamaica Jamaica at the Underground in Atlanta. I actually ended up being persuaded into trying the Eskovitch Chicken by the waiter (he knows I only get one thing; creature of habit). So anyway, it was a bad idea because though it tasted great, it included these really REALLY hot peppers, one of which I bit into and nearly started a fire in my mouth. They brought me water, bread butter and of all things sugar to put the flames out.  Oh, and with my meal I had this wonderful fruit punch that the waiter kept bringing me more and more of. So I was in the restaurant for much longer than I normally would have been. Ok, so I finish and lazily make my way out of the Underground to the bus and don't even realize just how tired I am. I get on the elevator and press every button because the fatigue of the day gives me temporary amnesia and can not remember what floor to exit at.  Finally I reach the right floor and start walking when this short man in a tan baseball cap (no emblem) jeans, a t-shirt and some sandals that remind me of Morocco (not that I have been there, yet) approaches me. He is holding some type of small notebook and telling someone, on the other end of his blackberry, in a rather disappointed tone how there are just a bunch of kids at the Underground. My head is down until he asks me if I know of anywhere that he can find a more mature crowd. I interpret that as "where can I find some grown and sexy people close to my age." I have just the place in mind and since my bus just pulled off I offer to walk him to the M Bar. He, being this polite little wonder of a man, asks repeatedly if I am being taken out of my way. He seems harmless (and cute) and I assure him that because I just missed my bus its no big deal. I am happy to extend some southern hospitality to this kind stranger.  He walks really fast. I am already think and pregnant so I tell him he has got to slow down. He swift pace probably has something to do with his nervousness seeing as how Im just so "captivating" (his words, not mine).  We arrive at the M Bar and to my surprise its closed!!! I feel silly but, its dowtown Atlanta, all he has to do is walk up the congested river called Peachtree Street and he's bound to run into a grown and sexy crowd. I tell him this but he keeps asking me what Im doing tonight. Im tired, Im going home to shower and read a magazine. He can not believe it, will not allow it and asks me to join him. Like I said, he seems harmless, there is something so sweet and I really dont want to be alone tonight so I oblige. We walk all the way to D'jangos (Ive been on my feet all day so I cant even believe I made it as tired as I was). He tells me to pick the spot where I want to sit. I choose upstairs. I sit down and he asks if he can sit next to me as opposed to across from me ( I always look at couples who do that and smile, its a small but romantic gesture) I'm all for it and so we begin. Im not hungry and neither is he so I ask for a glass of wine (hey, I know what you are thinking but Im only human). He insists on a bottle and I refuse but I dont want to tell him the truth about my baby just yet. Its very early in the pregnancy and I am still not happy about my current circumstance. The waiter eggs him on and finally a bottle of Chardonnay is brought to the table. We talk about work, travel, what we done for fun, you know ice breaker talk. Im tipsy after not one but a few glasses of wine and the time comes for us to leave. He asks me if I will join him for the night, he too does not want to be alone and insists that we could just watch t.v. At this point Im all for it, this man is smart, sweet and the vibe is great (especially when you add wine to the equation)..................

In Amor