Neon…How they met.

“What do you think that means,” he asked the woman next to him.

“Beast me,” she said, looking at the neon sign.

“Maybe it means you can’t be asleep or you’ll never find love.”

“Maybe,” she said.  “But I don’t think so.  People should stop looking for something that might not exist.  Lust might be real, but no one knows what love is, besides a word in the dictionary.”

“You’re a cynic?”

“No.  Just not a romantic.

“Ah.  That’s actually refreshing.  I don’t like the romantic thing either.”

“It’s kind of a waste of time and it never seems real.  I’d rather go to a bookstore, have a cup of coffee, and talk about whatever we’re both reading.”

“Me too.”

“Life’s short.  Some of my friends friends like to be swept off their feet, but that’s just not me.”

“My name is Eddy.”

“Pam.”

“Nice to meet you.”

“Same here,” she said.

“So you don’t know what the sign means?”

“Could mean we should open our eyes because love is all around us, or in front of us.”

“I suppose.”

“So many signs don’t make any sense.”

“It’s starting to rain.  Do you want to continue our conversation in the bookstore across the street?  They have great coffee.”

“Sure why not,” she said.  “What are you reading?”

 

 

Photo:  Samuel Regan-Asante
Unsplash

How they met…

“Wow, you really like urban fantasy,” he said, looking at the books in her arms.

“Are you staring at my titles?” she asked, shocked.

“Oh, sorry.  Is that a political faux pax?”

“Books are personal,” she said, clutching them tighter.

“We’re in a bookstore.  People who read, kind of like to know what other people like to read as well.  You can look at my titles, if you like.  I don’t mind.”

“No thanks,” she said, turning round.

“Most of my titles are the same as yours.”

“I’m not supposed to talk to strangers.”

He burst out laughing.  “Did you mom tell you that?”

“No, the cop I’m married to said it.  Look.  What’s your deal?”

“Uh,” he said.  “We’re standing in line and I looked at your books.  That’s the entire deal.”

“Okay, then.,” she said.  “Let’s just see who can be quiet the longest, shall we?”

He chucked.  “What grade do you teach?”

“The one above whatever grade you’re in,” she said.

“I’m not doing well, am I?” he asked, miserably.

“Look, Sweetie, I told your sister I would help you learn how to talk to girls, but I can see that we need to start with the basics.”

“I’d like to look at his titles,” said the good looking guy behind him.

Brian grinned, and turned around.  “Thanks Sally,” he said.  “But I can handle this part by myself.”

“You sure?”

He nodded.  “Not a problem.”

She put her arms around him and whispered into his hear.  “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“You were so sweet, offering to help me, I didn’t want to hurt your feelings.”

She looked at the guy behind him.  “What’s your name?”

“Dave.”

“Dave what?”

“Dave Turner.”

“You hurt him and I’ll rip your throat out.  Your entire throat.   Got it?  Now hold still so I can take your picture.”

“Sally, you’re embarrassing me,” said Brian, obviously horrified.

“It’s okay,” said David, looking into the camera.  “She’s just watching out for you.”

“Okay, go get some coffee.  Give me your books.  I’ll buy them and drop them off at your place.”

“Thanks,” he said, piling his books on top of hers.”

“That was nice of you,” said the next man in line.

“Whatever.”

“I like the way you threatened to rip his throat out.”

“Well, I try to be a good guardian.”

“I think you would do it.”

“If there was any doubt, I must be losing my touch.”

She head him snicker, as she walked up to the check-out desk.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How they met…

“That’s true,” she said.  “The best slaves are the ones who don’t realize they’re slaves.”

“Definitely,” he agreed.

“Why did you come on this tour?”

“Seemed interesting, and I like graffiti.  Why are you here?”

“Same reasons, I guess.  Are you an artist?”

He laughed.  “I wish.”

She nodded.  “You should try it.  It’s a way to get your message out.”

“Have you done it?”

“The streets belong to the people.  Advertising isn’t against the law because it’s about money.  Street art is about freedom, so it’s a crime.”

“Advertising is ugly and visually intrusive,” he said.

“It is.”

“Uh,  it seems the tour has moved on without us,” he said, looking around.

“That’s okay.  This statement is important.  I like spending time with it.”

“Do you want to try and catch up with them?” he asked.  “I think I can still hear them talking.”

“No,” she said.  “I’m going back up.”

“Well, it was nice meeting you,” he said.  “Maybe we’ll see each other on another tour sometime.”

“Maybe, she said.  “You better hurry, or you won’t find them.”

He smiled and took off at a run.

She watched him go, grabbed the can of spray paint out of her bag, and added her tag to the wall.

 

 

 

Photo:  Kenneth Carpina
Pexels

 

How they met…

“You’re really pretty,” she said.

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“My mom said that sometimes life is harder for pretty people.”

“Maybe it is, sometimes,” he agreed.

“She said people can love you for your looks and not for who you are.”

“I suppose that’s true.”

“My mom is really pretty too, and I’m not just saying that because she’s my mom.”

“I believe you,” he said smiling.

“What’s your name?”

“Todd.  What’s yours?”

Her shoulders drooped.  “Do I have to tell you?”

“No.  Of course not,” he said, quickly.   “But, realistically, how bad can it be?”

“Pretty bad.  Especially when you’re almost seven.”

“Maybe you should use a nickname.”

“I do.  It’s Kat.”

“That’s nice.  I like it.”

“My real name is Revenge,” she sighed, loudly

“Seriously?”

She nodded.  “My mom said that way, no one will ever bother me because they’ll be terrified that I’ll go after them if they do anything I don’t like.  She’s right, you know.  A boy in school took my jumprope but he gave it back when I stared at him and seemed to grow in size, like a Halloween cat.  He dropped it and ran away.”

“Understandable,” he said, smiling.

“My mom said females have to set boundaries right away, so that’s what I did.  Is it hard being as pretty as you are?”

“No.  Not at all,” he laughed. “But you’ll know all about that when you get a little older.  You’re beautiful already”

“No,” she said, tilting her head to one side.  “I think I’m about average.”

“You’re far from average.  Believe me.  I know about these things.”

“Well, thank you.”

“You’re welcome.”

“Are you a good person?” she asked, looking into his eyes.

He thought for a moment and said, “I think so.  At least I try to be.”

She nodded.  “It’s not always easy to be a good person, especially when no one can tell you what a good person is.”

“THAT is so true,” he said.  “We really don’t know what being a good person means.”

“Do you like cats?”

“Yes.  I have a cat named Blondie.  She’s pitch black.”

“I have a kitten named Meepers.  She’s named after a hamster my mom had when she was a kid.”

“That’s a good name for a kitten,” he said.

“Are you going to be a movie star?”

“Never crossed my mind,” he said, chuckling.  “Not even for a minute.”

“I bet you’d be a great one and you wouldn’t even have to do anything.  You could just sit there and people would love you, because you’re so pretty.”

“Well, it’s good to know what type of people you’re interested in.  When you grow up, you can look for someone who looks like me.”

“I think all the girls will want someone who looks like you, and that would be too much stress for me.  I mean Britney likes William, but all the girls, except for me that is, like William, and she’s always afraid he’ll like some one else.  He has a lot of choices, you see.”

“Why don’t you like him?”

She shrugged.  “I think he’s mean and he’s not cute, even a little.”  She made a gagging face.  “Know what I’m saying?”

He smiled.  “I do, and I think you are going to have a great life.”

“Do you have a great life?”

He leaned against the brick wall and took a drag off his cigarette.  “Sometimes.”

“Are you in love with someone?”

He took another moment, then said,   “No.  I’m not.  But, if you want to see a beautiful person be real quiet and turn around.  Look at her.  Beauty, confidence and strength, all rolled up into one person.”

She turned around and stared.  Then she waved.  “Hi mom,” she shouted.

The woman changed directions and started walking toward them.

“Revenge, darling, who is this man?”

“His name is Todd and I really like him.  He’s nice and even though he’s pretty, he’s not  at all conceited.  He has a cat named Blondie.  She’s pitch black.”

“Of course she is,” she said.  “My name is Lacy.  I see you’ve already met my daughter.”

“I have.  She’s very intelligent and has a great attitude.”

“She’s also an excellent judge of character, even though I tell her every single day, not to talk to strangers.”

“He’s not strange at all, Mom.  “He nice.”

He looked down and tried not to laugh.

“Did she invite you to dinner?”

“I didn’t have time,” said Revenge, looking at him.  “Sorry.  I forgot my manners.”

He bent down.  “You have nothing to be sorry for.  You don’t even know me,” he said.  “Don’t ever invite a stranger into your home.  It’s far too dangerous.”

“It’s just dinner,” said Lacy.  “It’s not a big deal.  Besides I have a gun, and I know how to use it.  So, if you’re not on your way somewhere,  we’re having vegetarian chili mac and salad.”

“And ice cream,” said Revenge.

“And Ice cream,” said Lacy.

He smiled.  “I’d love to join you for dinner.  Thank you.”

“It’s this way,” said Lacy, letting him take the bags from her hands.  “You’re really pretty,” she chuckled.

“So are you,” he whispered.

“I’m just average,” she said, watching Revenge do a cartwheel.

“Not even close,” he muttered.

“We’ll have cookies too,” said Revenge, skipping up to them.

He turned to Lacy.  “What kind of cookies?”

“Chocolate chip and Oreo’s, what else?”

“Perfect,” he said.

 

 

 

Picture:  Austin Wade
Unsplash

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

How they met…

“Can I help you?” he asked.

She held up a thin flattened yellow cardboard box.  “I hope so.  I want lightbulbs.  Regular lightbulbs, not weird ones, just old fashioned bulbs, like these,” she said, shoving the box toward him.

“I know exactly what you mean.  I don’t like those white, glaring things either.”

“Brutal.  They make everything looks horrible and cold.”

“Okay,” he said, leading her to another aisle.  “They should be right here,
he muttered, bending down, moving boxes around.  “What watt?”

“One hundred, soft white, please.”

“Ah, there are two boxes, with four bulbs each,” he said, standing up and handing them to her.

“Thank you very much.  You’ve been wonderful.  Can I talk to your boss, or fill out an employee thank you card or something?”

“Oh, I don’t work here,” he said.

“Excuse me?”

“You just looked like you needed help, that’s all.”

“Seriously?”

“Yes.  I just stopped in to get cat food.”

“I’m sooooo sorry,” she said, looking at the floor.  “Really.  I just thought…”

“Not a problem.”

“What’s your cat’s name?”

“Lynn,” he said.

“Why didn’t you just tell me you didn’t work here?”

“You needed help, I knew where the bulbs were, because I just bought some the other day, and,” he said, “I though maybe we could get coffee sometime.”

“There’s a coffee bar in the front of the store.  My treat,” she said.  “Think of it as apology brew, as well as a nice meeting you cup.”

“I can do that,” he said.

“Tell me about your cat,” she said as they started walking toward the aroma of ground beans..

 

How they met…

“Okay,” she snapped, turning around. “What’s your deal?  Why are you following me?”

“You could hear me?” he asked, surprised.

“Did you think you were quiet?  And Halloween isn’t until October, Mr. Half Undressed, Hooded Cloak Man.”

“Why aren’t you running away?”

She put her foot forward.  “Four in heels.  I don’t think I’d get very far, and if I kicked my shoes off, I’d be out three hundred dollars.”

“You paid three hundred dollars for those shoes?  They’re a few straps and a heel.”

She looked at her foot.  “Yes, but they’re PRETTY.  Now.  What are you supposed to be?”

“It’s more like what I am.”

“Okay, I’ll bite, what are you?”

“That’s pretty funny,” he chuckled.  “You’ll bite.”

“So happy you’re amused.  Now, before I stun gun and pepper spray you, just tell me what you are, and get it over with, my feet are killing me.”

“Fine,” he said.  “I’m a vampire.”

“Sure you are,” she sighed.  “Look, if you don’t want to tell me then don’t, but I’m going to go home.  It’s been a long day.”

“No, I really am a vampire,” he said quickly.  “I’m an undead.”

“Show me your fangs.”

“Uh, can you give me a minute?”

“Why?” she asked. “Can’t you just fang out?”

“Well, yes, usually.  But you’re not acting like normal prey and that’s stressing me out.”

“So, what you’re saying is that you’re a dysfunctional vampire and it’s MY fault.”

“NO!  That’s not what I’m saying at all!”

“Well, I haven’t got all night, so maybe I’ll see you some other time,” she said, turning to go.”

He was standing in front of her, smiling.

“Cute.  Now get out of my way.”

“Did you see what I just did?”

“Yes.  You’re fast, I’ll give you that.”

He showed her his fangs.

“How did you get your dentist to do that.”

He rolled his eyes.  “Look at me.  I AM A VAMPIRE.”

“You’re kind of cute,” she muttered, checking him out.

“Oh my god,” he said, putting his hands over his face.

She had the wooden stake pressing against his chest before he knew it.

“I,” she said, “am a vampire hunter.”

“Are you going to kill me,” he asked, grinning at her.

“I’m thinking about it.”

“It would be a close fight.  I know how strong you are.  But just so you know…I’m stronger,” he said, brushing her bangs to the side, with his fingertips.  “I can think of other things we could do that would be…a lot more fun.”

“You mean get donuts?”

He laughed out loud.  “Not exactly what I hand in mind, but sure, why not donuts.”

“I’ve never let anyone go before,” she whispered, touching his lips.

“Neither have I .”

“Too bad we didn’t meet before you changed,” she said.

“I’m not that different from the person I used to be.  I have a cat and a plant.”

She leaned against him and felt his fangs rub against her neck.  He felt the tip of her stake pierce the skin on his chest.

“What are we doing?” she mumbled.

“I think we’re falling in love.”

“That’s…not possible.”

“I don’t think it matters whether or not it’s possible.  It’s happening anyway.” he said, nibbling on her shoulder.

“We’re supposed to be enemies.”

“I know,” he sighed.  “But rules are meant to be broken, aren’t they?”

“That’s a good point,” she said, listening for a heart beat that wasn’t there and never would be.

“Can I walk you home?”

“Sure,” she said.

“Can I hold your hand?” he asked, softly.

She didn’t answer, she just slipped her hand into his and smiled.

 

 

 

 

Photo:  Sammy Williams
Unsplash

 

How they met..

“Um, did you just kill that guy?”

“You mean the guy on the ground?” he asked, putting his sword away.

“Yes.  That one.”

“Looks like it,” he said, kicking the body with the toe of his boot.  “He’s not moving.”

“He doesn’t have a head.”

“That might be part of his problem,” he snickered.

“Are you going to kill me too?”

“Do you want me to?”

“No, but I know what you look like.”

“How about now?” he laughed.

“You have a different face,” she gasped.  “How did you do that?”

“I’m not from around here.”

“What did that guy do that was so bad?” she asked, looking at the body that was shriveling up in front of her.  “Why is he, you know, getting smaller and starting to disappear?”

“He’s not from around here either.”

“Where are you from?”

He stared at her for a minute.  “It’s complicated,” he sighed.  “Things like this are so much easier if no one sees it happen.”

“Are you a bounty hunter, or just a hit person?”

“Wow, politically correct.”

“I try,” she said, smiling.  “You look like one of our cops all geared up in their riot outfits to face people holding flowers.  I hope that’s not an insult, since I’m sure your gear is a lot…different.”

“I’m not insulted,” he said, suddenly wearing jeans and a ratty Aerosmith t-shirt.  “But yes, my gear is a lot…different.  I’m a lot different.”

“Do you like pizza?” she asked.

“Doesn’t everyone?”

“Probably not, but who cares.”

He nodded.  “Are you asking me out?”

“I think so,” she said.

“I just killed someone in front of you.  You should be afraid.”

“You’re not the scariest thing I’ve ever seen.”

“What have you seen?”

“Not important,” she said.

“If I go with you, are you going to want to know all about me?”

“Of course.”

He ran his hands through his shaggy blond hair.  “I figured.”

“Can you tell me anything?”

“I can tell you everything.  Who would believe you if you told anyone?”

“Good point,” she said, taking his hand.

“Now that that’s settled,” he said.  “Let’s go.  I’m starving.”

 

How they met…

“Where are we?” she asked.

“Nowhere,” he said.

“Every place is somewhere, there is no place that’s nowhere.”

“That makes sense, but it’s not true,” he said.

“How can we be nowhere?  If we keep walking, we’ll have come from somewhere to some place else.”

“Not necessarily.”

“You mean we’re walking on a möbius strip?”

“Life is a möbius strip, it just seems as if it isn’t because time is added to the equation.”

“That’s insane,” she laughed.

“Still, it’s true.”

“People say nowhere, so they don’t have to answer questions.  If someone asks where you were, you can say you were nowhere but you actually were somewhere.”

“If you say so.”

“Well, thanks for the chat.,” she said, happily.  “I really like coming to the Philosophers Coffee Shop and talking to one of you.”

“That’s what we’re here for,” he said, grinning.

“See you tomorrow?” she asked.

“I’ll be here.  Think of a new topic if you like.”

“I will.  Have a nice day.”

“You too.  By the way, what’s your name?”

“Plato.  What’s yours?”

“Oracle.”

“Tomorrow then?”

She nodded, picked up her bag and left.

 

How the met…Neon

“Excuse me,” she said, dropping her keys on the bar.

“What can I get for you?” he asked, leaning toward her.

“Why do you love people?”

“Love people?”

“The sign,” she said, pointing.

“Oh, that’s just the name of the bar.”

“So you don’t love people?”

“No.  Do you?”

“A couple,” she smirked.  “But on the whole, no.  In fact, I can’t stand some of them.”

“Why not?”

“Oh please,” she said, making a face at him.  “It would be easier to tell you the two or three things I do like about humans.”

“Whiskey sour?”

“How’d you know?”

He shrugged, and placed the drink in front of her.  “I just know things like that.”

“So, it’s a gift?”

“More like practice makes perfect,” he laughed.  “And the owner of this place doesn’t love anyone at all.   However, he does love money and money comes along with people, so he hearts them.”

She nodded.  “That makes more sense.”

“Yeah.  I think so too.”

“My name is Kate, but you can call me Katie.”

“I’m Austin and before you ask, I was named after a street where my mom grew up.  Believe me, that was the best of the lot.”

“I think Austin is a nice name.”

“Thanks,” he said.  “Who, or what, are you named after?”

“I’m not named after anyone, or anything, that I know of.”

He nodded, and put a bowl of peanuts on the bar.

“Yum,” she said, grabbing a few.  “What do you want to be when you grow up?”

“You mean I have to grow up!” he said, feigning shock.

“Well, you don’t have to.”

“Oh good.  You had me scared for a minute.  What do you want to be?”

“Free I guess.  But that can be a hard, so instead I’m a…”

“Let me guess,” he said, staring at her.  “You’re the new Janis Joplin.”

She burst into giggles.

“Okay, so, how about an animal doctor?”

“You mean a vet?”

“Yes.”

“I’d be constantly crying and miserable.”

“You’re not a teacher, or a dancer, or…..”

“I’m a writer.”

“Wow.  I never would have guessed that.  What do you write?”

“Books,” she grinned.

“Are they any good?  Have I read any of them.”

“Sometimes and probably not.”

“I read Harry Potter.  All of them.”

She looked away, so he wouldn’t see her smile.  “Good for you.  How did you like them?”

“They were great,” he said.  So were the movies, but they changed a lot of things they shouldn’t have.”

“I agree,” she said, picking up her keys.  “Well, it was nice chatting with you.  Maybe I’ll see you again sometime.”

“Here,” he said, handing her a scrap of paper.  “It’s my number.  Call me.”

She took the bit of paper and smiled.  “I think I will.”

And with that, she was gone.

 

Photo:  Nathan Dumlao
Unsplash

 

 

How they met…

“Can I go with you?” she asked.

“Go with me…where?” he said, smiling at her.

“Wherever you’re going.  I’m ready and I’m tired of being bored.”

“Oh, the sign,” he snickered.  “Yeah, it’s a good one, isn’t it?”

“Can we leave now?”

“Uh,” he grunted.

“Don’t tell me the sign is a lie,” she sighed.

“Okay, I won’t.  But are you ready to walk away from the life you currently have?”

“I am.  Are you?”

“Maybe,” he said, thoughtfully.”

“Are you bored with what you’re doing?”

“A lot of the time,” he admitted.

“Do you want to take a chance?”

He looked at her and thought about the fact that he might as well do things while he was young, before it was to late to do something that might be really stupid.  He held up his hand, then turned and said.  “Hey Tom, I quit.  Sorry for the short notice but I’m going somewhere with a perfect stranger and I promise you…I won’t be bored.”

She smiled and held out her hand.  “Let’s go to the airport and buy tickets to wherever the first plane that’s taking off is going.”

“What about packing?” he said, jumping over the counter.

“Boring.”

He nodded.  “What’s your name?”

“Lee, what’s yours?”

“Jimmy.”

“Ready for an adventure, Jimmy?” she asked, her eyes bright.

“As I’ll ever be,” he said.

And together, they walked into their future.

 

 

Photo:  Logan Weaver
Unsplash