Something Kinda Special

"I think he stood me up."

It was supposed to be our second date. Proud of myself for arriving five minutes early, I did a once through of the front of the restaurant and the bar area. Thirty five minutes later, I was still lurking around waiting for him.

"Really?" my girlfriend whispered back, "I thought you had a good first date."

"We did."

"Well call him."

"I texted him. He didn't answer."

"Call him."

"Ok." I hung up with my girlfriend and dialed his number. I got his voicemail and left a message.  Four minutes later, I had a text. 'I'm here.'

I looked up.  No you're not, I thought. I went back in the restaurant. Nothing. I texted, 'I don't see you. I'll be in Barnes and Noble.'

I perused the books with one eye on the front of the restaurant. Out he came with a sheepish grin, "What are you doing?"

"Wha?" We giggled about poor communication and phone service. He led me into the restaurant - way into the restaurant - to a table in the back in a shadow (ok, the shadow part is creative license).

We sat down and a woman at the table next to ours was so relieved. She leaned over and said, "Oh, honey, I'm so glad you showed up.  He has been waiting for you forever. And he is such a nice young man." I'm pretty sure the teenagers she was with were cringing, but I appreciated her assessment.

That night he had me laughing until I cried. I knew he, like Mary J. Blige, was something kinda special.

I just wish we could tell that nice lady how it all turned out.