The Day the Line Stood Still

The Day the Line Stood Still

Suzanne Marsh

I hate waiting in line! There is nothing worse than having to stand and wait while some old lady goes through every coupon she has to find the one she is looking for. The cashier keeps looking to see how many more people are in her lane, she wants to go on break. The little old lady, keeps digging:

“I know that coupon is here somewhere” she mutters to herself. You find yourself glancing at your watch, looking around to see if there are any other lanes opening, ha fat chance. Patience is not one of your better virtues, you find yourself tapping your foot, it gets louder the longer you wait.

You pickup a copy of the Enquirer, you can almost hear your dad's voice he used to call those the coo-coo papers. You could never understand why up until now. One headline has Nostradamus predicting higher prices for gasoline. You think; 'what does Nostradamus know he wasn't even around when gasoline and oil began production. Next, you pick up another coo coo paper; this time it is the Globe. Nothing there. The line is getting longer by the moment. You hear the voice directly behind you:

“Find anything interesting?” It is a deep male voice. Do you turn around and glare at him or do you give him a smart ass answer. You opt for the second one:

“No, these things are ridiculous but it beats standing here talking to you.”

You hear a snicker behind you. Do you dare turn around, you can feel your face turning a scarlet red. This is not going to help matters, since the old lady is still rummaging around her purse, and once again going through coupons. The male voice speaks:

“hey lady put down the damn paper, you are not the only one bored and waiting, you know.”

Oh, that did it, you feel a slow burn, without turning around, or face now beet red:

“YES, I KNOW I AM NOT THE ONLY ONE STUCK IN THIS LINE WAITING. TELL THAT

TO THE WOMAN WITH A BAZILLION COUPONS!!”

He chortles, you turn to face the voice. He is a tall, blond man, with a wonderful smile, and dimples. I find myself smiling, suddenly the long wait is beginning to improve. The line isn't moving any faster but at least he seems semi interesting. You turn around completely. He stumbles over his words:

“where have you been all my life?'

“That is one of the oldest pickup lines there is, I am sure you can do better than that.”

We begin talking for a change I am at a complete loss for words.

“I know that pickup line is the oldest but it got you to turn around didn't it?”

“Yes, now what?”

“By way of introduction my name is Jake Amberly and yours pretty lady?”

I feel ridiculous, my foot still tapping I reply:

“Nancy Dawson, what do you do for a living Jake Amberly?”

“I am a techie, a cyber technologist to be exact what do you do for a living Nancy?”

This is moving quicker than the damn line.

“Me? I am a writer, an author of two books and working on the third. In fact I need to

be home, I left my cell phone in my office. I am expecting a call from my editor,

Miss Cantankerous herself.”

He chortles again:

“Miss Cantankerous? Come on now, that can't be her real name.”

“She does Miss Crabtree but she is the most cantankerous woman I have ever met.”

I am beginning to feel at ease.

“If I miss her call it will take her another three weeks to get back to me. She has done

this to every client she handles. Other authors try to avoid her but she lands the best

publishing contracts, so if I want a good contract I am stuck with her.

I can tell now that he is beginning to communicate with like a rational person.

“Nancy, what type of computer do you use? I know that sounds like a crazy

question but it isn't really. I would like to get to know you better, and I can

soup up your computer if you would like.”

Wait a minute here, you think to yourself, where is this conversation going? Is he asking you out or to come over to your apartment. For crying out loud you don't know this guy from Adam. He seems sincere enough; but it this day and age you can't trust anyone. Well might as well see to what lengths he is willing to go.

“Just for your information I have a Dell laptop. I have had it for the past five years.”

“Nancy, Nancy, Nancy, I can rebuild your computer to become a Super Computer.

It will be much faster than your Dell. It would be my pleasure to do that for such

a beautiful lady.”

I reluctantly think how nice it would be if my fingers and the keys coordinated for a change. I wondered just how fast the rebuilt computer would work. He could tell I was being swayed. The coupon lady was still rummaging around in her coupons, I sighed, at least this guy was friendly.

Now I was absolutely convinced that I would miss the phone call but I was intrigued with Jake Amberly. I wanted to know more:

“Jake, how old are you? Where do you work?”

He laughed as he replied:

“I am twenty eight and I work for Cyber Technologies here in Fredericksburg. How old are

you Nancy if you don't mind?”

“I am old enough to know better actually I am twenty two. I also work for a local newspaper.

It is my first job even though I really have written two books.”

He smiles a genuine smile this time. His straight white teeth glisten, his blue eyes bold as he replies:

“all right then Nancy Dawson, how about a real date?”

I giggle:

“seven o'clock, here is my address and cell phone number.”

Finally, the line begins to move, the coupon lady has left the building. I have a date tonight...all is well in my world.