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} My dear pretty-pleased supplicant.
}
} She entered the hallway from the back pantry. Nobody seemed to notice
} her but me. There were too many people chatting, too many clinks of
} ice in the glasses, too many young ladies and gentlemen laughing just a
} bit too loud at each others jokes.
}
} She looked over her shoulder as if to see if anyone was watching. She
} didn't seem to notice that I was looking straight at her. That's
} actually the story of my life. I always seem to be invisible,
} especially to the opposite sex. But I digress.
}
} She took a pen from the telephone table. I remember that it was one of
} those stylish pens that looked like a plume, but was really a modern
} ball-point pen with a plume decoration. "What is that piece of kitch
} doing in John's house?", I thought to myself. "He's certainly wealthy
} enough to afford something classier".
}
} She wrote something brief on a piece of note paper that took from a
} stack by the telephone. Then she folded the paper in half and put it
} into the skirt pocket of the business suit she was wearing, and entered
} the parlour where the main party was going on. Glancing around the
} room, she crossed directly to me without looking at me at all. When
} she arrived just in front of me, she glanced briefly to the left and
} right and then looked right up into my eyes. I was thoroughly
} entranced. Her eyes were large and round and inviting.
}
} She allowed herself a small smile. "You don't remember me, do you?",
} she said softly.
}
} "No, I'm sorry", I blurted out nervously. "Idiot!", I thought to
} myself, "Very smooth! 'No, I'm sorry' - d'oh! Certainly you can come
} up with a better line than that".
}
} "We met in this very room. It was a few years ago. I looked different
} then. I've had an epiphany. Newly reincarnated, you might say."
}
} "I must say that I approve", I flirted, and thought, "Now that's a
} little better. I just needed to get warmed up. She caught me off
} guard at first. Seems to be what she intended. What next?"
}
} "You made a pass at me, that night. I was rude. I wanted to
} apologize."
}
} "I, uh, don't know what to say. Apology accepted, I guess. Forget it.
} Can I get you a drink?"
}
} "No, I'm sorry, I have to leave in a few moments.", she answered. I
} wiped away a fake tear and sniffled. Then she leaned over close to me
} and lifted her lips to my ear. "I saw you watching me when I came in
} through the pantry", she whispered, "Read this later when you're
} alone". She took the note she had written and put it gently and slowly
} into my shirt pocket. Then, allowing her lips to brush ever so slightly
} against the edge of my ear, she turned and walked toward the front door
} quickly without looking back.
}
} After watching her go, and recovering my composure, I made my way as
} quickly as I could to the washroom, saying a quick "Hi, how are you" to
} some acquaintences on the way, being careful not to get involved in
} some long-winded conversation.
}
} I closed and locked the door. I gave myself an encouraging look in the
} mirror and took a deep breath and let it out. I closed my eyes and
} withdrew the note. I opened my eyes and read the note.
}
} "ZOT - you're out of your league, baby. And stop posting in HTML by
} mistake - Lisa".
}
} Once again the story of this particular incarnation's life.
}
} As consolation, you owe the Oracle one hot fudge sundae, with, well,
} you know.
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