The Dating Chronicles – The Decision

The Dating Chronicles

The Decision

            Jan did not want to go to the party because it was not her kind of party.  But she had no choice.  Her best friend, Kim made a big deal out of everything, and Jan had been going along for the ride since the age of nine.

            Now Kim was getting married to a doctor from a wealthy family in Louisiana, and this engagement party was only the beginning of the hoopla.  As she stood in the mirror gazing at her reflection, she sighed hopelessly.  It seemed she was always peeking through the window of Kim’s life with her nose pressed hard against the glass, in silent envy of what she saw. 

            Kim was beautiful.  She was not.   Kim was popular.  Jan had no other friends.  Men flirted with Kim constantly.  Jan could not recall ever turning a man’s head.  As she brushed her long hair, which she always wore in a tight bun behind her head, she strategized in her head how she would make an appearance at the party only by arriving late and leaving early. 

           She looked around her bedroom at the various dresses that lay crumpled from being tried on.  She could not find one that would transform her from a “plain duck” as her dad once called her to a beautiful swan, worthy to be at Kim’s side at this special time.

            Suddenly, Jan broke into tears at the prospect of another evening wrought with hopeful anticipation that ends in despair.  She wondered if it was in the stars for her to ever find love.

            Her thoughts were suddenly interrupted by a knock at the door.  She dried her tears and ran to open it.  She knew it was Kim impatiently wanting to show off her dress.  She flung the door open wide as she put on her best happy face.  She was startled, but only for a moment.  It was not Kim.  It was Kim’s brother Todd.

            Todd was shocked.  He had never seen Jan with her hair down.  He was so stunned, he couldn’t speak.  He had come like he always did to seek Jan’s counsel about a problem at work.  He called her his “brain-trust.” He told her often how he could always count on her to give him sound advice.  But now he was disoriented by the way she looked.  For the first time, since he’d known her, she looked like a real woman standing there in her bare slip.

            “What’s up, Todd?”  she asked without looking at him.  She was embarrassed as she ran to her bedroom and reached for one of the dresses nearest her. 

            “I was expecting your sister.”  She was so nervous, she was stammering.  She had been in love with Todd for years and he saw her only as a little sister.

            Now, Todd was fumbling over his words.  All of a sudden, he didn’t want to talk about his problem. 

            “Uh…I came here to tell you something.  But I uh forgot what it was.”  He was staring as if he’d never seen her before. 

            “I didn’t know your hair was that long, and as long as I’ve known you, I’ve never seen you without your glasses.  Is that the dress you’re wearing tonight?  I hope so.  You really look good in it.”

            Jan turned to look at him.  She was shocked.  He had never paid her a compliment before. The butterflies that usually jumped around in her stomach when he came around were now having a field day.  His stare made her feel warm and soft inside.  She stared back at him as if drawn magnetically by an invisible beam that held her bound.  No words passed as they stood there in bondage to each other’s thoughts. 

             For the first time, Todd saw the love in her eyes.

             He broke the silence.  “I didn’t realize you were so pretty.” 

              She swallowed hard as she broke the stare.  “Neither did I.” 

               He smiled.  “Can I have the first dance tonight?” 

               “You can have all the dances tonight after giving me that beautiful compliment,” she replied.   Todd reached for the door but lingered.   He couldn’t take his eyes off her.

              “There’s more to come if you continue to look like that.” 

When the door closed behind him, Jan pinched herself as she began to anticipate the party after all.  She decided to wear the dress he liked.