Escape from The Lousy Date

Posted by admin on January 12, 2008

Sharon was so excited. This evening, she would be going out with Jim. That suave, confident guy from the Audit Department.

She was all ready in her latest black dress. Not too slinky, but with its nice spaghetti straps and a slight V-shape to show a little cleavage; she felt nice and sophisticated.

Jim picked her up in his car, and he started talking about his latest project while driving. She felt so flattered that he was already opening up to her so quickly. She was making all the right noises, nodding her head and even laughing at some funny incident over at the Engineering Department.

He seemed so excited by his job. Such a committed executive. He was going to make it to Manager soon, he confided. He told her about how his role was so critical to the Audit Department. He was, according to him, the most valuable employee there. He was always the one selected to deal with the big-shot Auditors from HQ, showing them around.

Well, by the time the appetizers arrived, Sharon knew more about the Audit Department than she did about the division she worked with more the past 3 years! Her smile was starting to freeze on her face and she suspected that she was about to get cramps, on the cheeks.

She was trying to comment on some item on menu when he cut her off and proceeded to tell her how they had that exact same dish at the gala dinner for all the finance big wigs. Before the entrée arrived, she was already pale and feeling faint.

Sharon suspected that the discomfort was originating from her ears, going through her brain and affecting her stomach. She excused herself to the ladies and when she came back, she was positively trembling. Jim did not seem to notice. He was so relieved that she was back, because he was just about to get to the punch line of his latest exploit at the annual general meeting.

Just then, Sharon gave a loud moan, retched and almost lost it all on the dinner table. As the surrounding guests stared in horror, she apologised and told Jim that it must have been the combination of the appetizer and the drinks.

Sympathetic, Jim volunteered to drive her home, but she insisted that he stay to finish the excellent meal he had ordered and to put her into a taxi instead. Jim demurred and as he flagged a cab, he told her how nice it was talking to her and how he wanted to see her again, when she felt better, of course.

Sharon got home safely and hid behind her locked door and her caller ID, and never saw Jim again.