The Lovely Chocolate Mob - By Richard J. Bennett Page 0,15

of town, far enough away from our old neighborhoods, so that the chances of our being seen together were lessened. Of course we didn’t say that to each other; we just said we’d meet at this certain restaurant because it was a nice place for two adults to be dining like civilized and classy people with money to spend.

I quickly put the cooking meal in the refrigerator. I showered and shaved and powdered and put on some nice clothes in the 45 minutes that I had before I was to meet Helen, clothes for the restaurant, not for Helen. I even put on some better cologne for the restaurant, and clipped my fingernails as well, and used the emory board on them. My teeth were flossed and I had a mint piece of gum in my mouth, chewing it slowly so nobody would notice. I didn’t want to look too lowbrow in a highbrow place. Good thing the restaurant didn’t require a tie since I don’t like wearing ties when I eat. I put on a colorful Hawaiian short-sleeved shirt, complete with flowers and palm trees, with a pocket for my pen. The black pants were better than average, and they were comfortable, still fairly new, and weren’t faded. They were a step up from blue jeans, but not formal suit pants. I was wearing black shoes, not hard shoes, but soft leather and soft soles, because I’d found that softer shoes were good for my back and didn’t make me tired from walking. I could walk all day in those shoes, and I polished them for the restaurant as well.

I drove fast and furious through downtown Lovely, up to the north side where the restaurant was located. Good thing there wasn’t much traffic in the evening. Maybe I should have taken the loop around town.

I arrived and stood out in front of the eating establishment and had butterflies in my stomach. Why should this be bothering me? Helen’s a married and respectable woman, now. She probably just wants to see an old “friend.” Yeah, friend. A friend who used to cover her face with kisses, a friend who bought her flowers and took her to movies and out to the burger shack whenever he could. I guess with all that effort, she thought I had earned her kisses. And why did I wind up paying for all our dates, seeing how she was on a paid scholarship, and had money from her summer job? Her clothes alone could have bought and sold my future; why did I fall for a dame like that? Maybe that’s what “friends” are for; what the heck was I doing here?

I heard a powerful engine in the distance and looked to my right, focusing down the street. A red convertible, top up, came down the avenue, getting closer to the restaurant. I knew it was Helen; she’d always had a thing for red cars and sporty convertibles. How like her to combine the two-in-one.

She drove up and found a spot near the front door, where I was standing. I walked over to the front of the convertible, and saw the driver’s side door open. Two beautiful legs popped out; nope, she didn’t get fat.

I got near in time to meet her as she stood out of the low car. She saw me, paused for a moment, long enough to recognize me, and smiled, her teeth shiny white. My gosh, she was still beautiful! I hoped I hadn’t changed too much; I felt conscious of my thin hair. She still had a head full of beautiful long and wavy hair, and it was still dark, with no grey, not in the least, not even with white streaks that I thought I might see. White streaks in her hair on a fat body? No, no way.

She walked toward me and hugged me around the neck; it was a long hug. Maybe she had missed me? I hugged her back. I wanted to keep hugging and then start with the kissing, but since she was married that wouldn’t be the thing to do. We pulled apart, with me somewhat still holding her; I looked into her eyes. She smiled, her teeth were perfect, her face perfect. Nothing had changed, except there were a few lines around the eyes, but that’s easily overlooked. After all, she wasn’t a teen-ager anymore, and hadn’t been for quite a while.

“Randall, it’s so good to see you.” Well, those were good words