Mating Call

Here’s what I saw tonight.  Not exactly the usual bar scene – this was at an Urth Cafe in Santa Monica, and it wasn’t even 8 PM – but the basic dynamic was in full force.  He at one table, she at another, and there was a serious flirtation going on.  Every now and then he would desert his table mate and hover briefly in her vicinity, though he never said a word to her.  And no matter what her dinner companions were saying, her eyes were invariably fixed upon him, even when he sat with his back to her, feigning nonchalance.

Buddy and Jacqueline: he a tousle-haired, pug-nosed guy, aged 4, and she a willowy 2 year-old wearing a bright pink jersey that said “Princess.”  As Buddy’s mom (the table mate) explained to me, Jacqueline had given Buddy a big smile when he first came in, and ever since, they’d been carrying on this nonverbal dance.  Now it was time to go, and Buddy finally took the initiative, striding up to Jacqueline, who was kneeling on her chair.  “What’s your number?” he demanded.

Jacqueline just stared at him, gobsmacked.  Buddy repeated the question, louder (at least he didn’t say, “Yo, fox, give up your digits!”).  Her parents and his mom looked on with great expectations, and in the ensuing silence I realized it was doubtful that Jacqueline yet knew how to count.  But then the adults jumped in to help, and employing a blue crayon and a piece of orange construction paper, Buddy left Urth with a good shot at a first date.

So if you're looking to get lucky when you're out on the town, apparently one thing that works is to bring your mom along and pack a box of Crayolas.

[An LRC True Romance Tale from August 2005]

Comments

[binnie]

Cute meet (VERY)!

[Phillip]

Pack a crayola for sure. I'm not so sure about bringing along your mother. I'm just sayin'...

[Martin]

I wonder if 10 year old Buddy and 8 year old Jacqueline are now living happily ever after.

[mernitman]

Binnie: Kind of amazed I happened upon it...

Phillip: Well, yeah - after a certain age, it's Moms Optional. But the Crayolas, on the other hand...

Martin: Right. Certainly hope he hasn't run off with a 6 year-old.