Brenda begins to see the happenings that go on around her at work and finds that things sure are different for her on the other side of the fence...

 

Runway
By
Arecee

 

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Chapter 13
 
Brenda was sitting at her desk when Tiffany walked through the door the next morning. She had picked up her assignment and was just leaving

“Are you coming by my place again tonight?” Tiffany asked with a sexy smile and a bit of impishness within her voice.

“I don’t think so Tiffany. Mmm, Look, let’s talk, but not here. Let’s use the conference room back here.”

Brenda led Tiffany down the hallway past Melissa’s office to a medium sized room with a round table and plush chairs placed around it. Tiffany shut the door as Brenda seated herself to her right.

‘What we did last night was wonderful… but I don’t think we should do that again. It will destroy our friendship. I can’t… I just can’t… think of you any other way than as my friend! And… I don’t want to lose that.”

“If you change your mind… well… you have my number,” Tiffany glumly replied.

“Tiff, I love you dearly. You’re my best friend! My whole view of things has changed: How people treat me, what I’m expected to do, or how I should appear. Look, if we had not have stopped…,” Brenda said.

“But we did stop!” Tiffany replied.

“Dirk stopped! I wouldn’t have. Tiffany, I’m very vulnerable right now. My feelings are so different from Matt’s I’m having trouble comprehending what I should do. When I was Matt, I’d jump any chick I could - do her and be done. But now, I don’t think that way anymore. My brain feels different. How I think is different. What I am desiring and wanting to do with my life is different. I have a whole different set of feelings now, not to have sex - like I used to, but to be held, loved, and wanted by another man. Having sex is secondary Tiff. It’s proving your love for that person you are with. I lost control of my emotions and grip on the reality of who you are to me and tried to prove my love for you to you, in a wrong way, like last night. I don’t love you like that Tiff. You mean the world to me…but not in that way! I’m like a young teen aged girl who hasn’t experienced life yet, and some of that discovery can be a hard lesson.”

“I thought about us, a lot last night. You’re still really Dirk under all of that makeup. But I’m not Matt anymore. I’ve become Brenda. She is a very insecure woman whom Dirk could take advantage of if he wanted. I thank God Dirk is a good and decent person or our relationship would have changed forever last night! I want to be your best friend Tiffany. Always! Not your lover. Because… [sniff]… if we were to make love… we wouldn’t be… [sniff]… best friends, ever again!”

Tiffany leaned down from behind Brenda, gently hugging her, and rested her head on Brenda’s shoulder. Brenda’s hand sliding up and gently clasping with Tiffany’s spoke what needed to be said between them in those few moments.

Brenda leaned back and looked up at Tiffany smiling back down at her. She saw an understanding in that smile.

Tiffany sat down in the chair next to Brenda and scooted up close to her. “I understand what you’re saying Brenda. I love you, and I do mean it! True, it’s different from what we had been in the past, but I would never do anything to hurt you or jeopardize what we had and still have. I’m starting to see what it is you felt last night with me. It was just like it was with me when I was with Robert last night. The feelings were there, yet, for that brief time, it scared me to death. Dirk would have NEVER felt that way - but Tiffany did!”

Tiffany looked down at her lap.

“I do love you Brenda. That has changed between us… to me at least. But, you’re right. It’s best that we remain as sisters and best friends - not lovers. I love you enough to see that, its… what you want.” Tiffany spoke with a sadness.” But you will keep Dirk up late at night thinking about you,” Tiffany then giggled.

“You’re bad! You know that? Now let’s get out of here,” Brenda smiled as she embraced her friend again.

Brenda’s day ended and she returned home. Annie heard her open the front door to the building downstairs and greeted her friend..

“Hi Brenda. I was worried about you last night. I didn’t hear you come home. Is everything alright?”

“More than alright,” she answered with a dreamy look in her eyes.

Annie had seen that look before on her own face before and knew that Brenda had spent some time with a man.

“I hope he was nice to you.”

“He was wonderful Annie. He was so kind. He’s a very old friend of mine and we decided not to pursue our feelings though. It would destroy what we have.” Brenda answered.

“That was a smart thing to do. I’ve seen more than one friendship destroyed because of a moment of passion. I had a friend who once stood by me through thick and thin and I could talk to him about anything. One rainy day we made love and, after that, it was as though a wall went up between us. We were afraid to talk openly again for fear of angering the other person. The passion we had that one day never returned. I miss that man and would give anything to take back that one moment with him,” Annie wistfully sighed.

“I have to ask you for some advice Annie. I’m going to go to a Knicks game and I need something to wear. What would you wear to a game like that?” Brenda asked.

“Me? I’d wear some old sweats and my running shoes but I’m a fifty year old woman. Now if we are talking about you: tight jeans, a cute top and heels will make your guy want you and not the game,” Annie replied.

“Hmm. I’ll have to find something tomorrow at a shop then.” Brenda pondered.

“I worry about you dear. Are you hungry?”

“A little.”

“Good. Go change and come eat with me.”

Brenda ran upstairs to her apartment and removed her clothes. She found her jogging shirt and shorts, then returned to Annie’s apartment.

Annie wanted to ask Brenda about the man she was with the night before, but knew better. Some things are private and, if Brenda wanted to say anything, she would.

Brenda wanted to tell her friend about the previous evening, but knew she couldn’t. Her feelings on the subject were still confused. The thought of trying to bed your best friend while he was dressed as a woman was something best left unsaid.

The following day found Brenda in a sport shop buying a woman’s tank top with the Knicks logo on it. A nice zip up powder blue sweat top was next. The snazzy looking tight jeans she chose, which accented her hips and curves beautifully, actually made her blush and feel a tingle in her stomach as she was thinking of how it would make Mario constantly stare at her. Mmmm! Perfect! This will impress Mario! she thought.

Friday finally arrived and Brenda was counting the minutes until quitting time. She was going to leave early from work so she would be ready when Mario arrived for their date.

Connie came into work a little after noon with a drawn, haggard look on her face. She really looked bad! If one didn’t know she was a model, you could have never guessed that she was one.

“Is Melissa in?” she groaned.

“No, she had to go to a meeting,” Brenda replied.

“Did she say when she would be back?”

“No. She just said she would be back later on.”

“I’ll wait in her office then. She won’t mind.”

“I don’t know about that, Connie. I think you should wait until she returns.”

“Don’t tell me what to do Brenda!” Connie growled. “I’m the number one model around here and Melissa lets me do as I please.”

“Suit yourself then. I just don’t want to get in trouble.”

“You won’t,” Connie sharply replied as she closed the door to Melissa’s office.

An hour passed and Connie was still inside Melissa’s office. Brenda decided to check on her to make sure she was all right.

Brenda cracked open the door and to peek in and saw Connie bent over Melissa’s desk with several lines of a powdery substance on the desk surface and a tube stuck in her nose. Brenda let go of the door handle and let the door slowly finish opening as she was taking in the scene before her.

“What are you doing?” Brenda gasped.

Connie, half out of her mind, and with redness about her face and eyes glazed like a robot, answered sluggishly,” What does it look like I’m doing?”

“Where did you get that stuff, Connie?”

“It’s mine! Melissa keeps it for me. So… back off. And…. m-m-mmind your own business.”

“This is my business, Connie. Melissa trusts me enough to leave me alone to run things. And now you come here, get loaded, and…why do you do this?”

“I had to have it. Just… had to. So bad.”

“What’s going on in here?” Melissa shouted from behind Brenda. Brenda stood aside as she walked on into her office.

“Brenda, would you mind waiting outside?” Melissa said as rage spilled from her mouth.

“Yes, Melissa.”

Brenda closed the door and paused. As soon as it closed she could hear Melissa screaming at Connie. So, she put her ear against the door to hear what was said.

“You Bitch! Just who the hell do you think you are going into my things like that?”

“But… but… you always give it to me… when I need it,” Connie whimpered drugged out of her mind.

“I give it to you. I DO! So I can keep track of what you owe me! But now I don’t know how much you used. So I’m going to have to take a guess and I don’t think you’re going to like that. I already own you Connie and this just puts you deeper in debt to me. If you can’t pay me off with your modeling assignments, I WILL find another way for you to make that money to pay me and I don’t think you will like it.”

“Please Melissa!” Connie pleaded, “I’ll never do this again!”

“You are so right. YOU WILL NEVER DO THIS AGAIN!! I’m going to teach you a lesson you will never forget! Not in this lifetime! You are going to think twice before ever stealing from me you slut! I want you to go home and take a bath. When you are done, you are going to give yourself an enema and clean yourself out really good. If my client complains about you not being clean, you’re history! Make yourself pretty and wear something sexy. You are going to go out for an evening of FUN! When you bring him, to YOUR home, I want you to invite him in and play! He likes to play a game with his dates: it’s kinky, and it involves sex. In a word, he likes anal sex, and he likes it ROUGH! You’re going to SERVICE HIM. Do I make myself clear?”

“But Melissa, I’ve never done anything… like that before! Can’t I do… something else?”

“NO! No one owes me like you do Connie. I want my money BACK! You’re never going to steal from me again you bitch! Now go home and get ready! If you fail to meet his expectations and he doesn’t pay me, remember… you’re history!”

Brenda moved away from the door and quickly sat back down at her desk. When Connie exited Melissa’s office she was white as a sheet.

“Are you alright Connie?”

“I’m fine,” she said as tears began to flow.

Brenda thought about what she had just overheard, Melissa was one cold bitch. Connie deserved to be punished, but not by making her a prostitute. That wasn’t right. Making her do things she didn’t want to do was an even worse punishment. Brenda wondered how one person could be so cold to another?

Three thirty came and Brenda let Melissa know she was leaving.

“I’m leaving now, Melissa.”

“What’s up? Got a hot date?”

Brenda blushed with that remark, “Yes, kind of.”

“What do you mean kind of? Either you do, or you don’t.”

Brenda didn’t like Melissa intruding into her private life, but after seeing Connie driven to tears she knew she had better be honest.

“I do. I’m going to the Knicks game tonight.”

“They’re fun to watch once in a while, but don’t let your date keep taking you there all the time. If he does, dump him.”

“Melissa, this is just a first date and I don’t even know where it will go.”

Melissa quickly smiled,” Well you have fun Brenda. I’ll see you on Monday.”

“Goodnight.”

Brenda rushed home. She was glad she was able to leave work early because that meant the subway wouldn’t be so crowded. It also meant that she wouldn’t be fondled by gropers.

Mario was due to arrive at five to pick her up, so she had to hurry and dress. Off came the skirt and blouse she had worn to work and on went the tank and jeans. Brenda had a pair of dark brown calf length boots with three inch heels that she knew would look good with her jeans. She placed a minipad inside them to hide her tiny bulge. Brenda then slid her boots on and looked in the mirror. “I look as though I was poured into these jeans,” she thought. “My butt, it’s getting big! I hope it doesn’t look too fat. Nope! I don’t see any bulges. I just know I’m getting fat. I hope Mario isn’t disappointed!”

Brenda was fixated on her butt. It had never looked this good. When she was Matt, girls would tell him that he had a cute butt. It was small but well rounded. It had shape, unlike the other flat butts so many boys had. Now, however, that cute little butt had grown up and was going to turn heads! It wasn’t a J Lo butt, but it was making Brenda feel a little uneasy to look so sexy, and mainly because of her ass.

Brenda did her makeup. Tonight, she used much more shadow at the eyes than she normally did. She made her eyes stand out like jewels.

She had just finished and was putting her things in her purse when the doorbell rang. Brenda’s heart leaped! I hope he likes me!!! she thought. Brenda pushed the door release button and heard the door shut downstairs behind Mario. Her stomach was fluttering as she heard him climb the stairs and finally knock on her door.

“What am I doing dating this man? Dammit!” she wondered, “and why am I so enthralled with him?! God I was a guy myself just seven months ago and now here I am trying to look as sexy as I can to impress another man… SHIT! What am I thinking? I’ll call it off, NOW! I’ll tell him I don’t feel well, and that’s it! I really don’t feel well,” as her stomach churned.

Brenda opened the door and was greeted by a dozen red roses being held by this man, this gorgeous man!

“Hi,” he sheepishly peeked between the rose stems, “These are for you.”

Her first flowers! Her first date! These are things a woman remembers for the rest of her life. The flowers may have been dandelions and the date might have been with the gawkiest boy in her class but it would always be her first! Brenda suddenly wanted to hug the flowers, No! She wanted to hug Mario, heck, she wanted to hug the whole world she felt so special and loved at this very moment.

“Mario! You shouldn’t have. Really…”

“Hey! I’m just trying to say “Hi!” in a meaningful sort of way. Give me a break here,” he kidded.

“Let me put these in some water so they don’t spoil.” Brenda fussed as she placed the bundle of roses one stem at a time into a vase she had filled less than half full of water. “Thank you so much for making me feel special tonight.”

“You are special Brenda! Always! You do look very nice too! Woah! Is that a Knicks top you have on?”

“Yes, I thought as long as we were going to the game I might as well look like a fan.”

“Are you telling me that you aren’t a Knicks fan?”

“Mario, remember, I’m from California, I didn’t even know what the Knicks were until you asked me out,” she giggled.

“Well, you’re a New Yorker now, and all New Yorkers are Knicks fans unless someone conked you on the head and made you like the Nets.”

“The Nets?”

“Yeah, you know the Joyzy Nets.”

“Mario, you’re confusing me, who are the Joyzy Nets?”

“I’m just messing with you. They’re the New Jersey Nets, the team we’re playing against tonight. This is just a pre-season game, so a lot of the players aren’t as good as the regular guys and they’re trying to make the team. The regulars are trying to get in shape for the season so the game won’t be as good as they usually are.”

“I wouldn’t know the difference, since I’ve never been to a game before.”

“It’ll be fun, you’ll like it. Ready?”

Brenda finished arranging the roses.

“Let me get my top in case it gets cold.”

Mario wriggled his eyebrows and said, “I hope it stays warm.”

Mario liked the way Brenda filled out the tank top she was wearing and felt it would be a shame to cover it.

“You’re silly,” she flirted.

Mario escorted Brenda down the stairs to the waiting cab and opened the door for her. He then closed the door and walked around to the other side and slid over until they touched. He told the driver where they wanted to go and then returned his attention to Brenda.

“Were you serious when you told me that you have never been to a basketball game?”

“The only basketball I ever saw was in high school and that was when we had to play it in P.E.”

“That was it? What did you do other than that?”

“I was a surfer. You know, ride the waves, that sort of thing.”

“I’ve never surfed. I wanted to but just never found time.”

“Do they surf around here?”

“I don’t know. I was working in Colombia and watched the guys surfing down there and wished I had time to try but I didn’t.”

“You were working in Colombia? What were you doing there?”

“Driving a truck.”

“No, I mean why were you in Colombia?”

Brenda didn’t like where this was going. Here she was on a date with a man that made her blush at the slightest thing and was now finding out that he had a connection to Colombia. Life wasn’t fair! What if he was the source of the cocaine that Melissa was giving the girls? How would she be able to investigate him, knowing how she felt about Mario? FUCK!

“It all started when I graduated from high school. I didn’t want to go to college and I had worked after school for a couple of years to save up some money. I decide that I wanted to see the world, so I bought a plane ticket to London and that’s where my trip started. I worked a little here and a little there - just enough to live and travel. Traveling in Europe is cheap with a rail pass, so I went from country to country, even sleeping on the train. I didn’t really have enough money for a hotel room. It was June when I arrived in London, and the weather was nice but six months later it was getting cold and I ended up in Italy. I found a job in a restaurant and stayed there for six months until I had saved enough to move on. I had learned how to budget my money by then, so I was able to see a little bit of Africa and then wound up in India.”

“From there I went to Australia and then to South America. I had pretty much run out of money by the time I reached Colombia so that’s why I was driving a truck. I stayed there for almost a year and decided to leave after my truck was hijacked by some rebels. They all had AK-47’s and it scared the shi-, I mean, it scared the heck out of me. I came home after that and started working for UPS and here I am.”

“Wow! That almost sounds like a book. You’ll have to tell me some more about it later,” Brenda said with awe.

“It was nothing. The whole trip was just living in different cultures. It was no big thing.”

To Brenda it was a big thing! She had to find out more about his travels without sounding like the cop she was.

“I’ll bet you had lots of girl friends,” she teased.

What in the hell kind of question was that to ask? What difference did it make if he did have girl friends in different places? This was just a date, a burger and a basketball game - not a marriage proposal! Damn! Why should it bother her if he had a girl friend at one time? So what? Brenda felt dazed and stunned. “I wonder if she was pretty? I wonder if he thinks if I’m as pretty as she was? I hope my butt isn’t getting too fat. Guys don’t like fat girls,” Brenda worried. She felt like hitting her head against the window. Just what in the hell were you thinking of girl? You’re jealous!

“No one special,” he grinned.

The taxi arrived at a small burger stand and tables on the sidewalk. Mario paid the driver and went to open Brenda’s door. He took her hand and helped her out of the cab.

“This place has the best burgers anywhere in the world. The only reason it’s not more popular is that no one has heard about it,” Mario said.

“Well, it smells good - kind of like a burger place,” she responded.

Mario laughed at Brenda’s try for humor. She is a sweet girl and cute too he thought.

“Hey Mario, is dis da girl you been talking about?” asked the cook from behind the counter.

Brenda noticed an alarming resemblance to Mario.

“Yeh, Sal, this is Brenda. Brenda meet my cousin Sal, he owns this dump.”

No wonder they looked the alike, they were family!

Brenda extended her hand and Sal shook it like he was shaking crumbs from a cloth.

“It’s nice to meet you Sal,” she said.

“Likewise Brenda. Now I know why Mario was talking about youse all the time. He has good taste.”

Brenda blushed, not at the compliment, but at the thought that Mario had been talking about her to his family. It just added to that feel of being special she was feeling all day.

“Enough already Sal! I told Brenda that you have the best burgers in the world and we have to get to the Knicks game real soon. Work some of your magic for her.”

“I know just da thing.”

Mario took Brenda’s hand and helped her onto a stool at the counter, since this place was too narrow for tables.

“Sal makes the best burgers, I know he will do something special for you, he likes you.”

“He’s sweet.”

“Hah, don’t tell his wife that, she already knows he’s a creampuff and doesn’t need any encouragement.”

“Tell me more about your trip?” Brenda asked.

“Maybe some other time Brenda, please. Right now, I want to know more about you.”

Brenda noticed that Mario hadn’t let go of her hand and wasn’t about to.

“I was born in Santa Maria, California and lived there until I moved here, now is that excitement or what?”

“There must have been more to it than that?”

“Not really. I just did the normal high school things, you know, hanging out, dances, and dates. You already know that I surf and I did a lot of that. That’s pretty much all there is.”

“You must have left a lot of broken hearted boys behind when you moved here.”

“Nope. There were no boys,” she said wistfully.

What a sneaky way to ask if she had a boy friend back home! God I should hope not! Since “Brenda” had never been to Santa Maria. Geez!

Mario raised an eyebrow.

“Girls?”

Brenda started to giggle,” Mario! Be quiet! I’m not that kind of girl!”

Sal brought the burgers and served them to Mario and his date.

“I hopesa you enjoy za meal.”

Brenda took a small bite and discovered that Mario was indeed right! THIS was ‘the-best-burger’ she had ever tasted!

“Mmm. This is wonderful Sal! The meat is so… scrumptious!”

“It’s my secret ingredient dat gives it da flavor,” he boasted.

“He just takes fresh garlic and presses it in the patty, some secret! I’m only glad we’re both eating the garlic so we won’t notice our breaths later,” Mario said.

“Later?” Brenda asked innocently.

Brenda, you can be so dense sometimes! He’s telling you he wants to kiss you later. And the garlic won’t matter. Don’t be such an idiot! she thought as she blushed.

“Sal’s a really good cook. How long has he had this restaurant location?” she asked.

“Almost four years. He bought it back when he got tired of his old job.”

“His old job, what did he do?”

“He was a hit man for the mob.”

Brenda gasped and then laughingly asked, “No he wasn’t. Was he? Really. What did he do before?”

“He was a high school English teacher.”

“No. You’re kidding!” Brenda didn’t know if what Mario was telling her was a lie or the truth.

“Really. Don’t let that gangster accent fool you, he speaks better than you and I put together. He’s just doing it for you. He graduated with a master’s degree in English and a minor in drama from NYU. He always does this when I bring a girl around to meet him.”

“Why did he stop teaching?”

“He was teaching at a really bad school in a terrible neighborhood in the Bronx. One day, after school, some students jumped him and beat the crap out of him. He figured it wasn’t worth the trouble and bought this place. The funny thing though, is I’ve never seen him happier. So much for higher education.”

Sal came over and talked to the couple when he had a free moment, which wasn’t often. He continued to use his gangster accent, impressing Brenda. She had decided that she liked Sal. He was a sweet man and she could see that he really cared about Mario and his choice of women.

“How long have youse known Mario, Brenda?” Sal asked.

“Sal, enough with the accent. Brenda knows your just fooling around,” Mario said.

“I think it’s cute Mario, let him be. I met him when I went to work at my new job, around two months ago.”

“Well you be nice to him. His last girl friend wasn’t,” Sal said with concern in his voice.

“Sal, leave her alone. It’s a first date, not an invitation to spend the rest of our lives together. After meeting you, she probably won’t want to see me again.”

“Mario, that’s mean!” Brenda whined, as she slapped his arm, “I think it’s sweet that he cares about you.”

“He always treats me like a little kid.”

“Well?” Sal answered with his hands on his hips.

“Your only five years older than me.”

“Physically, but I’m light years ahead of you mentally.”

“I’m twenty-eight years old.”

“And still single.”

“Don’t start Sal. I’ll get married when I’m ready and tell your mom not to listen to my mother. She’s jealous of her and she just wants grandchildren too.”

“I guess your sister will have to be the child provider.”

“Don’t even go there!”

“Hasn’t your sister been dating that Tom guy for quite a while? What about her? When is she going to get married?”

“Mom hates Tom. He really is a loser. She wishes Louisa would come to her senses and dump his lazy good for nothing butt.”

“Ah, your sister. She has always been strong headed and will do anything to prove everyone wrong. Women - you can’t live with them and you can’t live without them. What are you going to do?”

“Hey! What about me?” Brenda pouted.

“You’re different! You’re not living with my cousin.”

“Sal, you’re so embarrassing me! You’re really going to scare Brenda away!” Mario said.

“It will take more than that to scare me away,” Brenda said, smiling at Mario.

“Sal we have to go. The game’s going to start in a half of an hour. How much do I owe you?”

“It’s my treat, for bringing such a lovely young woman here, for a change! Things are looking up for you Mario. It’s been really nice meeting you Brenda and if my cousin gets out of line, let me know.”

“Thank you Sal.”

“Thanks couz.”

The garden was near enough to walk to and not be late for the game so Mario decided not to take a cab. He put his hand around Brenda’s waist and held her as they walked.

“I like your cousin,” she said.

“Yeah, he is pretty special. He’s always been like a big brother to me. When I was younger, I was pretty ornery and he bailed me out of more than one fight. He would stand up for me and then after the fight was over, he would kick my butt for starting it in the first place.”

“It sounds like you come from a very special family.”

“It’s just a typical Italian family. Everyone looks out for each other. We all live in the same neighborhood, so everyone knows what the other person is doing. Isn’t your family like that?”

“My mom and dad live in Santa Maria and the rest of the family is spread around. My grandfather is dead and my grandmother lives with my mom’s sister in Texas. Both of my dad’s parents went to live up in Washington, you know the state? They live in a motor home and they almost never came down to visit us in California. I have two older brothers, Mel, the oldest, lives in San Diego and the only time he comes home is at Christmas. Mark, the middle kid, wants to be an actor and lives in LA so he can be close to the film studios. That’s why they call us the three M’s,” Brenda said.

“The three M’s?” Mario asked.

Oh fuck! What have I done? I let my mouth run away without thinking! Mel, Mark, and Matt, Brenda thought as she felt her skin beginning to burn with the fear she was about to be discovered. She thought of an answer for Mario.

“My middle name is Mary. My mom wanted to name me Mary, but for some reason dad wanted Brenda and he won out. So here I am, Brenda Mary Watson,” Brenda said.

“Your brother is in the movies?”

“If you want to call it that! He’s only been an extra so far, but he has high hopes. Who knows? Maybe one day, I’ll be able to say that I’m Mark! The movie star’s sister.”

“Then I’ll be able to say that I’m Mark! The movie star’s sister’s boyfriend. I bet I'll be able to get free screening passes too!”

“Stop it!” Brenda giggled as she slapped Mario’s arm.

The couple had reached the garden and Mario removed his hand from Brenda’s waist and reached for his wallet. He opened it and removed the tickets for the game. Brenda saw a photo of a girl when he did.

“Who’s that?” she asked.

“The bitch that broke up with me.”

“Still hoping she will change her mind and ask you back?”

Now it was Mario’s turn to feel uncomfortable. Here he was on the first date with a girl he really liked and he still had a picture of the girl that broke his heart in his wallet. What a dolt! He pulled it out of the wallet and tore it to shreds.

“There’s no way I would ever want her back - especially after meeting you!”

Brenda’s heart skipped a beat when she heard that. What could she say, other than, “Thank you.”

Mario found their seats and helped Brenda sit down. All the men’s eyes watched , as she lowered herself, hoping that her jeans would split.

“We made it just in time for the tip off,” Mario said.

“The tip off?”

“You know, where they throw the ball up to start the game. You’ll see.”

The players stepped onto the court and the centers went to the center ring to await the referee. The referee threw up the ball and the Knicks gained control.

“Yes!” Mario yelled as he pumped his fist in the air.

Brenda watched as her date became involved in the game. What should I do? I mean, how should I react in this situation? Ohhhh, she thought. Brenda looked around and watched the other women and tried to mimic their reactions to the game. The game had become more than a basketball contest for Brenda. It had become a learning experience for her as a woman. What should I do? Pump my fist? I think not! A girl wouldn’t do that! But to just sit and not do nothing, ummmm, that won’t make much of an impression on my date! All it would do is to show him that I’m a stick in the mud!

Brenda watched the other girls: the one that just sat, the large one that jumped up and nearly knocked over three people around her, the one that brandished her fist at the other team as her face turned red with rage. Geez! How can anyone get so involved in a game like this? she wondered.

Brenda finally found her way of showing appreciation for the game: she would clap and squeal with delight when Mario was happy and she would boo when he wasn’t. It was the perfect solution for an imperfect situation.

The game ended with the Knicks winning 95 to 91. Mario was on cloud nine, his team had won and he was on a date with Brenda. That girl that was stealing his heart. She was turning heads where ever she went. You’re one lucky man Mario, he thought.

“Would you like a cup of coffee before I bring you home?”

Brenda thought about it for a moment,“That sounds great. Do you have a relative with a coffee shop too?”

“I hope not! No. Just the local Starbucks.”

Brenda reached for Mario’s hand and took it in hers. His large hand engulfing her dainty and delicate hand within made her feel warm and wonderful. The urge to turn and hug this man was incredibly strong! She wanted those large arms around her, pulling her into him! Sigh! This was as close to that as she could get right now. Mario intertwined his fingers with hers.

“So what does your brother Mel do in San Diego?” asked Mario.

“He’s a fireman.”

“That’s exciting. Does he like it?”

“I guess he does. He’s so silly though, all he ever talks about are the cats he rescues from trees. I think he doesn’t want to make my mom worry that he might get hurt.”

“How does your mom feel about you moving to New York City?”

“Well, uh, I don’t think she really knows about it. You know? I’m just not living at home and It’s not so much that I live here, but I need my space too. My mom has effect on me as I grew up that made me this way.”

“If she knew you were here with me, she would be worried sick.”

“She would not! In fact, she would like you. Moms have a way of knowing what their kids friends are like, even after meeting them once. I guess it’s a mom thing.”

“I guess you’re right. After my mom met Louisa’s boy friend, the first thing out of her mouth was, “He’s no good,” and she was right.”

“What’s wrong with her boyfriend?”

“He has no desire to work and lets her support him. He watches TV all day long and doesn’t do squat around the apartment. Oh, did I tell you she lives with him? He’s an absolute loser.”

“Why does she stay with him then? That doesn’t sound right.”

“I think he was the first man she was ever with, you know? She went to bed with him and because of that loves him enough to put up with his bullshit. I just don’t get it though.” Mario said angrily.

“Don’t be too hard on her. Girls think differently about sex. Guys just want to get it but girls want more than to be, well you know. They want some kind of commitment if they are going to sleep with a guy. Unless she’s a slut and then she’s just like a guy.”

“Not all men are like that.”

“Are you telling me that if I were to take down my pants right here you wouldn’t be tempted?”

“Of course I’d be tempted! What guy in his right mind wouldn’t be with you?”

“That’s not what I mean. If I were to take down my pants, you would do me. I know you would. But, there would be no love there and women want love before they would do that. A guy wouldn’t think twice to take down their pants if they could get laid. But a girl wouldn’t. We just don’t do that. How did we get on this subject anyway?” Brenda said as her frustration grew.

Brenda was becoming agitated with the conversation and not realizing that she was thinking just like a woman. She was protecting her right not to have sex.

“We were talking about my sister.”

“That’s right. I forgot. I’m sorry for running off at the mouth. We hardly know each other and here I am telling you how I feel about sex.”

“If we didn’t respect each other, we wouldn’t have had this conversation. You’re a very special woman Brenda.”

Brenda couldn’t help herself now. She turned toward Mario and kissed him quickly on the cheek.

“Thank you Mario, that means a lot to me. You’re a wonderful man!”

Now it was Mario’s turn to feel special. Brenda had just kissed him on the cheek. I’ll never wash my face again, he thought.

The couple found a table to sit down at and Mario went to order the coffee. He returned with two paper cups with skirts to keep them from getting burned.

“Tell me more about your travels around the world,” Brenda asked.

“Mmm, we don’t really have the time for that tonight Brenda. Let’s just enjoy each other instead.”

“But I want to hear about your travels,” Brenda whined.

“I’ll tell you everything. But only if you go out with me for dinner tomorrow night.”

“And what makes you think I have tomorrow night free?”

“I said a prayer to God that you would be and he has never failed me. If you don’t go I’ll become an atheist because God failed me.”

“I guess I can’t let that happen then. Ok. I’ll go with you, but only so you don’t lose your faith in God. Not because I want too.”

“Thank you, and my priest thanks you too.”

“Where do you want to go?”

“Some place nice. You deserve it for having to eat my cousin’s hamburger.”

“Come on! They were good. Don’t be so mean about your cousin. I think he’s sweet.”

“Okay. I’ll leave him alone since he’s not here to defend himself.”

“What should I wear?”

“Something nice.”

“It’s a little warm in here. Let’s sit outside under that tree,” Brenda said.

Mario and Brenda went outside and sat at the shaded table and spent the next hour watching life walk by. They spent a lot of time looking into each other’s eyes and let the unsaid words flow into their depths.

“I think we should get going soon. Its late and I have to find something to wear for tomorrow night,” she said.

“I’ll get the cab.”

Mario went to the curb and flagged down the first available taxi. He opened the door for his new love and helped the delicate flower into the cab. He went around got inside. Mario then gave Brenda’s address to the driver and they were off. Fifteen minutes later they were at her apartment.

“Could you please wait?” he asked the driver as he exited the cab.

Mario didn’t want to have to find a taxi in this neighborhood as they were few and far between. In Manhattan, they were a dime a dozen. But not here in Brooklyn. Mario helped her out and escorted her up the stairs to the front door to her apartment building. They turned and faced each other, holding each other’s hands.

“Thank you for a wonderful evening Mario, I’ve had so much fun,” Brenda said.

“Thanks for going with me Brenda. I hope you didn’t mind the basketball game too much?”

“Of course not! It was fun. But I still don’t know how those guys throw the ball to the other person on their team without looking.”

“In basketball, they pass the ball. They throw the ball in baseball. How they can do it without looking? I don’t know either.”

Brenda giggled and then she looked serious as she realized her perfect evening was over. Brenda and Mario had learned a lot about each other and much of it was intimate. Now it was time for that something she had been thinking about since she ate that garlic burger - the goodnight kiss. Brenda wasn’t sure of how much of a gentleman Mario was and didn’t want to take a chance that he might be afraid to kiss her. Brenda looked up at Mario and stared into the depths of those soft caring eyes. She quivered slightly as she felt goosebumps rise all along her flesh. She leaned her head back and pulled his hands around her waist and moved closer to him. Mario took the hint and moved his lips to hers until they gently touched, softly at first, and then with more want. Brenda let go of Mario’s hands and put her arms around his neck. She held him tight while he put his around her back. Their kiss lasted for what seemed to be a perfect eternity and Brenda was in heaven!

Mario pulled back, exhausted with a slight pant.

“Goodnight Brenda. I’ll see you tomorrow.”

“Goodnight Mario. I can hardly wait.” she replied as she kissed him softly one last time on the lips. She opened the door and went inside. She then turned to watch him wave through the side pane.

Mario bounded down to the cab like he had wings on his feet. His happiness for life had finally returned!

Brenda continued upstairs to her apartment and went inside, locking her door. Leaning against the door, she thought that her date with Mario had been nothing but a complete success. She knew that all of her insecurities earlier had been unwarranted. She was definitely going to ask for that operation! They owed it to her! Her feelings toward Mario were something Brenda or Matt had never felt before! The closeness of family and the caring were things that never happened in her family. Sure they were close, but not like this. The consideration of all the family did, the love, the caring… Brenda wanted to take Mario away and never let him go! She wanted to sew with his mother, care for his cousins kids, have her own babies… SHIT! she thought, that can never happen!

A tear fell from her eye.
 
 

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Edited by Sephrena Lynn Miller