First Date
by Ervin Anderson
I’m baaaaaack Claire!!! Drinks?
Sorry - not Claire.
Umm…why do you have Claire’s phone?
Well, if u must know…
I sat down on this park bench to read…
And sat right on someone’s phone.
Claire’s I’m guessing?
What are you reading?
Nosey nosey ☺
I’m reading something called MUSIC FOR TORCHING.
A.M. Homes. Love her.
Your literary knowledge is impressive.
I’m Megan.
This might sound insane but...
I have a free day and I’m intrigued by you…
I’m twenty-eight, live in the Mission, relatively attractive...
Never leave home without sunscreen, work at SF General Hospital…
If I sound at all like a man you might be compatible with…
Let’s meet for lunch?
What about Claire?
I don’t think my sister would be jealous ☺
Ok Mr. MD.
I’m 26, work in film, live for good sushi, definitely not hideous, my skin is dark and my outlook on life is light.
Are you in Washington Square Park? That’s right near Claire’s apartment.
Yes.
Don’t go anywhere. On my way.
Hey where are you?
Oh so sorry! Got called away suddenly…
Well that sucks.
Oh geez damn it.
What is it?
Some jerky guy is harassing two women right in front of me.
What an a-hole!
Brb.
Ok back.
What happened?
A young female couple was minding their own business when this lunatic came up to them and said their kind was ruining the country.
What did you do?
I just offered a counter argument.
Which was?
I countered that HIS kind are ruining the country. His kind being rude, intolerant, obnoxious, hate spewing jerks!
What did he do?
He ran away when faced with my alternate counter argument…my fist.
How very macho of you.
I wasn’t REALLY going to punch him.
I’m a surgeon. My hands are my life.
Anyway…where are you?
I want to meet you.
Nearby. At Coit Tower.
Friend of mine needed some quick advice.
Don’t go anywhere. Be right there!
Maybe we should just meet some other time.
Nope sorry already on my way.
Here! Where are you?
I’m here. I don’t see you…
Oh jeez. I have to do this thing for someone real quick.
Pls don’t leave.
What are you doing?
Climbing to the top of Coit Tower. This sweet older lady was frantic.
I asked her what was wrong…
She said she left her bus pass at the top and was too exhausted to go back up.
So now I’m making my way to the top to get her bus pass.
You wouldn’t by chance be at the top would you?
Nope sorry Jason.
Ok I’m heading back down with this lady’s bus pass. Don’t leave!!!
Now where are you?
So sorry. I’m acting in this short film and they need me at the Castro Theater ASAP for a quick reshoot!
Let’s just meet another day.
No can do. I am determined to meet you today.
May I come to the Castro and wait until you’re done?
Better yet…can I watch you act in the film?
Well since you did help that little old lady… I guess it would be ok.
Were you a boy scout or something?
Haha no! I just have great parents. ☺
So I should be done in about an hour.
I will be there in 30 minutes. Just gonna hop on BART.
What’s your short film about?
It’s about this woman who’s running around the city trying to escape her stalker.
Umm…
Don’t worry it’s not about you ;D
I’m here in front of the theater, but I don’t see any film crew…
Megan?
Sorry we changed locations at the last minute.
Director wanted to film at Dolores Park instead.
We’re just about done.
Oh man this just isn’t my day.
Why what’s up now?
I was standing in front of the Castro Theater when I noticed a kid who seemed lost…
He was crying and saying he’s on vacation with his parents and can’t find them.
I asked where he’d last seen them and he said he wasn’t sure.
He said just one of these stores nearby.
So I told him to wait in front of the theater, and now I’m running around like a crazy person looking for his parents.
Oh excellent! Think I found them.
I’ll text you back in a few minutes.
Wow what a crazy day!
Did you reunite that poor child with his parents?
I did indeed.
I’m still at Dolores Park. Filming is over. Waiting for you!
Ok I can run there.
Gimme a couple of minutes.
Here! Where are you?
I’m here but I don’t know what you look like?
Like Ethan Hawke if he had to shave every day... ;)
So like just a random white guy? ;)
Pretty much. Perhaps you stand out more. What are you wearing?
Colorful sun dress, sandals, white hat…
Oh man that’s awful.
Who are you the fashion police? Jerk!
Oh geez no! Not your outfit. This mean guy near me.
This jackass is treating his dog horribly.
He’s yelling at it and I’m worried he’s going to be violent.
Hold on.
What’s happening?
You ok?
Yeah it’s all good.
I told the guy to stop treating his dog so badly.
So get this…
The guy starts like weeping or something and then hugs me…
OMG
He said he just lost his job and is having a bad day.
Says he’s sorry and feels really bad.
Jason you are truly a good guy.
Nah just a guy.
It’s so weird…I’ve never had to help so many people in one day.
Something must be in the water!
Oh! I think I see you!
I’m on the bench waving.
Straight ahead about a hundred feet.
I see you. Wow! Megan you are more lovely than I could’ve imagined
Why thank you. And Jason…
Yes?
Nothing is in the water. I’ve been testing you.
WHAT?
The two women at the park, the old lady, the kid, the guy with the dog…
They are all actors.
Friends of mine from my film.
All your heroics were for fake situations.
See now. They are all standing next to me waving at you, too.
Why would you do that?
I don’t just allow random men to meet me.
And since I had my actor friends with me I decided to do a little improv.
Lucky for me you turned out to be even more wonderful than I suspected.
Now put your phone back in your pocket and give me a hug. We’ve got a lunch date to start ☺
I must warn you. I give great hug.
I have no doubt.
Bring it on.
App