The Dateby Sara Yovich Copyright � Sara Yovich in 1988 |
Sonya ran to the phone, hoping that she would be the lucky one. Her favorite radio station was having a once in a lifetime contest. She wanted to win so badly! Yet, she knew she had some tough competition with all the other females in the listening area.
"Mom! Get off the phone! I need it!"
"Helen, I've got to go. My daughter has an 'emergency'. Your's, too? I'll call you back later then, bye."
"Thanks, Mom!" Sonya yelled down the stairs of their two story home.
"I wish she wouldn't spend so much time on that phone. Oh, well. At least it's a phase," I thought with a smile.
"OHMYGODOHMYGODOHMYGOD!!!" Sonya blurted out a few minutes later.
"Mom! I won! This is going to be the best day of my life! I've got to call everyone! Mom! He'll be here at 6! Oh, no! What am I going to wear? Everything I have is so out of date! Mom? Can Sharon come over to help me? Thanks!"
"Sharon? Hi! You heard? Isn't it great! Come over and help me pick out something to wear!"
"Huh? Of course I will! Don't be silly! What are friends for? All right. See ya!"
My daughter is going nuts. I wonder what's going on. It must be a date. I wonder with whom? Must be very "gorgeous" for her to be this excited. There's Sharon. Well, since my daughter thinks he's important, I'll put a few extra touches to the family room.
Wait a moment... "Everything is out of date?" I just bought her 3 new outfits 2 days ago!
Babble. Babble. "He's such a saint!" Babble. "So cute!" Babble.
I shouldn't complain, really. I remember when I was her age I drooled over a few men. Still do.
Hm. 5:30. Our guest will be here soon. Fine. Everything will be ready by then. George will be home by then, too. I'll tell him what the hubbub is about.
At 6pm, on the nose, the doorbell rang.
"I've got it!" Sonya said as she raced down the stairs, with an expectant Sharon peering from the top of the wall.
"Hello," he says with his soft voice.
"Uh, hi," she nervously manages to get out. "Won't you come in?"
"Thank you. These are for you," he says as he hands her a bouquet of white roses, and baby's breath.
"Th...they're lovely!" Sonya blushes. "Let me introduce you to my best friend, Sharon."
"No, no!" panics Sharon.
"Come on! We made a deal!"
"Uh uh!"
"I won't bite," he laughs.
"You sure, Sonya? This is your date."
"I'm sure. You're not my best friend for nothing."
"Thanks," Sharon says as she walks down the stairs. "You don't know what it's like meeting you in person, sir. I've seen you and your teammates on TV before. I think you're great!"
"Thank you. I'm flattered, but, umm, don't call me 'sir'. I haven't reached that honor yet. Just call me by my name."
"You sure? I mean...I wouldn't...well...you know....."
"I'm sure. It's fine," he smiles. "Please excuse me though. I'm sorry. I didn't catch your name."
"Oh! It's Sonya."
"Sonya, I thought, we could go out to eat and then, maybe, go to a movie. Would you like to go anywhere, or see anything in particular?"
"No. Not really. Any place you want to go will be absolutely perfect. I wouldn't even mind it if we just stayed here! I'm just in ecstasy!"
Is this really my daughter talking? She never wants to stay home on one of her dates. He must be really special then.
"Ha, ha!" I'm not that important really. How about if we go to the restraunt that my mistress likes to go to? It's not too fancy. Afterwards, we can go to the Arena and meet the rest of the guys that have shown up so far."
"Wow! You bet! That is...if you don't mind."
"I don't. How about dancing as well? I know a place that would be perfect!"
"Can I come?" Sharon askes hopefully.
"No! He's mine! I won him fair and square!"
"Ladies, please, no fighting! I get enough of that already!"
"We're sorry!" They say in unison.
"That's okay. I guess, if I were in your shoes, I would do the same thing."
"Sonya? Why don't you bring your date in here, so we can all meet him?"
"Okay, Dad! Follow me, please."
"Of course."
"Mom. Dad. This is my date for tonight."
George immediately go up to greet the boy. He evidently recognized him from the start.
"Glad to meet you, son. Here, have a seat."
"Thank you, sir."
"Would you like something to drink?" I offer.
"If you don't mind..."
"No bother. We have cola, milk, water, and lemonaide."
"Lemonaide will be fine."
"Sonya, Sharon?"
"Lemonaide, please, Mom."
"The same."
"Fine. Three glasses of lemonaide coming up."
I overheard part of the conversation as I fixed the drinks. They were talking sports. I've never been into that sort of thing. Strange. Sonya and Sharon are talking sports WITH George. They usually don't do that. Her date doesn't seem comfortable with the subject , though.
The boy seems almost familiar to me though. I might have seen a picture of him in the papers, or newscasts....
"Here you go," I say as I hand him his glass.
"Thank you. It's very good!" he adds as he takes a drink.
"My mom makes the best lemonaide!"
"Sonya!"
"Well! You do!"
"Honey. Do you know who our guest is?" My husband asks.
"I'm sorry to say I don't."
"Tell her, son."
"My name is Shun. I'm the Bronze Andromeda Saint."