He had been at work for most of the day, cutting hair at the army base. Bill enjoyed his career and took great pride in his work. However, it was somewhat embarrassing to tell people "I work for the military" and then deplete any interest in their eyes with the follow up "as a barber." Even still, he knew his position was needed for everyone on the base, and he was the best in his field. That was a glimmer of happiness in his life.

He was sweeping the floor after cleaning off his hair styling tools, eyeing the clock in anticipation for the cold beer he was going to have at the end of the day. Everything he did always led up to a beer. Another glimmer? Why not.

The door opened, and walked in was a soldier he always had a good time conversing with. He was younger guy, wiry build, his boyishly handsome face spattered with dark freckles. Bill recalled his mentioning getting married a year or so ago. He was always friendly and upbeat and talked to everyone like they were his best friend he'd known his entire life.

"Hey Billy!" he greeted as he removed his hat and sat down.

"Hi Tommy, what's going on today?" Bill swept the cape around his client, spun the chair to face the mirror, and got to work. He knew everyone's "usual" without needing to ask.

They chatted for a few minutes, mostly about the usual pleasantries and small talk. Locks of wavy dark hair fell to the floor in piles all around them as time went on. Eventually Bill was finished. Tom turned his head side to side while looking in the mirror.

"Looks good like always!" Tom approved.

"Glad you're happy with it," Bill replied heartily.

Tom stood up to leave. He was casually strolling towards the door when he suddenly stopped in his tracks and asked, "So Bill, what would you say if I had someone to hook you up with on a date?"

Bill stood frozen for a moment, reminiscent of a deer in headlights. "Um, well, who did you have in mind?" he said, trying to keep his voice even.

Tom grinned. He pulled out his phone and tapped a few times, pulling up a woman's picture, then turned his screen to Bill.

She was beautiful.

Dark, loosely curled hair, deep brown eyes, golden tan skin. She was more attractive than any woman he had gone out with. Maybe even more attractive than Lenore…

"My sister in law," Tom said with a playful smirk after a moment of watching Bill's reaction. Bill quickly collected himself.

"What's the, uh, catch?"

Tom laughed. "No catch. She's been single for a few months now. My wife - they're sisters - she asked me if I knew anyone I could set her up with."

Bill blinked for a moment. "Why me?" This girl was young and gorgeous, while Bill was older and...well...not. Surely anyone else would be more deserving?

Tom smiled knowingly. "I've known you for a couple of years now, Bill. We've talked quite a bit and gotten to know each other. I'd consider us friends, and I'd like to say that I know what kind of person you are. And, well, my wife said Mia only asked for one thing...he has to be kind."


It was Friday afternoon and Mia was not looking forward to the weekend. She never did anymore, as weekends meant no work, and no work meant no distractions from her thoughts. She was grateful to receive a text from her sister, Jackie, asking if she wanted to come over for a few hours. She thought it was going to be a casual evening of drinks and TV, something light and fun. She did not expect to be cornered like an animal like she found herself now.

She was sitting at Jackie and Tom's shiny new kitchen table, her annoyed expression doing nothing to waver their pleased looks.

"I didn't think you'd actually DO it," Mia burst out, her anxiety starting to creep in. "I didn't think you were seriously going to set me up with somebody!"

"I TOLD you I was seriously going to!" Jackie shot back. "You've done nothing but go to work and then go home and sit inside your dark little house for the past five months. You need to get out, Mia, you need to talk to people and socialize!"

Mia closed her eyes and drew in a deep breath to steady her nerves. Truthfully, Jackie had a point. Mia had lost herself since leaving Aaron, and her hobbies and joys had faded with the life she thought she knew. She was merely dragging along at the bare minimum now. It would be nice to get out and meet new people. She agreed to that last night. But now, being confronted with it actually happening, did she really want to date somebody? Somebody who would just lie and cheat and -

"He's really a great guy, Mia. A very all-around nice person," cut Tom through her dark thoughts. Mia opened her eyes again.

"I don't doubt he's an okay dude," she said plainly, biting back a snappish reply, "I'm just a little miffed that you went behind my back."

Jackie rolled her eyes. "Mia, we discussed this last night. I thought you approved of a bit of dating help. This depressed episode thing you're doing has to stop. Stop moping around and stop with the woe-is-me crap!" Jackie slammed her hands down on the table, looking pointedly at her sister with narrowed eyes.

Mia slumped back in her chair, defeated. There was no point in arguing. Jackie was right. She just let herself be consumed with self-pity and sorrow, a dark cloud wherever she went. Jackie struggled to help Mia, to pull her out of her slump. She called Mia every day and tried to visit her or invite her over often. She tried organizing activities out together. Mia would go along with whatever Jackie had planned, but rarely found joy in it. She was still seven years out of her youth, seven years spent with a manipulative man-child who belittled her at every turn. Seven years of mocking, ignoring, lying, cheating…

She deeply appreciated everything her sister did for her. She knew it wasn't easy to help someone who wouldn't help themselves. The least she could do was go out for a couple hours with someone Jackie set her up with.

Jackie spoke again, this time with more tenderness in her voice. "Look, I know what happened with Aaron was awful. I know you're still upset over that and you're having a hard time getting through it. But why are you letting that asshole control your happiness? Why are you going to let him keep taking things from you?"

Funny how the little sister was always looking out for the older one, Mia thought in the back of her mind. They were both so different from one another. Jackie was always the outgoing one, the boisterous one. Mia was more reserved and analytical. Even their looks were inverted. Jackie was tall with a lean, athletic build, angular and statuesque. Mia was shorter, petite, her curves rounder. But what defined them as sisters was their shared thick dark hair, round brown eyes, and honey colored complexions.

Mia sat expressionless, thinking over what was said. "I know. You're right. I'm tired of feeling so unhappy all the time. And I shouldn't be giving Aaron that satisfaction on top of it all."

"Then let us help you, okay?" Jackie pleaded.

Mia knew Jackie was growing tired of trying to continually make her happy again. This was probably her last attempt at trying; she had been giving so much of her time and energy on Mia and it was hardly working because Mia wasn't letting it.

Mia drew in a deep breath. "Okay." She straightened up, switching gears, and turned to Tom. "So, who is this guy?"

"A guy from work," Tom answered carefully. He had been sitting there awkwardly while the sisters squabbled.

Tom had put up with a lot of Mia's issues, too. When Jackie would be out trying to make Mia enjoy life again, or drag Mia over to their house for a change of scenery, he never once acted as though he were competing for Jackie's attention.

"What does he look like?"

"He looks like…a guy." He tried suppressing a smile. So amusing.

His sister-in-law set her jaw in agitation. "That's all I get to know?"

"It's a blind date, Mia!" Jackie exclaimed. The sparkle was back in her eyes, the sparkle she got when discussing her latest project. Today's project was Operation: Fix Mia.

Jackie and Tom grinned side by side, quite pleased with themselves.

"I think I'm being thrown to the wolves," Mia groaned as she rested her forehead on the table, but the air wasn't tense anymore.


The sun was starting to lower beneath the horizon. It was that lull between day and dusk. The air was warm and peacefully still, the birds were chirping less frequently, families were settling down in their homes for the evening.

Bill felt alright with the world.

He and his friends, Hank, Dale, and Boomhauer, had taken up their usual spot in the back alley behind Hank's house. They lined up beside the fence, a beer in each hand, their respective days winding down before nightfall. This was the time Bill lived for; every day was spent in anticipation for his friends and a beer (or several.) He had nothing at home to return to. No wife or girlfriend, no hobbies or interests. He was profoundly grateful for his friends. It was they who kept him tethered to this otherwise dismal world. But now, now he was feeling something. Something more than the ache of loneliness and despair. Something more than the same day-to-day slump he had been living for so long.

He was feeling...excitement. Curiosity. Anxiety. Nervousness.

It felt good. It felt real. It felt like he was human again.

The conversation came to a natural pause and everyone sipped their beers.

"Yep," Hank supplied to the silence. The others nodded in agreement.

"I have a date tomorrow," Bill blurted. He was unable to keep it to himself anymore.

His friends' reactions were about what he expected. Tall and patriarchal Hank's face broke into a grin. "Well, all right, Bill!" he cheered.

Boomhauer, something of a womanizer, coolly a man of few words, simply nodded in approval. And Dale, stringy and often impetuous, skeptically burst "With WHO?"

Bill looked down at the half-empty beer can in his hand. Though he smiled, he still felt apprehensive. The whole situation still didn't feel like it was really going to happen. "My buddy from work set it up. She's his sister-in-law. We have a date tomorrow at Chez Pierre."

"That's great, Bill," Hank said with a clap on Bill's shoulder.

"So...what's wrong with her?" sniggered Dale around the cigarette hanging from his mouth.

"Shut up, Dale," sighed Hank.

"Hope it goes well, man," Boomhauer reassured.

"Thanks, Boomhauer."

"What does she look like?" asked Dale.

Bill hesitated. He knew Dale wouldn't believe him. He said it anyway. "Beautiful. Very beautiful." He reflected on the picture he saw. Those eyes. That smile. The shape of her cheekbones and full lips. He took an absentminded sip of beer.

"Wait, did you meet her already?" Hank questioned.

"No. It's a blind date, I guess. I only saw her picture." He looked off into the sunset. "I don't know anything about her."

"Well, we already know she's probably crazy for agreeing to go somewhere with you," Dale said, "She's not going to know what hit her."

"Shut UP, Dale," Hank sighed again, this time more firmly. Dale kept smirking, but dragged on his cigarette. Once Hank started to use his bossy tone, even Dale knew it was time to stop.

Bill kept looking to the sunset, now empty beer can in his hand. He thought of Lenore, his ex wife. He thought of his past girlfriends, like Laoma and Charlene. He thought of his flings that never made it past hooking up. But most of all, he was thinking of tomorrow.

He was thinking of Mia.


Bill had only a few dressy clothes in his closet. He was disappointed yet unsurprised that none of his button up shirts fit very well anymore. Apparently his beer gut had extended slightly more since purchasing them. He eventually settled on a green small-check shirt and khaki pants. Why did he have to tell Tom to set the date at such a nice restaurant? He wanted to impress this girl, but what could be impressive about how he looked? At least he felt more comfortable in a t-shirt and jeans…

The clock was moving slowly. He could have sworn it had been 5 PM for half an hour now. He paced around the house, finding little things to do to keep his mind busy. He started picking up the laundry and the food wrappers. He got the dishes put away. He even pulled out the vacuum for the first time in who knows how long.

However, no matter how hard he tried focusing on other things, the dark tendrils of doubt kept creeping into his thoughts. He knew he was an unattractive loser and nothing would come of tonight. This girl was way out of his league. Nothing he could do or say would be of any interest to her. And yet...he wanted to try. Should he have bought her flowers? No, that would be too much. Is he dressed decently enough? Nothing he can really do about it now. What should he talk about? He will stumble over his words or say something stupid, anyway…

The thoughts started to unnerve him. He tried to recall the last time he went on a date. It must have been closer to a year now. Who was it again? Oh yeah, the woman from the bowling alley. Joyce. Short dark hair, cute dimples. They met while bowling with their respective group of friends. He asked her out, and the next night they went to Sugarfoot's, a barbecue place. They went back to her apartment and hooked up. It was...lackluster. It was just as well, anyway, she made up an excuse as to why he couldn't stay and basically kicked him out.

He didn't want to just hook up with Mia. He was tired of just hookups and short flings. He dearly wanted to get to know her, to talk to her, to spend time with her. He didn't want to ruin this chance he had, which might be the last one he would get.

It was time to consult a professional.

Bill knocked on Boomhauer's door. Answering it was Boomhauer's girlfriend, Leah.

"Hi, Bill! What are you all dressed up for?" she asked cheerily.

Bill wasn't expecting her to be here, but he supposed Leah and Boomhauer had been spending a lot of time together for the past couple months. Boomhauer had always been a bit of a playboy, never dating one girl for long. Bill didn't often see the same girl twice coming out of his house. But eventually, perhaps a little later than most people, Boomhauer was starting to want to settle down. He was starting to want someone to spend the rest of his life with. It was almost fate that the beautiful and single Leah, long legs and long blonde hair, happened to move into the empty house Hank's niece used to live in a few doors down.

Bill thought back with a cringe that he once tried desperately to get her to go out with him. Bill tried hard to talk to her at any possible opportunity, and he did his best to offer her help with moving in or getting things set up with her new house. Why did he act like that? As gorgeous as Leah was, he could always tell she would be a better fit for Boomhauer, anyway. Just as well...she and Boomhauer were good together, and Bill had never seen his friend so happy with someone like this before.

Bill hesitated a moment. He wanted Boomhauer's dating expertise; should he be asking Boomhauer about that in front of his girlfriend? But on second thought, he really could use a woman's guidance for this.

"Hi, Leah. I'm going on a date tonight. Can I ask you for some advice?"

"Oh, of course! Come on in! We were just discussing our trip at the end of the month." She closed the door behind Bill and motioned for him to sit. Boomhauer was sitting on the couch and nodded his hello. Leah sat next to him while Bill perched on the edge of a chair.

"So, what can I help you with?" Leah asked as she clasped her hands together.

Bill cleared his throat. "So, I uh, haven't had good luck with dating. I need to know what I can do differently tonight to get this girl to like me."

He felt embarrassed putting it out there. Maybe this wasn't such a good idea after all.

"She will like you, Bill! Just be yourself. That's what she's going to want."

Bill knew she was going to say that. "I'm not sure if myself is enough."

It was Boomhauer who responded. "Stop with the self-hate stuff. That alone will make her lose interest. Girls like confidence, man, and you have a lot to be confident about." His tone was firm, almost fierce, and Boomhauer wasn't one to have emotions stray further than neutral.

"Exactly," Leah agreed, "You have a good heart and a good nature. Your aura is always such a lovely shade of green."

Leah was a spiritual person, talking often about chakras and crystal healing. Bill didn't understand what this aura stuff meant but he assumed it had to be a good thing.

"So...what do I talk about with her?" He couldn't remember what he's ever talked about on a date before. And clearly it was nothing groundbreaking enough to keep somebody interested for long.

"Ask her about her. What interests her. Her ideas and opinions. You want to get to know her soul," Leah said sagely.

Boomhauer was leaned into the couch, his arm resting along the back behind Leah's shoulders. His softened eyes looked contentedly at the side of Leah's face. Bill's stomach panged with an ache of jealousy. He dearly wanted that, that look of being in love. True love...

Bill finished his conversation with the two of them, growing more anxious and nervous as the minutes ticked by. Finally the clock dragged to the time it was for him to leave.

"Good luck, man," Boomhauer said as he waved him goodbye.

"Thanks, Boomhauer."

Leah showed Bill to the door. "You'll do great! And I hope you have a nice time!"

"Thanks, Leah." Bill's stomach was twisting too much to say much else.

He got into his car and set off towards the city, wondering if Mia would be able to see the color of his aura.


"How about this?" Jackie said behind a pink dress.

Mia shook her head. "I want something more, um…"

"Sexy?"

"No! ...Well, yeah."

Jackie giggled. Mia sat at her vanity while doing her makeup. She was holding her breath while winging out her eyeliner, trying to keep a steady hand. Her sister was looking over different articles of Mia's clothing. Some she cast aside, others she put into a "maybe" pile.

After a few minutes of silence, save for the occasional rustle of clothes being tossed into the corner, Mia asked, "Can you tell me something about this guy? I at least want to know what I'm walking into."

Jackie was eyeballing a black dress, which went to the approval pile. "Alright, alright...well, Tom says he's older."

"Older, how much older?"

"Um...41?"

"Hot."

Both girls giggled together. It was fun doing this, something sisterly. They had gotten ready for dates together in the past years ago. She remembered the times they got ready for dates in the early stages of her being with Aaron and Jackie being with Tom. How nervous they were, but how exciting it was, and how fun. Tonight reminded her of those old times again. It was nice to feel excited and nervous instead of sick with dread and gloom for once.

"Okay, I have narrowed it down to these three." Jackie motioned to the dresses spread out on the bed. Mia looked them over, running her fingers over some places, imagining what they would look like on. She decided on the black A-line dress she bought and wore once for some dinner party of Aaron's. She figured it was cute yet still elegant enough for the type of restaurant the date was at.

"Good pick, that was my favorite one," Jackie approved. "Now your short ass needs heels to go with it."

Mia smacked her teasingly. Jackie ducked away with a laugh.

"Alright, get dressed and let me see!" Jackie shut the door behind her as she left for the hall.

The room was still and quiet. Jackie had taken all of the excited energy out with her. Mia fished out her best bra and underwear from her dresser drawers. She didn't expect anyone to see them tonight; it was the confidence they gave her that she wanted from them. She put on her clothes and slid into her heels. Turning this way and that, she examined all of her different angles in the mirror that hung on the back of the door. She had to admit, she looked good. It had been a long time since she had gotten dressed up and made up like this.

"Are you done yet?" Jackie called from the hallway. Mia opened the door and stood back to present herself.

"Damn, girl!" her sister exclaimed. Her eyes sparkled as she looked Mia over. "You look great! You're gonna knock 'im dead!"

"I hope so," Mia said appreciatively. She was really feeling her nerves now. Completing her look for the date was just one step closer to the actual event. Her mind was starting to race.

She paced around the living room, killing time. Sitting still was just too much for her pent up nerves.

"Stop, you're making me dizzy!"

"Sorry."

Eventually it was time for Mia to head out. She was beginning to feel like the very idea of cancelling and staying home was a good option. She played it in her mind: having Jackie tell Tom to call that guy and tell him it was off, getting out of these heels and washing off her makeup, maybe going to lie in bed instead...

Jackie must have sensed Mia was about to change her mind about the whole thing and pushed her out towards the front door.

"You'll do fine! You're going to have fun! You're going to be so glad you did this!" Jackie held Mia's shoulders and looked firmly into her eyes as she delivered the pep talk. Mia nodded as she took deep breaths. Jackie was right. She needed to just do it and get it over with. This really was what she wanted to do...right?