The Lessons Begin
"All right," said John.
"Lesson 1: stick with the classics. They don't go out of style and you can dress them up or down. Lesson 2: buy 10-20 basic pieces, including at least 1 dark suit and two pair of dress shoes. That will give you enough variety to last at least two good weeks. Again, solid colors for pants and shirts as well except for 1-2 classic patterned shirts which again you can dress up or down. Lesson 3: go to a men's store that sells everything, rather than a department store. Wider selection. If you're like me you hate shopping so you want to get in and out of 1 place, not go to 10 places to get what you need."
"Don't you go shopping with Carter?"
"I do."
"How do you manage that, hating shopping and all?"
"With great aplomb. My stock line when spoken to is, 'Why don't you get them both?' Works every time. Oh yes, and I hold her purse and carry the shopping bags."
Lionel laughed at the thought of John standing in a women's store holding Joss's purse, keeping his answers to a "yes, dear" variation.
"Shall I continue?" asked an annoyed John.
"By all means."
"Lesson 4: make sure the store offers tailoring. Good tailoring can make all the difference. Lesson 5: find an honest and experienced salesperson who has a good eye, not some kid who only knows the current flashiest styles and trends. The clothes might be great but whether they look great on you is another matter. Can't trust the young ones to be objective."
"How will I know who to pick?"
"You'll know them when you see them. After all, are you or are you not a crack detective?" John smirked.
"Lesson 6: know what colors work best on you and stick with those for your main pieces. You can
accent with others here and there but you want to be able to mix and match which will give you the most for your money. A good salesperson can help you select accent pieces and mix and match. Lesson 7: don't skimp on quality on the shoes. A good pair of shoes can make any outfit look good and more importantly, your feet will thank you. Keep said shoes shined with stiff laces, no fraying.
"Lesson 8: get a good dry cleaner. They can help you keep your clothes crisp and like new, shirts especially. They can also help with emergency sewing repairs and light tailoring if necessary."
John thought for a moment. "I guess that's it for now."
Lionel nodded, considering carefully everything John told him.
"Thanks for the lessons. Do you follow these rules?"
"Yes I do," said John, "and a few others besides."
"Like what?"
"Well buying suits has its own set of rules, but don't worry about those right now because I don't recommend a suit for you for Valentine's Day based on what you told me about your date."
"Do you know of a store I can go to that sells everything I'd need? I don't have tons of money to spend, either, just so you know."
"Matter of fact, I do. Gentlemen's Emporium – have you heard of it?"
"I've seen it advertised. Never been, though. Let's go right after we eat."
"You want me to go with you?" Asked a surprised John.
"Of course. I didn't need to wake you up at 8 am for some info you could have given me over the phone. I want to see how this works and I want you as backup. I know you won't allow me to walk out of there with my usual type of clothes and left to my own devices, I worry that that's what I'll do. You know – old habits and all. I want to get started with a Valentine's outfit and a few other basics,"
After the server cleared the table, Lionel ordered two more coffees. Then John asked Lionel in his most quiet voice, "Do we need to discuss grooming?"
"Yes," Lionel responded, sheepishly.
Thirty minutes later, the two friends were at the register with Fusco paying for breakfast. After Lionel paid, he handed the receipt to John.
"I believe this is for you," he said with a grin.
John took it and saw a note written at the bottom that read, Dear Gorgeous Tall Guy, Call me. Marjorie 212-555-1212. When he looked over at their server, she winked at him flirtatiously.
"Very funny, Lionel," said John. "Very funny."
They exited the dinner.
In the cab on the way to the Emporium, John excused himself to phone Joss and fill her in.
"Hey babe. Listen, I'm going to be gone for a few hours. I'm clothes shopping with Lionel."
"You're what," she asked, incredulously.
"I'll tell you more when I get home. You're staying put right?"
"Yes, I'll be here."
"Good. I'll see you later then. I love you."
"I love you, too, John."
When John ended his call, he found that Fusco was staring at him.
"What?" John asked.
"You've got it bad, don't you?"
"Yes I do my friend. And it's wonderful."
"So what are you going to do for Valentine's Day this year? Last year was monumental. Joss is still talking about that cruise and I'm still talking about that lunch you cooked for her. Are you cooking lunch again this year, I hope?"
"No lunch this year. But this is going to be the main event," John shared.
He removed his phone from his jacket pocket and opened the photos file, found the picture he was looking for then passed his phone to Lionel, who whistled as soon as he saw the picture.
"Wow!" exclaimed Lionel. "That's a helluva rock. So you're going to do it on Valentine's Day?"
"I am. We're going to an early dinner, then the opera. I'm having Joss's friends and family waiting for us at the fountain at Lincoln Center right after the opera's over. I'll pop the question there."
"Sounds exciting. Carter doesn't know?"
"No clue. Everyone is having drinks after, then Joss and I are doing a stay cation at the Greenwich Hotel – penthouse room with a fireplace, two nights – that's assuming she says yes," John added.
"Of course, she will. That woman loves you to pieces and would move heaven and earth for you," Lionel stated matter of factly.
John blushed and allowed himself a smile, thanking God once more for giving him Jocelyn Carter.
"The Greenwich – that's De Niro's hotel in Tribeca, right?" Lionel asked.
"That's the one."
"And the opera?"
"Le Nozze de Figaro," said John.
"Si. Si," commented Lionel. "Il mio preferito."
"Il mio e La Traviata," John responded.
"Of course you speak Italian," grumbled Lionel.
"Apparantemente anche tu," retorted John.
Lionel grinned.
New Chapter – Let's Begin
"All right.
"Lesson 1: stick with the classics. They don't go out of style and you can dress them up or down. Lesson 2: buy 10-20 basic pieces, including at least 1 dark suit and two pair of dress shoes. That will give you enough variety to last at least two good weeks. Again, solid colors for pants and shirts as well except for 1-2 classic patterned shirts which again you can dress up or down. Lesson 3: go to a men's store that sells everything, rather than a department store. Wider selection. If you're like me you hate shopping so you want to get in and out of 1 place, not go to 10 places to get what you need."
"Don't you go shopping with Carter?"
"I do."
"How do you manage that, hating shopping and all?"
"With great aplomb. My stock line when spoken to is, 'Why don't you get them both?' Works every time. Oh yes, and I hold her purse and carry the shopping bags."
Lionel laughed at the thought of John standing in a women's store holding Joss's purse, keeping his answers to a "yes, dear" variation.
"Shall I continue?" asked an annoyed John.
"By all means."
"Lesson 4: make sure the store offers tailoring. Good tailoring can make all the difference. Lesson 5: find an honest and experienced salesperson who has a good eye, not some kid who only knows the current flashiest styles and trends. The clothes might be great but whether they look great on you is another matter. Can't trust the young ones to be objective."
"How will I know who to pick?"
"You'll know them when you see them. After all, are you or are you not a crack detective?" John smirked.
"Lesson 6: know what colors work best on you and stick with those for your main pieces. You can
accent with others here and there but you want to be able to mix and match which will give you the most for your money. A good salesperson can help you select accent pieces and mix and match. Lesson 7: don't skimp on quality on the shoes. A good pair of shoes can make any outfit look good and more importantly, your feet will thank you. Keep said shoes shined with stiff laces, no fraying.
"Lesson 8: get a good dry cleaner. They can help you keep your clothes crisp and like new, shirts especially. They can also help with emergency sewing repairs and light tailoring if necessary."
John thought for a moment. "I guess that's it for now."
Lionel nodded, considering carefully everything John told him.
"Thanks for the lessons. Do you follow these rules?"
"Yes I do," said John, "and a few others besides."
"Like what?"
"Well buying suits has its own set of rules, but don't worry about those right now because I don't recommend a suit for you for Valentine's Day based on what you told me about your date."
"Do you know of a store I can go to that sells everything I'd need? I don't have tons of money to spend, either, just so you know."
"Matter of fact, I do. Gentlemen's Emporium – have you heard of it?"
"I've seen it advertised. Never been, though. Let's go right after we eat."
"You want me to go with you?" Asked a surprised John.
"Of course. I didn't need to wake you up at 8 am for some info you could have given me over the phone. I want to see how this works and I want you as backup. I know you won't allow me to walk out of there with my usual type of clothes and left to my own devices, I worry that that's what I'll do. You know – old habits and all. I want to get started with a Valentine's outfit and a few other basics,"
After the server cleared the table, Lionel ordered two more coffees. Then John asked Lionel in his most quiet voice, "Do we need to discuss grooming?"
"Yes," Lionel responded, sheepishly.
Thirty minutes later, the two friends were at the register with Fusco paying for breakfast. After Lionel paid, he handed the receipt to John.
"I believe this is for you," he said with a grin.
John took it and saw a note written at the bottom that read, Dear Gorgeous Tall Guy, Call me. Marjorie 212-555-1212. When he looked over at their server, she winked at him flirtatiously.
"Very funny, Lionel," said John. "Very funny."
They exited the diner.
In the cab on the way to the Emporium, John excused himself to phone Joss and fill her in.
"Hey babe. Listen, I'm going to be gone for a few hours. I'm clothes shopping with Lionel."
"You're what," she asked, incredulously.
"I'll tell you more when I get home. You're staying put right?"
"Yes, I'll be here."
"Good. I'll see you later then. I love you."
"I love you, too, John."
When John ended his call, he found that Fusco was staring at him.
"What?" John asked.
"You've got it bad, don't you?"
"Yes I do my friend. And it's wonderful."
"So what are you going to do for Valentine's Day this year? Last year was monumental. Joss is still talking about that cruise and I'm still talking about that lunch you cooked for her. Are you cooking lunch again this year, I hope?"
"No lunch this year. But this is going to be the main event," John shared.
He removed his phone from his jacket pocket and opened the photos file, found the picture he was looking for then passed his phone to Lionel, who whistled as soon as he saw the picture.
"Wow!" exclaimed Lionel. "That's a helluva rock. So you're going to do it on Valentine's Day?"
"I am. We're going to an early dinner, then the opera. I'm having Joss's friends and family waiting for us at the fountain at Lincoln Center right after the opera's over. I'll pop the question there."
"Sounds exciting. Carter doesn't know?"
"No clue. Everyone is having drinks after, then Joss and I are doing a stay cation at the Greenwich Hotel – penthouse room with a fireplace, two nights – that's assuming she says yes," John added.
"Of course, she will. That woman loves you to pieces and would move heaven and earth for you," Lionel stated matter of factly.
John blushed and allowed himself a smile, thanking God once more for giving him Jocelyn Carter.
"The Greenwich – that's De Niro's hotel in Tribeca, right?" Lionel asked.
"That's the one."
"And the opera?"
"Le Nozze de Figaro," said John.
"Si. Si," commented Lionel. "Il mio preferito."
"Il mio e La Traviata," John responded.
"Of course you speak Italian," grumbled Lionel.
"Apparantemente anche tu," retorted John.
Lionel grinned.