Natalie
Napkin folding? Ugh! However, I had promised Alan that I'd join him in activities. Not only do I have to endure that class, but I'll have to watch him give demos every time someone comes over! Overall, I did okay. Alan took to napkin folding like a cat with a new paper bag to play with.
When the lessons finally ended, we attended a lecture about our next port of call, which I found very interesting. Afterwards, as Alan and I walked out of the auditorium, he looked at his watch and remarked.
"We've got a little time to play with before dinner." then he stopped, as if remembering something. "Tonight's dinner is formal"
"Really?" I groaned. "Couldn't we just go to the buffet, Babe?"
"Go to the buffet??" Alan repeated in surprise.
"I just don't feel like taking the trouble of choosing a dress, fixing my hair, doing my makeup...and ... eating food I just don't want right now" I had no energy or hunger.
"But I told Bob that we'd see him and Mary at dinner tonight" Alan protested.
I groaned inwardly. "Why?"
"Why not?"
"Mary treats me like a trophy wife sometimes" I told him.
"Nat, the trouble is that you don't really say much at dinner." Alan said.
"Mary doesn't even let her own husband get in a word edgewise" I pointed out.
"The only time you say much of anything isto give your order" he said, then smiled.. "Maybe if you talked more, Mary would see how smart and charming you are"
"I don't need that kinda stress!" I disagreed "Why worry about impressing people????? I just wanna relax, and have a good time with you!"
He remarked"You're the one complaining about how she treats you"
"You don't get it do you?" I shook my head.
"Get what? That you wanna stay in your shell?"
"Shell???" I snapped. What was with him??
"Yeah...shell." he repeated firmly. "You're not exactly the most social person"
"If I'm so antisocial, why is it that you asked me out when we were stuck on that elevator?" I retorted, as I was very annoyed.
he replied in a deadpan.. " I seem to remember you being a little reluctant to talk to me until the elevator stalled."
Lacking the energy to argue anymore, I said "Fine fine...I 'll go to dinner and try to talk more"
"You could wear that green dress..." he began.
"Don't push it." I interrupted him.
"Okay..." Alan said sheepishly.
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"Nat! What's taking you so long?" Alan asked me from the doorway of the bathroom as I showered and washed my hair.
"We're always the first ones at the table!" I pointed out. "And you do realize that that our seats are assigned right?"
"I gotta shower too!" he grumbled
"Did your hair grow two feet since this afternoon?" I snorted.
"If it did, I'd still take less time in the shower than you have" he told me dryly.
"I'm sure..." I replied sardonically.
Reluctantly, I got out of the shower, put on one of my nice dresses, fixed my hair, and applied makeup. Before I knew it, Alan was ready and we were on our way.
Mary and Bob were already at the table when we arrived. They were around Alan's age. Mary had her brown and gray hair in a tight bun, which I found odd, as I only used that style at work. Bob's hair was all grey, but he had cobalt blue eyes and a small nose.
After we all said hi and all that, Mary began "I just finished reading this wonderful book!"
Alan turned to her. "What was it about?"
"It was an autobiography of a woman ..." She went on and on, as I tried to focus on the menu. Her idea of good books different from mine, as they dealt with crap I didn't care about.
"What would you like?" a young man with an accent asked suddenly. Where had he come from?
"Oh uh...whatever he's having" I pointed to Alan, who gave me an bemused look. "It sounds really good!"
This was gonna be a very long evening.
TBC
