Mark and All the Magical Things by Jeff Elkins

Author:Jeff Elkins [Elkins, Jeff]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: UNKNOWN
Published: 2017-03-10T23:00:00+00:00

MARK AND THE MAGIC FIRST DATE

Mark open and closed his hands, stretching his fingers. His palms were sweaty. He didn’t like it. He stopped at an abandoned storefront to examine himself in the reflective glass. Pulling on his beard with his right hand, he wished he were better looking. He sighed at the bags under his eyes, his messy hair, and his wild whiskers. Why had he decided to wear plaid? He looked like the skinniest lumberjack in the world. “To late to do anything about it now,” he said to himself and he continued on.

The bar was crowded for a Tuesday night. The tavern was small. The bar had room for twelve and then there were the fifteen or so two to four top tables. Mark scanned the room. All the stools were taken and most of the tables were filled. There was one open by the door, but Mark knew if he took it he’d be cold and uncomfortable all night, and he wanted tonight to be different. He wanted to give Anne his full attention. He considered just standing at the bar. She would probably be more comfortable there. No commitment that way. If she didn’t like him, she could just excuse herself and not have to worry about ordering food or anything.

He heard his name and looked to the back corner. Anne already had a table. She was smiling and waving to him. Mark swallowed, rubbed his hands on his pants, and crossed the room to meet her.

“Hey, um. Thanks for, like, meeting me here tonight,” he said as he arrived at the table.

“Thanks for asking,” she said. “It’s nice not to be home alone on Valentine’s Day.”

“Oh, yeah,” Mark said, remembering. Reaching into his back pocket, he pulled out a wrinkled and damp envelope. “I got you a card,” he said, holding it out to her. “Um, sorry it’s so… I put it in my back pocket and it got a little wrinkled.”

Anne took the card with a smile and smoothed it out. “No worries,” she said, pulling the card from its envelope.

Mark took a seat at the table. Maybe the card was a bad idea. He was nervous how she’d take it.

Anne laughed out loud, held up the card, and said, “This is hysterical.”

The card had a picture of President Obama on the front with the phrase, “I’m glad I’m not Obama-self this Valentine’s Day.”

Mark smiled. “I’m glad you like it,” he said. “Don’t say I never got you anything.”

“You’re already setting a pretty high bar for the rest of the date by bringing me stuff,” she said opening the card. Then she held up the blank interior to him and said, “Of course, next time you could maybe, sign it.”

“I didn’t want to raise your expectations too high,” he said leaning back in his chair. “I need some way surprise you next time I get you a card. I’m holding back to make it special in the future, you know.”

“Very smart,” Anne said. “Because if you’d signed it this time, there’s nowhere else to go.

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