Terry Forster
Someone Special.
Sometimes in our lives we need someone special, someone who means everything to us and gives us a will to live not just for ourselves but for them too. This thought ran through Ron’s mind as he stared at his face in the mirror and prepared to go through the ritual daily shave. Quite why he had thought this today was anyone’s, guess as it was no different to any other as far as he could see. It was not like it was a birthday or anything special. Perhaps it was the sight of the aging face staring back at him and a realization that time was marching on and he was still on his own. Not that he minded that as at thirty eight his life was full and he had friends, good friends; well mostly. He was still into sport and enjoyed his football, although he could feel himself slowing down now. Summer evening cycle rides with his friends took up a lot of time and so women didn’t figure largely in his life.
His sisters often ribbed him about the lack of female company in his life that contributed to his lack of refinement. Ron would simply reply that he would meet someone if it was meant to be. They would be quick to point out that the chances of meeting a suitable young woman in the saloon bar of his local were extremely low.
Giving a big sigh Ron finished washing and got dressed and left to go to the nearby engineering company where he worked in the design department. He enjoyed his job and the challenges it offered him. Today like other days Ron found he was completely absorbed in the task at hand and lunchtime came quickly. He was going to nip into town to pick up a few things and as he stood he was spotted by Dave one of his colleagues. Dave shouted over to him in a weary voice.
“Ron mate, are you going into the town center?”
“I am and I know that tone, do you want me to get you something while I am there?”
“Oh yes if you wouldn’t mind. If you are going anywhere near the Mother care store would you pick up some Terry Towling nappies and some bibs.”
“Terry whats.” Ron said in surprise.
“Terry Towling nappies, they are proper washable ones not like the modern stuff you get now.” Dave explained.
“I will see what I can do then.” Ron replied in a voice that lacked confidence.
When he had completed his own shopping Ron made his way to Mother care. Once inside he found himself totally surrounded by women in various stages of pregnancy. This was an alien world and he didn’t think there were that many pregnant women in the world. He had no idea where to find anything and stood gazing around helplessly.
“Can I help you?” A voice asked quietly.
Ron turned and saw that the voice belonged to a pretty dark haired woman who looked to be about thirty four or five. He found himself strangely tongue tied as looked at her.
“Is it a maternity Bra you are looking for and do you know the size?” the woman asked.
“What, er, no, no.” He found himself spluttering as he realized that he was standing right beside them. “No I am looking for Terry Nappies and bibs”
“Then let me help you. How old is the baby?
“I don’t’ know I think it is about three months.” He stammered.
“Don’t’ you know for certain?” the young woman asked giving him a puzzled look.
“Oh, well no, you see the baby isn’t mine, I am not with anyone, it belongs to a friend and I am only here on an errand of mercy.” Ron found he was rambling on and on and it wasn’t just that he was a little embarrassed. He was knocked out of his stride by the woman in front of him and was acting like a awkward school boy. The badge on her lapel told him her name was Juliet.
“Come with me and I will show you where they are". Juliet said giving him a beaming smile. She led him to the nappy section and left him to browse in silence. He bought the nappies and a couple of bibs with pictures of screaming babies on them with the legend, “I am not hungry, I always look like this.”
As he left the Mother care store he found he couldn’t get the image of Juliet out of his mind. He resolved to try and see her again but found himself thinking,
“Just my blooming luck for her to work in Mother care, I can’t keep walking in and buying nappies and bibs. Why couldn’t she have worked in ASDA or Sainsburies, at least then I could have arranged to bump into her? What a fool I am she is probably married with a dozen kids. Just forget about her and chalk it up to experience.”
Ron returned to work and entered again into the world he knew well and those familiar waters closed in on him.
A couple of weeks later Ron was invited to a leaving do at the local borough Hall. It was for John, one the designers who was moving abroad to work. The Borough Hall was a new experience for Ron as it was rather a posh place and there wasn’t a dart board or Pool table to be seen. He had been told to wear a suit for the occasion when he was really a smart casual sort of guy, and now he really felt like a fish out of water. He stood at the bar trying to catch the eye of the girls behind the counter who were bending over the sinks to wash up and exposing copious amounts of cleavage. A voice beside him said.
“I see you are you still looking at bras.” Ron turned and saw Juliet standing beside him.
“What, oh no, I wasn’t looking at their! I mean I am only trying to get served. I hadn’t realized that things were on show. God you must think I am obsessed” He stammered realizing he was only digging a bigger hole for himself.
Juliet laughed and said. “I am only teasing you; although they are a bit obvious aren’t they? I saw you at the bar and thought I would introduce myself to you again.”
Ron tried to remain calm but inside he was shaking. Juliet looked beautiful and he hardly dared speak in case he said something stupid again. He did manage to tell her his name before asking her if she was at the party celebrating John’s escape to pastures new.
“No I am at a completely different “Do” a couple of rooms away, but it is absolutely full and I thought it might be easier to get served in here. I am pleased I came through as it is nice to see you again."
“It is lovely to see you too. I didn’t think I would see you again as I have no reason to go into Mother care. Well I wouldn’t would I as I am not married and have no kids? Not that you need to be married to have kids these days. I’m open minded about it all.”
Ron found he was rambling on again and wanted to kick himself. He wanted to make a good impression this time and he was making a hash of it. He was pleasantly surprised to find that Juliet was simply standing smiling at him as he stumbled on.
“Won’t your husband be waiting for you to take the drinks back?” he asked and immediately thought. "Oh god, that wasn’t a particularly subtle thing to say.”
“No I am out with the girls tonight. We are letting our hair down to celebrate a friend who has had a baby and this is her first time out since then.” Juliet replied.
Ron pinched himself to avoid making any remarks about maternity bras.
There followed a desultory conversation where they talked without wanting to take their eyes from each other. Ron’s world seemed to shrink to encompass only them.
“I hope she feels the way I do at this moment.” he found himself thinking as he looked at her. After what seemed like an age the pair finally ordered their drinks and stood looking at each other, not wanting to break the moment. Then Juliet smiled and said.
“They really will be wondering where I am with these drinks and so I better get back to them. It has been really lovely to see you again and to chat.” She then gave him another heart melting smile and turned to go. After walking a few steps she paused and looked over her shoulder before saying.
“In case you were wondering, there is no husband”
Ron stood and watched as she walked away and realized he could feel his heart thumping in his chest. He stretched out his hand and saw his fingers were shaking. He had never felt this way about anyone before and he knew he had met that someone special that everyone talked about. He was determined that this wouldn’t be the last time he would see her.
Someone Special.
Sometimes in our lives we need someone special, someone who means everything to us and gives us a will to live not just for ourselves but for them too. This thought ran through Ron’s mind as he stared at his face in the mirror and prepared to go through the ritual daily shave. Quite why he had thought this today was anyone’s, guess as it was no different to any other as far as he could see. It was not like it was a birthday or anything special. Perhaps it was the sight of the aging face staring back at him and a realization that time was marching on and he was still on his own. Not that he minded that as at thirty eight his life was full and he had friends, good friends; well mostly. He was still into sport and enjoyed his football, although he could feel himself slowing down now. Summer evening cycle rides with his friends took up a lot of time and so women didn’t figure largely in his life.
His sisters often ribbed him about the lack of female company in his life that contributed to his lack of refinement. Ron would simply reply that he would meet someone if it was meant to be. They would be quick to point out that the chances of meeting a suitable young woman in the saloon bar of his local were extremely low.
Giving a big sigh Ron finished washing and got dressed and left to go to the nearby engineering company where he worked in the design department. He enjoyed his job and the challenges it offered him. Today like other days Ron found he was completely absorbed in the task at hand and lunchtime came quickly. He was going to nip into town to pick up a few things and as he stood he was spotted by Dave one of his colleagues. Dave shouted over to him in a weary voice.
“Ron mate, are you going into the town center?”
“I am and I know that tone, do you want me to get you something while I am there?”
“Oh yes if you wouldn’t mind. If you are going anywhere near the Mother care store would you pick up some Terry Towling nappies and some bibs.”
“Terry whats.” Ron said in surprise.
“Terry Towling nappies, they are proper washable ones not like the modern stuff you get now.” Dave explained.
“I will see what I can do then.” Ron replied in a voice that lacked confidence.
When he had completed his own shopping Ron made his way to Mother care. Once inside he found himself totally surrounded by women in various stages of pregnancy. This was an alien world and he didn’t think there were that many pregnant women in the world. He had no idea where to find anything and stood gazing around helplessly.
“Can I help you?” A voice asked quietly.
Ron turned and saw that the voice belonged to a pretty dark haired woman who looked to be about thirty four or five. He found himself strangely tongue tied as looked at her.
“Is it a maternity Bra you are looking for and do you know the size?” the woman asked.
“What, er, no, no.” He found himself spluttering as he realized that he was standing right beside them. “No I am looking for Terry Nappies and bibs”
“Then let me help you. How old is the baby?
“I don’t’ know I think it is about three months.” He stammered.
“Don’t’ you know for certain?” the young woman asked giving him a puzzled look.
“Oh, well no, you see the baby isn’t mine, I am not with anyone, it belongs to a friend and I am only here on an errand of mercy.” Ron found he was rambling on and on and it wasn’t just that he was a little embarrassed. He was knocked out of his stride by the woman in front of him and was acting like a awkward school boy. The badge on her lapel told him her name was Juliet.
“Come with me and I will show you where they are". Juliet said giving him a beaming smile. She led him to the nappy section and left him to browse in silence. He bought the nappies and a couple of bibs with pictures of screaming babies on them with the legend, “I am not hungry, I always look like this.”
As he left the Mother care store he found he couldn’t get the image of Juliet out of his mind. He resolved to try and see her again but found himself thinking,
“Just my blooming luck for her to work in Mother care, I can’t keep walking in and buying nappies and bibs. Why couldn’t she have worked in ASDA or Sainsburies, at least then I could have arranged to bump into her? What a fool I am she is probably married with a dozen kids. Just forget about her and chalk it up to experience.”
Ron returned to work and entered again into the world he knew well and those familiar waters closed in on him.
A couple of weeks later Ron was invited to a leaving do at the local borough Hall. It was for John, one the designers who was moving abroad to work. The Borough Hall was a new experience for Ron as it was rather a posh place and there wasn’t a dart board or Pool table to be seen. He had been told to wear a suit for the occasion when he was really a smart casual sort of guy, and now he really felt like a fish out of water. He stood at the bar trying to catch the eye of the girls behind the counter who were bending over the sinks to wash up and exposing copious amounts of cleavage. A voice beside him said.
“I see you are you still looking at bras.” Ron turned and saw Juliet standing beside him.
“What, oh no, I wasn’t looking at their! I mean I am only trying to get served. I hadn’t realized that things were on show. God you must think I am obsessed” He stammered realizing he was only digging a bigger hole for himself.
Juliet laughed and said. “I am only teasing you; although they are a bit obvious aren’t they? I saw you at the bar and thought I would introduce myself to you again.”
Ron tried to remain calm but inside he was shaking. Juliet looked beautiful and he hardly dared speak in case he said something stupid again. He did manage to tell her his name before asking her if she was at the party celebrating John’s escape to pastures new.
“No I am at a completely different “Do” a couple of rooms away, but it is absolutely full and I thought it might be easier to get served in here. I am pleased I came through as it is nice to see you again."
“It is lovely to see you too. I didn’t think I would see you again as I have no reason to go into Mother care. Well I wouldn’t would I as I am not married and have no kids? Not that you need to be married to have kids these days. I’m open minded about it all.”
Ron found he was rambling on again and wanted to kick himself. He wanted to make a good impression this time and he was making a hash of it. He was pleasantly surprised to find that Juliet was simply standing smiling at him as he stumbled on.
“Won’t your husband be waiting for you to take the drinks back?” he asked and immediately thought. "Oh god, that wasn’t a particularly subtle thing to say.”
“No I am out with the girls tonight. We are letting our hair down to celebrate a friend who has had a baby and this is her first time out since then.” Juliet replied.
Ron pinched himself to avoid making any remarks about maternity bras.
There followed a desultory conversation where they talked without wanting to take their eyes from each other. Ron’s world seemed to shrink to encompass only them.
“I hope she feels the way I do at this moment.” he found himself thinking as he looked at her. After what seemed like an age the pair finally ordered their drinks and stood looking at each other, not wanting to break the moment. Then Juliet smiled and said.
“They really will be wondering where I am with these drinks and so I better get back to them. It has been really lovely to see you again and to chat.” She then gave him another heart melting smile and turned to go. After walking a few steps she paused and looked over her shoulder before saying.
“In case you were wondering, there is no husband”
Ron stood and watched as she walked away and realized he could feel his heart thumping in his chest. He stretched out his hand and saw his fingers were shaking. He had never felt this way about anyone before and he knew he had met that someone special that everyone talked about. He was determined that this wouldn’t be the last time he would see her.