Puzzling things The night is young but we had been at the fair for over four hours .It was crowded there but so interesting.The sounds of everyone talking and laughing with a mixture of a dozen smells always present.Even while I enjoyed the horse showing events there was the smell of hot dogs,cotton candy and manure.Right next to me sat Ray having those things quietly eating and totaly involved in nothing else.I have determined he is like the old chain smokers but Ray is a chain eater.He stopped at a french fry booth,he calls them food joints,but we must wait in lines of hungry people ten deep.All of us waiting our turn and annoyed at the slowpokes,dilly dalliers and the guy buying for his family of six already sitting at a table with eyes and mouths wide open.The beauty of all this to me was the humanity of it.Some of us like families and closeness although I know people too shy or introverted for this place.We finaly get our frieswith melted yellow cheese on them.Ray ordered a large order because I said I would share with him.He even was about to salt more but stopped and looked for my approval.I nodded yes to him.This is when the chain eater showed up.He leads me away to another long line to stand in while we eat the fries waiting.It was perfect timing because we were next in line for our real meal he called it,a large sub sandwich with steak and cheese,smothered in greasy,greasy oinions and peppers with a sprinkle of hot pepper from a shaker.I shook my head,no way Ray,that is all yours.This was fine but ten feet away I am standing there watching him eat that thing like he was a starving refugee.The grease running down his wrist into his shirt must have tickled his elbow but he kept eating until it was gone and you guessed it.I was ordering a small hard icecream cone with two scoops,one maple walnut and the top one blackrasberry.I chuckled because he ordered a kids size soft chocolate cone and saidThis stuff is very fattening so be careful girlfriendI heard him but just looked at my delicious treat as I licked it and just ignored him staring at me.I thought to myselflet him sweat like at Madame Bettys The first thing he did was hop out of the car and come around to open my door with a smile.Why are you so happy Ray?he saidyou did not get up and walk away when I said girlfriend,that is whyI saidthank you boyfriend,now let me put you to work at my kitchen table.I have five hundred piece puzzle to put together.A tough guy like you can handle that,right?He smiled broadly,put his arms around me and then we headed into my place.He and I looked up and there was Doreen waving at us again.She opens her window just before we get inside and saysWho is that hunk?Do you share?Does he follow orders?I looked up at her and just shook my head up and down three times and then looked at Ray.He was blushing but waved back at her as he pushed me in the door.It reminded me of the diner when he sort of pushed me in the booth before him to silently tell the old goat,that is his name Ray swears to it.I think guys have that macho ego thing.We girls just hold hands with our significant other.That is simple and not all tense like bulls in a ring together.He does not know Doreen like I do.Too well I must admit but I did not know better than to have too much to drink one night with her and the others at the all girl party.It was more of a girls that look like girls,girls that look like guys and guys that look like girls.Ofcourse Doreen the hostess was in her dominatrix outfit being playful with her little whip.She tapped me twice on the fanny when I had my back to her at one point.I turned around quickly to discover her and two other friends of hers were all sitting there admiring my backside like I was on the runway walk at a fashion show.I felt beautiful in a strange way.I do not think Ray will fall under her spell but I did,accidently that one night. Ray shakes me from my daydreaming and sayslet me see the puzzle,is it this one?Kitty cats and puppies?He was wrong and looked easy.Oh no Ray it is a different one.I pulled it out of a bag.This is it Ray,it is called King Ludwigs castle,the Neuswinestein castle near munich germanyRay smiles and then saysI know it well because I toured it while in the US Army while on leave and I recall Walt Disney saw it after world war too and decided it is the castle that we all imagine one should look like.He then used it for the model of sleeping beautys castle.I was very awestruck with it infront of me once.We can do it.I dumped it out and we began. I really surprised him with a can of ice cold Moxie from my refridgerator.I knew he loved it so I called three grocery stores until one place had it,Walmart.I went and bought one six pack.That will keep him her tonite and for dinner,the house special,A nice lasagna I put in the freezer just for a night like tonite and a guy who eats like an army.The hours passed and it was all fun.He is pretty good at it too.He said back a million years ago all he had for entertainment were things like monopoly,chess,checkers,puzzles and playing cards.These things are mostly gone now as old hat,old school and oldfolks prevideo pathetic toys.Little do young people realize that it brought us together instead of all this one with headphones in both ears.How will they ever learn to communicate to others.It seems to be empty but they say online chats and messages are like talking and getting together but it is virtual only,not face to face,nothing but a way to avoid real socializing. Ray are you hungry?The look in his eye and that smile spelled bingo to me.I pulled out my knockout punch.He watched as I took a cover off of my first attempt at a bumbleberry pie.His eyes lit up and I saidIt is all yours to eat now and take home the rest.He stood up and hugged me tighter than ever before and looked into my face.I felt his lips on mine for a moment and then he saidthank you my sweet lady.No one has thought about me in a long time.If this is better than Teds diner pie I guess Jeanne will not see me very often.How are you at daily specials?Then the thought came to meit will be different every day when you eat here RayI could see him taking it all in but like some animals eating their food this time I will just sit and watch him.That puzzle looks great except for the one lost piece we can not find.There are worse things to worry about.I made my boyfriend happy tonite.After he finished I wrapped it up to put back but he saidTime to go my lady.MaY i call you tomorrow morning.We can decide what to do next.I shook my head as I walked him to the car.He started it and beeped as he pulled away.Hey you,Doreen here,have you forgotten me? I waved and answered Never,never,never you very bad girl,good nightI locked my door and went up to bed.I did not look out my window tonite.Doreen still has power over me after all this time.I guess it was not all bad.Goodnight Ray I whispered aloud.
Posted on: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 21:40:16 +0000