I ride Circuit all the time. Circuit is a free ride to various points around Fort Lauderdale in a golf cart type buggy. I always tip and all the driver’s know me by now. In fact Raul had told me previously that he went home to Peru to have an operation and visit his Mom
“Here,” he said, “you’re just a piece of meat. My friend is a surgeon in Peru and he gave me top service.”
Then he told me details about the trip he and his girlfriend were planning, including details about the price and accommodation.
He’s a chatty driver.
On this particular ride, he told me that he had to pick up a fellow driver and deliver him to the beach. We pull up to the Circuit garage where the electric buggies recharged and a young 20 something guy jumps in the back seat behind me. Raul introduces us and his name is Mike.
I said Hi, but never turned around to see the guy.
They start chatting.
“Are you done for the day?” asks Raul.
“Naw,” said Mike, “I’m on my lunch hour and I’m meeting a girl at the beach. We’re going to sit in the sand and talk.”
“Your girlfriend?”
“Not exactly. I gave her a ride in the Northwest section and we got to talking. Then we exchanged numbers and we’re going to meet today and get to know each other,” said Mike.
I remembered the last time I sat at a coffee shop to get to know someone. His name was Jerry and he was already seated when I arrived.
“Nice,” said Raul. “Whatever you talk about, make sure you don’t lie trying to impress her. They always find out and will never believe you again. Remember, don’t lie.”
“Well, she already knows that I work at Jersey Mike’s and drive Circuit.”
Yes. I remember Jerry.. But I found out they were lies too late.
“Well, just make sure you tell her the truth about everything. Remember, don’t lie about anything. You’ll only get in trouble”
Too right! Jerry was the biggest liar but there were a few others. They didn’t last long with me.
“If things work out, I’m going to ask her to dinner.”
“Be careful of that. I have a friend who took a date to a $300 dinner and he never saw her again.”
Maybe he had bad table manners?
“Not that much.”
Raul said, “I tell my girlfriend only $40 for dinner. That’s enough.”
MacDonald’s?
“You can’t get dinner for two for $40.”
You can if you follow my date, Jerry around.
Now I sit up even straighter.
“Oh, yeah. There’s lots of places. There’s the Booty Shack down on 9th. Great food. Then there’s lots of taco places. I’ll give you some names of restaurants. If it works out.”
“I’m really nervous, ” said Mike. “Sometimes I get a little shy. People don’t know that about me.”
Aw, how sweet. I like the shy ones. They are usually more stable.
Now I can’t stand to keep my mouth shut. “Just be yourself. If she doesn’t like you for yourself, she’s not worth bothering about,” I declare.
Now Mike says, “I’m always afraid I will say something stupid.”
Saying something stupid is forgiveable. Even likeable. Not arrogant.
“You’re not going to say anything stupid,” I said, still not looking around. “You haven’t said anything stupid here in the cart. “
“Boy, I hope not. Sometimes I do, though.”
Now I turn around and look at Mike. He’s tall, curly hair, huge eyes and muscular. And this guy’s worried?
Raul pulls the golf cart over to the side of the road. “Here we are,” he says.
Mike jumps out and I take a good look at him, “WOW. You are so good looking!!!” And that’s the truth.
Jerry wasn’t even good looking!!
His face brightens and with a wonderful smile, he says, “Thanks.” And off he goes.
For the next three days I ride the circuit to and from places I didn’t even need to go…..trying to find out what happened with Mike and his possible girl friend on the beach.
But Raul, unfortunately was never my driver.
Maybe tomorrow I’ll have Raul and find out the result of Mike’s meeting. I’ll keep calling Circuit and riding around until Raul is my driver and get some news.
I never looked at dating from a male perspective before.
Interesting. Not so different from a female’s feelings about a first date.