I had been wandering around the city for hours and had immensely enjoyed myself. Noon approached and I got hungry and chose to go to Auntie Magda for lunch. Auntie Magda is the name of the restaurant named after the owner, Auntie Magda who really is my aunt. Aunt Magda is in her early fifthies, the prime example of a woman who decided that she wouldn't be dependent on her husband but chased after her own dreams and made them true. She is a health nut, working out every morning before she goes to work, although what she produces in her kitchen is anything but healthy but oh so tasty and finger lickin' good. With all the work I don't get to see her enough so I decided to pay her a visit. As I entered the restaurant I spotted Charlene, one of her most loyal employees and assistant manager standing behind the bar where patrons could wait if there was a full house. As it was lunch hour the place started to get packed with people. Charlene was busy chatting with a man, her big breasts his main focus. I walked up to her to greet her. I mentally braced myself for Charlene is a big woman who likes to hug.
"Hi Charlene! How are you?" I said.
Charlene looked at me and her face lit up like a Christmas tree.
"Excuse me darling," she said to the man she was talking to. " I just gotta say hello to this gorgeous hunk of a man! Come here baby!" She walked around the bar and came up to me and gave me a big hug. I could feel her arms crushing me, her big breasts trying to drill a hole in my chest. Did I already mention she was big? She is tall too, just an inch shorter than I am. I let myself into her embrace, knowing that resistance was futile.
"Hello my baby boy! How come we haven't seen you in such a long time? That theater business of yours is taking too much of your time isn't it. Don't try to deny it. I can almost feel your bones through your shirt, you need to put more meat on your bones! I guess we'll just have to feed you while we have the chance. You are here to eat are you?"
She let go of me and I stared at her. Like my aunt, there was nothing but love emanating from this woman.
"I'm sorry Charlene, you know how it goes with running a business, you want to be everywhere at the same time. I got almost no time for myself. Delia kicked me out for today though. I am not allowed to enter the office for today and the whole weekend. I've just been wandering around town, doing nothing and now I am hungry so I decided to come to my favorite restaurant for a bite. You know, to fatten up a little."
I gave her a mischievous smile. Charlene knows me like few people do. She put her hand on my forehead.
"Now, that sister of you is very smart for giving you the day off and by what you just told me you really needed it. You wandering around town doing nothing? Mr. Busy Busy himself? You're not sick, your temperature is normal, is this a new you?"
She was looking at me quizzically. I couldn't help but laugh. She was right, my doing nothing was a bit uncharacteristic for me.
"I'm fine! I just thought of doing something different for a change. Maybe it's the spring time or something."
"Mmmhhhh, maybe you're coming out of your shell you call work and feel like getting a little loving? When are you getting yourself a man and enjoy the tastier side of live?"
I felt the heat going to my head. You think Black people don't blush? Thing again. You can't see it when they do, with the exception of very light skinned Black people, but we do blush. And I was definitely blushing after her remark.
"You're always putting me on the spot Charlene! You know I don't have time for a relationship, I barely have time for myself. I don't think I can give what I want to receive in a relationship right now."
I was aware that we were standing in a rather crowded area but I always felt free to speak openly with Charlene about my love life or lack there off.
"Boy! I'm not talking about relationships in particular. When was the last time you got any?"
By now, you must have guessed that Charlene is a very forward person, one of the reasons I like her.
I sighed. "I don't exactly, I think it was a couple of months ago."
"Months ago? Jackson, you need to keep the motor running and oiled or you're gonna get rusty. Such a fine man like you and you're denying another man what you have to give? You're still young baby, get it while you can, but you got to play safe! If the right man comes along, you'll find time to give what you want to receive, trust me on that. I don't want to keep having this conversation with you eveytime we speak. At the least I want to hear that you get your freak on once in a while, once in a while meaning more the one every couple of months. You got to make priorities, you can't be married to your career Jackson, have a little fun on the side too!"
"Understood! I am taking your words to heart. Where is aunt Magda by the way?"
Charlene smiled. She gave me a kiss on the cheek.
"That's what I want to hear. Now, let's get you fed. You want your regular table? You're aunt had an appointment this morning, she could come in any minute?"
"Okay, I'd like to have my regular table if you don't mind. Will you let her know that I am here when she gets in?"
"Sure darling, I will. Now, let's get you settled and I'll bring you the menu and a cup of latte okay?"
"I know the menu by heart, I don't think I'll need it," I said.
Charlene pinched my left cheek.
"You really haven't been here in a while have you? We've changed the menu," she said smiling.
"Really? I guess I'll have to get reacquainted with the menu." I said smirking while we walked to my table.
As I said down in the back of the restaurant facing into the crowd I saw a guy entering. He looked to be about 26, 6'1", around my weight, black but light skinned with a big mob of curly hair, looking freaky and unkempt on his head. He was too far away to see what color his eyes were but I could definitely see his huge glasses which were outdated for a very long time. The thing besides his big hair that stood out was his outfit. It was a concoction of different styles and too many colors. The clothes weren't dirty or whatever but they just didn't carry him. He had a shirt on that were too many sizes too big, jeans that had a snit that was out of fashion for at least a decade and white sneakers. As I stood taking his appearance all of a sudden he locked eyes with me. I still couldn't see what colours his eyes were but I could feel him checking me out as well. There was something about that guy that just captivated me.
"Hello? Jackson? Are you listing to what I'm saying?" Charlene asked, snapping her fingers before my eyes.
It was now very obvious that I was staring at this guy. I cursed Charlene silently, feeling embarrassed about the situation but the guy didn't seem to care, he just kept his gaze upon me. I pried my eyes away from him and looked up at Charlene.
"Sorry, what were you saying?" I tried, but Charlene saw right trough it.
She spun around and saw the guy looking at me. She appraised him for a full 10 seconds and turned back to me.
"You've got a strange taste in men, Jackson. That guy looks like he got stuck somewhere between 1989 and 1991."
I nodded in agreement, turning my gaze back at the guy.
"You're right, he is a fashion victim, but I see potential. I can already see the after, if he ever has a make over. He really needs a make over, Oprah and her staff would have a blast with this one."
"Hhhhmmm... he is a fashion victim for sure. I would love to get my scissors in that hair."
"You can do a lot of things Charlene, but cutting hair is not one of them," I said, recalling a now funny, but then very embarrassing encounter of my hair with Charlenes scissors.
"That hairdo wasn't that bad," Charlene pouted.
"Hahaha," I laughed, "tell that to the kids at my junior high who thought I had a blind barber!"
"Yeah well, it did get you noticed."
"Hah! The gay black kid with the freaky hair! I survived though. I'm still here."
"Yes you are," Charlene snickered. "I'll go and check with our freaky guy what he wants, I know that Tina won't dare go near him. I'll be back with the latte and your menu shortly."
"Sure! See you in a few!" I said.
Charlene walked towards the bar and started talking to the guy. Of course I couldn't hear what they were talking about. He looked shyly at her but apparently she put him at ease because at one point I could see him smile at her. He had a nice smile. Charlene walked away from him and he stood waiting while I was guessing she prepared my latte and fetched a menu for me. She came back from behind the bar and motioned him to follow her. My eyes got big when I saw them approaching my table. Charlene put my latte on the table and handed me one menu, holding another one in her hand. He had light brown eyes, bordering on green, standing looking a bit uncomfortable. I looked at her questioningly wondering what he was doing at my table.
"Jackson, this is Matthew, he is here for lunch also but we are fully seated right now so I offered him to share your table," she said.
I looked from Charlene to Matthew. He looked a little lost, almost as if he was embarrassed at the situation. I felt for him, it was kinda strange but I didn't mind sharing a table with him. He was looking sort of freaky, but hey, I am in the theater business right? I've seen more eccentric types before.
"No problem! Come and sit down!"
"Are you sure it's no problem? I can just wait for a free table. I don't want to cause any inconvenience to you," he said.
My eyes shot up when I heard his voice. I was a deep melodic voice, rich in texture. I am a sucker for deep male voices, it is a definite major plus in my book. And from this little sentence he just spoke he seemed very well spoken too. I am not a particular fan of Ebonics, maybe it is my middle class upbringing. I just don't think that it is a part of my Black identity although I've learned to master it because it can come in handy some times. I shot a quick glance at Charlene who was suppressing a smile but I could see the twinkle in her eyes.
"There is no inconvenience at all, I'd be glad not to eat lunch alone. Please, take a seat."
"Okay! Thank you very much!" he said and sat down.
"Here you go honey," Charlene said, handing him the other menu. "Can I get you something to drink?"
"Thank you. I would like a latte please!"
"Sure thing hon! I'll be back shortly to give you your latte and take your orders. Okay?"
"That will be fine, thank you very much," he said.
Charlene walked away to the bar. We sat in silence for a while, studying the menu and stealing glances at each other. His eyes were amazing. Although his presentation had much to be desired about, there was definitely potential. Just the right haircut and a change in wardrobe and this guy would be truly handsome. I already started to like what I saw and in my fantasy the make over would make him truly hot. I have a lousy gaydar and wondered if this guy was gay or not. His current state of dress made it very difficult to make an educated guess.
"Thanks again for putting up with me," the beautiful deep voice sad, coming from his mouth.
"Why would you think I'm putting up with you?" I asked.
"Well... we make quite an odd couple don't you think?"
He was straightforward too. Another plus in my department. Forget about the looks, this guy was getting more interesting by the minute.
"How so?" I asked, looking him straight in the eyes.
"We don't really match in styles," he answered, looking straight back at me. "You look like a brother with money and taste, I look like a brother with no taste."
He was really straightforward. I couldn't help but smile.
"Hhhmm, I don't know about the money, but I am glad you like my taste in clothing. You don't look too bad, I've seen worse."
He smiled at me, showing a perfect row of theeth.
"Not too harsh, not too diplomatic either. I guess I did put you a little on the spot with my remark."
Matthew responded.
"Yeah, I guess you did, but I don't mind people being straightforward with me, it makes it easier to know who you're dealing with."
"That's true," Matthew said, "it has gotten me into trouble at law school though. I thought that lawyers had to be very straight to the point but I guess I stepped on peoples toes when I was just being me."
Another plus! A college educated man. Law no less!.
"Did you just get out of law school?" I asked him.
"Yup, graduated last summer, went travelling around the world for the past 9 months and now I'm here."
Could it be, that someone who didn't meet my visual standards could still be interesting to me? I had always dated men, who had the perfect style but who eventually lacked the characteristics I valued.
Here I was, barely five minutes talking to someone who was a fashion victim, someone who would have never been set up with me on a blind date purely because of his presentation and I started to feel a connection that I've never felt before. Was five minutes all it could take? "Do you already have a job?" I couldn't resist asking.
"What? A job? With me looking like this? You must be kidding!" he laughed.
"Hahaha, maybe this is your style, if you are the right man for the job, should it matter how you look?" I said, smiling.
"It shouldn't matter but it does. I don't know why I stuck with this," he said gesturing to his attire, "I never was much of a fashionably type, I just stuck with this through high school and college. Now I don't know where to begin to change all of this."
I saw Charlene coming with the latte. A crazy idea formed in my head. I was remembering her words earlier. As she approached I thought that since today was already unusual I might go all the way and step out of my box.
"Mmmhh, I know we just met and all, but today is my day off, I have a long weekend without any plans.
Would you care to take the advice of a stranger and get you started with your make over?"