This part of Central Park was not empty, but there weren’t that many people walking around so it was rather nice. Benches available and so on. Nancy Perez had already counted 7 squirrels that she’d watched. They were lovely, nervous little things.
They had watched her, too, and she wondered if they could tell the difference as regards a person’s blouse color. Today she was wearing bright yellow. Her pants were brown, but not too dark. She wore medium-brown pumps and around her neck a thin gold chain covered by a flashy green and yellow striped scarf. She looked at her watch again. It was nearly noon. And the day was just perfect—not cold, not hot. Life was good.
Tim Steele also looked at his watch. He’d go through the park tunnel and check the other side. Nancy had said she’d be wearing a yellow blouse and a yellow and green neck scarf. That he couldn’t miss her. Tim had jeans and sneakers on. His sweatshirt was a loose fit and had big purple and white stripes on it. He’d also told her she couldn’t miss him.
After Tim got to the other side of the tunnel, they saw each other immediately. Each one smiled hesitantly, but once each saw the other’s smile, both relaxed. They hugged and kissed briefly.
“I can’t believe it,” Nancy said. “Finally.”
“Yeah, I can’t either,” Tim said. “After all those letters.”
“You look…no, you look better than your photo!” Nancy exclaimed, laughing.
“You look great. I love that outfit. How was your flight?” Tim asked.
“Fantastic,” Nancy replied. “But I was naughty and ate every crumb of the breakfast. And your flight from Duluth?”
“Good, no problems,” Tim said, looking around quickly. “So, let’s go a block or two and see what kind of place we’d like to have lunch in. We’ll have a drink first. Game?”
“Game,” said Nancy. Tim’s right hand took his friend’s left.
“I’m always amazed at your English,” Tim said. “I mean, not to be a native speaker or anything. Your e-mails have been so clear and precise.”
“Thank you. That makes me feel good. It took some hard work, of course. Then I’ve studied it since elementary school. But I think the biggest thing is constant reading. That’s what’s important. In order not to forget it.”
“We’re going to have the greatest week. I can tell already,” Tim said, hugging Nancy again.
“We’re lucky, though it’s gonna fly,” Nancy said. “Then back to work.”
“Don’t say that word,” Tim laughed. “We’re gonna pretend we’re rich and don’t have to work! At least for the next five days!”
“All because of nine months’ worth of e-mails,” said Nancy. She looked at Tim’s bright eyes. Now this was happiness, she thought to herself.
“The contents of those e-mails, more importantly,” added Tim. “I just knew you were the person I’d been looking for, dreaming of. Everything just…I don’t know…just began to take shape or fall into place, whatever.”
“I hope you like this country,” continued Tim. “It appears to me you’re gonna be here a long time!”
“Fortunately I love this country,” Nancy replied. “And I love mine too. You have to visit it.”
Tim’s bright eyes looked at Nancy’s. She saw that his smile was a big one. “I just might do that one day. You never know. I just might,” he said.
END OF “THE FLASHY NECK SCARF”
