Writer Blog: 005

As Jake headed away from the reflection pond and unto the jogging trail he thought back on what had just transpired. It seemed that despite his obviously poor attempts at small talk and conversation, he had succeeded in taking the next step with the lovely Jill Wilson. He would like to have believed it was his charm and good looks that had impressed her. But he truly did not think that was it. Somehow, someway he had a date with her tomorrow afternoon and he didn't know why. Perhaps the love gods were smiling on him. Understanding that he shouldn't try to figure it out, he made up his mind to just go with the flow and see where it took him.

As he continue to ponder his good fortune, he felt a thump on his chest and watched as a pine cone fall harmlessly to the ground. He looked up and saw his good friend and sometime-jogging-partner, Steve Stafford winding up to toss another conifer projectile. Steve was a stock broker for a small start-up brokerage house in the newly renovated downtown tower district.

"Hey dunderhead, how's it going," came Steve's greeting. Jake twitched as Steve launched another projectile, this time at Jake's head.

"Not bad," shouted Jake. "Take that you scurvy dog," as he caught the fist sized cone and fired it back at Steve.

The two men then shadow boxed with each other, trading imaginary punches as a form of greeting. Steve stood slightly taller and more muscular than Jake and his blond hair contrasted with his deep bronze tan. They quickly fell into an easy running pace as Steve began to speak.

"I saw you talking to a nice looking lady over near the fish pond. What's up with that?" asked Steve. "We've seen her out here quite a bit, what did you talk about?"

Jake paused and thought for a moment before he spoke. "Oh, just talked about this and that- you know small talk. I found out that her name is Jill. You know it's funny. I have been admiring her for some time while we've been out running and I was wondering if I would ever get the opportunity to connect with her," he said between breaths. "I was running past the pond and stopped to watch her feed the fish. They were really going crazy over the bread she was feeding them- really splashing it up. Then we just started talking." He failed to mention his awkward greeting and how he almost blew it. "I sort of have a coffee date at the Starbucks with her tomorrow morning."

"Ohhhhhhh! Wow, you're a mover and shaker," joked Steve with a grin. "A regular Don Juan," then he added, "or maybe Don Knotts."

Jake hid a smile and pretended to take a swing at Steve's head as the two men disappeared down the trail. A trail that would lead them along a five mile course toward the river and give Jake a great idea.