My Messiah Moment

My Messiah Moment (con.)

"After a couple of minutes he noticed me looking at him, smiled, and got up and came over to my table. He asked me if I was eating alone. I said I was, and that I liked it that way. He asked what it could hurt if we had dinner together, we were both eating alone. The worst that could happen would be that we would have someone to talk to over dinner. I thought it over and decided he was right, so he joined me at my table."

At this point she started to tell me all about this man that she had just had dinner with. She told me his name, where he worked, why he was in Puerto Rico, and how he had hurt his head. In a few short minutes I knew more about the stranger, than I did about the girl sitting next to me talking her heart out.

Finally, she looked at me and said, "You know, I was actually having a good time. He seemed to be a nice person, we were both from New York City--I even began to believe that we might go out together when we got back to the city. Then, as we were having our coffee and desert, do you know what he had the gall to say to me?"

This time I knew the question was rhetorical, so I just smiled and waited for her to tell me the answer.

"He said, 'You know…the doctor is afraid I might have a concussion and has said it would be better if I didn't go to sleep tonight. Do you think you could come back to my hotel room and help me stay awake all night?' Well, I told him that he was crazy, that I had no intention of going back with him to his hotel room for any reason.

"What is it with all of you men? Is there only one thing on your minds all of the time?"

I said, "I don't think all men try to pick up every attractive girl they come in contact with, but--I'm afraid that the percentage that do is fairly high."

She said, "Well, I've had enough of that kind of thinking to last me for a long time. Thank you for listening, it's time for me to go back to my room."

I smiled and said goodbye, and she left. I turned around to watch the dancing and quickly forgot all about her and the conversation.

The next day I went out to the plant and did my evaluation. I met the personal manager, and he offered to take me out to dinner that night and show me, “a little bit of the night life in San Juan.”

We met at the Holiday Inn at about 6:30, he said, "This is Thursday night isn't it?"

"Yes."

"On Thursday the hotel puts on a Get Acquainted Party downstairs. We can get some free drinks and maybe even win a prize or something. Would you like to give it a try?" he asked.

I said, "Sure."