Hat Fancy
by Marian Allen
The headline would be hardest. It was the most important part. Marcie tore up her seventh attempt and tried again: Hat Lover – Female Hat Lover –
No, that made her sound as if she loved female hats. She shuddered. That was just creepy!
Female Lover of Hats Seeks Male of Same Persuasion
Too vague. What persuasion? Seeks male of female persuasion? Hardly!
Female Seeks Male Companionship
Too needy. Which was silly, really. If she weren’t needy, she wouldn’t be putting her profile on a dating site, would she? One must be honest with oneself.
Single Female Casual Hat Fancier Seeks Single Male Casual Hat Fancier For Ongoing Relationship
Hmmm. Yes, that might do. Now the bio. That would be easier, since it was all simple surface fact. Check for spelling, copy, paste, SEND!
#
She was waiting behind the door when Trent pulled up in his hybrid, but she didn’t fling open the door, of course. She watched through the security lens as he straightened his tie, smoothed the brim of – yes! A hat! – and slid out and to his feet. It was a trilby – which might have been rather sporty for a first date, but it was pewter gray with a darker silver band, and the front brim was slightly longer than the upturned back. That dialed down the impudence to an air of lightheartedness quite in line with the occasion.
Her own choice was nearly identical, which presented a dilemma: should she stick with it and see if he found the coincidence charming and amusing? But what if he found it … disconcerting? Perhaps she should change it for something else. She whipped the trilby from her head and stowed it on the many-limbed rack by the door.
He rang the bell and removed his hat.
No time! She smoothed her hair, counted slowly to ten, and opened the door bare-headed.
He stared at her crown.
“Oh,” he said. “Um ….” He glanced up and down the street, as if he might have the wrong house. “I’m Trent Mason?”
“Come in,” she said, with her widest smile. “I need your help.”
“My help?”
She took the trilby from its place. The interior was still warm from the heat of her scalp.
“This is what I had planned to wear!”
She had hit just the right note. He did find it charming and amusing, while clearly communicating to her that it would be just the opposite if she actually wore it, now.
“Of course, I’ll have to substitute something else,” she said, resting a red-nailed hand on his sleeve and pouting her red lips. “What shall it be? I thought … this?” She touched a natural straw cloche with a single white silk flower tucked into the brown band.
His eyes lit up. He licked his lips and nodded, turning his own hat in his hands.
She took the hat to the mirror on the other side of the door and settled it in place, conscious of Trent’s eyes on her.
The online dating site had been a wonderful idea! First date, lunch. Second date, dinner. Third date, sex. Step by step. Time enough then to let him know she was saving herself for marriage. She realized times had changed since her mother’s day, but she had sworn when she was a girl that she’d never ever ever go hat shopping with any man but her husband. If Trent wanted to stop pursuit and move on when he found that out, so be it! A woman had a right to her standards, after all.
~*~
A PROMPT FROM THE SPOMMENT FILE: There’s a way about how you need to word out your headline without coming off as needy, vague, or creepy. Be wary about those who want to have a casual time, unless of course hat iis what you’re looking for. Thionk about ѡhgat you want to ѕayy about you and about thee type of person you aree looking for. You aren’t gping to get anywhere if you lie to yourself. Know what you want. So when most men find out women are saving sеex for marriage or practicing celibacy, men are likely tο stop pursuit and move on to something more interesting and available. The need for a conscious approach to step dating naturally flows into a consciousness around the issues that the couple will face once they develop a relationship. Optimistic, understandng and patient.
MA
Dan Antion
May 28, 2015 at 7:38amWhat a delightful little story. I liked the twists and turns. Thanks for a fun start to this day.
Marian Allen
May 28, 2015 at 7:52amWell, thankee, Dan! Facebook is going to be serving me ads on hats for at least a month, now. lol
Jane
May 28, 2015 at 9:14amWow, that spamment was not creepy at all!
Great story. Tres amusant!
Marian Allen
May 28, 2015 at 10:13amUnfortunately, I got a million of ’em. heh
Pierre Laberge
May 28, 2015 at 11:08amYes, let us have proprieties. Nevvvvver go buy a hat, or have sex with a man who is not willing to enter into a long term commitment! To do otherwise is to dilute the morals of society!
Marian Allen
May 28, 2015 at 11:52amAnd “Never go walking out without your hatpin. The law won’t let you carry more than that.” — old English music hall song.
Pierre Laberge
May 28, 2015 at 11:56amAlways fear a woman with a hat pin. Any sane man knows that. No, I do not have a guilty conscience. Well maybe, a little.
Marian Allen
May 28, 2015 at 12:04pmLOL! We live and learn, eh?
Bilal Tahir khan
May 28, 2015 at 2:48pmThanks for sharing. You did a good job.
Keep up the good work. Have a great week ahead!
Marian Allen
May 28, 2015 at 9:33pmThank you! Hope your week is great, too. 🙂