Spare Change

Story Sent in by Jackie:

To say that Doug was nervous is an understatement. The guy was a quivering mess on our date out at an Italian restaurant. I wasn't sure what to do or say to calm him down, but after a drink he seemed to lose his edge.

In fact, I'd go so far as to say that things were finally going well. We talked and he relaxed and I felt better about the whole thing. Then he excused himself for what I guessed would be the bathroom.

He was gone a bit longer than I thought he would be and when he returned there was something... different about him. Yes. No doubt about it. He had changed his hairstyle, his shirt, and his pants. Whereas before he was in a nice understated plaid button-down and khakis, he was now in a light grey button-down and dark blue pants. He had completely switched up his look.

"Did you just change?" I asked the obvious.

He said, "Yeah. I figured this would be better. Or did you like the other outfit better? I can change back."

"No. This is fine. Either, really."

"Yeah, I'll change back. Be right back!" He left the table and was gone again for a rather long time.

He returned long after I had decided that this would be our only date. He was back in his original outfit and said, "If this doesn't work, I can change back to the second option or to something else I might have brought."

"This is perfect. I like this the best," I said. I hoped it would keep him seated and that he was done playing dress-up.

"What about the shoes?" he asked. He wore a perfectly fine nondescript set of black shoes.

"They're fine," I said.

He said, "There was a hesitation there. I heard a hesitation."

"There was no hesitation."

"You sure?"

"Yes! Just stay here and don't change anything."

"Because I can change the shoes."

"No. They go great with that outfit. I was just taking a moment to look at the whole package. And it works. Totally. Completely. You look awesome. Don't change a thing."

"I'll be right back," he said.

I cursed myself for not being more convincing and he returned shortly afterward in a different set of black shoes. "I like these better," he said, "I hope you do, too."

"I do. Yes. Yes."

He paid for the dinner, I thanked him profusely, and I never saw him again.