No age limits

 She sat alone at a table in the shadows, surrounded by the blues that filled the room. The movement on the dance floor sliced through the clouds of cigarette smoke. She looked around as if expecting someone who was now late, glancing at her watch. Charley perceived her gaze, thinking to himself that she was a real beauty, wondering if this was a blind date gone wrong. A glass of wine sat untouched, and the ashtray was beginning to fill as she checked her watch once more. He knew it was only a matter of minutes before she would leave.

Gathering his courage, he walked to her table. She greeted him with a beautiful smile, her eyes wide with curiosity. "Bill?" she asked. "Charley," he replied. She introduced herself as Liz, short for Elizabeth, and mentioned she had been waiting for her date, who never showed up. "He's a fool," Charley said, making her blush, clearly pleased by the compliment.

"Would you like to sit?" she asked. "I'd rather dance," he replied, taking her hand and leading her to the dance floor.

She was petite and smelled of lilacs, her golden-brown hair framing her face. Her lips were a cherry red, moist and inviting. Charley didn't want to rush things and scare her away.

They talked, laughed, and danced well into the night until the lights dimmed and the band leader announced last call, inviting everyone to return soon and drive home carefully. "Can I get you a cab?" he asked, but she replied that she had walked as she lived just a few short blocks away. "Then may I walk you home?" he asked, his voice slightly shaky, fearing she might say no. She took his arm and smiled, saying it would be lovely.

Soon, they stood outside her door. She told him she had a nice time and was glad Bill hadn't shown up. They laughed and exchanged numbers, as he finally worked up the courage to ask if she'd like to see him again. She looked up at him, and her eyes expressed what words could not convey.

                                    I suppose many of us have had an encounter like this in our golden years, when meeting someone new doesn't always come easy. Either way, it's a nice feeling to be noticed again, to be swept off your feet like a first love, and to realize that the need for companionship has no age requirements.

Mike 2025