LatinosUSA

I stole a glance into the living room, where my blind date was waiting. LeAnn, my roommate, said she met him at the grocery store, and he seemed nice. More likely, she ran into him at the tavern, where she hung out all the time. He asked her out, she told me, but seeing as how LeAnn already had a regular boyfriend, she thought she’d steer him my way.

I backed away and followed LeAnn back into the kitchen. I wanted to get some answers.

“What’s his name?” I asked.

She told me.

“How old is he?” I asked next.

LeAnn shrugged. “He’s legal,” she said.

“I rolled my eyes.”

“Does he have a job?” I asked.

“He told me he’s an apprentice seaman,” answered LeAnn.

“Do they make any money?” I asked practically.

“Look, Beth,” she replied. “This dude can afford to buy you a few beers, I’m almost certain.”

“I want to look him over again,” I said, moving down the short hallway to the living room and peeping in at him.

He was no fashion plate, that was for sure. He wore faded jeans and a collared shirt. I saw he was smoking a cigarette. I wasn’t crazy about that, but it wasn’t a deal breaker. He was cracking his knuckles loudly. I scooted back to the kitchen.

“Where is he taking me?” I asked.

“Just to the tavern,” replied LeAnn. “That way, if you aren’t into him, you can dump him and just walk home.

“Okay,” I said. “Introduce us.”

I followed LeAnn into the living room, where my date immediately shot to his feet. He was tall, over six feet, and big boned. He had prominent cheekbones and short, dirty blond hair. His eyes were light, practically transparent, close-set, and small. I had a little frisson of anticipation, the kind I get whenever I meet a new guy. This might be the one, I told myself, giddy.

“This is Beth,” LeAnn introduced me.

“Hi,” said the man, reaching out to shake my hand. “I’m Richard. Richard Speck. You can call me Dick.”

For more information on Richard Speck, see https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Speck