Music Monday

 Today’s theme:

The Sound of One Hand Typing suggested that we write a (clean) love story and use the names of two or three songs from the Top 40 on Valentine’s Day of some year. 

I haven’t written a short story since my creative writing class in high school.  But I’m game.

February 8, 1986.  I’ll use italics for the song titles, and after the story I will post the songs.  Here goes.

Sara sat on the balcony, enjoying the cool evening breeze as she gazed at the city streets below.  It was so exciting to finally be here!  “My hometown is a small town”, she thought, “but the city is so vibrant, so alive.”

And yet, it was also intimidating.  She didn’t know a soul here.  Back home, where everyone knew everybody, she didn’t have to guess if folks were being honest with her.  But in the city?  “How will I know if someone is being sincere?”  She didn’t want to be taken advantage of.   Yet she didn’t want to be lonely, either.  

She walked back into the apartment.  The cool hadn’t reached indoors; sadly, the air conditioner wouldn’t be delivered until next week.  It was just too hot to cook.  Maybe she’d try that pizza place on the corner.

The guy behind the counter greeted her as she walked into the shop.  “Welcome to Tony’s, can I get your order?”

“I’m still deciding”, she replied, picking up a menu.  So many choices!  “Everything looks good.”

Yes, the offerings on the menu looked good … but so did the guy behind the counter.  Average height…olive complexion…curly black hair …and surprisingly, piercing blue eyes.  Sara watched him take a pizza from the oven, box it up and expertly slice it…She looked at the menu again, but her attention returned to the cute guy. 

“I can’t decide,” Sara said.  “The chicken parmesan hero looks delicious.  But so does the spaghetti and meatballs.”

“Do you live in the neighborhood?”

“Yes.”

“Then why not order the hero tonight, and come back tomorrow for the spaghetti?”

She looked into his eyes.  There was an invitation there, one that went beyond a simple food order.

“An excellent idea.  I’ll take the hero. Thanks for the suggestion.”

“No problem. That’s what friends are for,” he replied.  “”What’s the name on the order?”

“Sara.”

“It’ll be about ten minutes, Sara.”

Just then a group of pizza-starved teens entered the shop.  Sara feigned interest in the tv over the counter as she surreptitiously watched the counter man slice and serve pizza to the hungry horde.  All too soon he was wrapping her sandwich.  Money was exchanged as he handed the bag to her,  “See you tomorrow?”

She looked into his eyes. Those blue eyes, like a crisp winter sky.  “Y-y-yes.  And thank you …”

“Tony.”

“Thank you, Tony.  See you tomorrow.”

It was the best sandwich she had ever eaten.

The songs: