Page 37 of Just Joshing
She laughed, but it sounded exasperated. "Do you know how hard it is to find love in New York City?"
"If this were a movie, that could be your tagline." I lifted my hands, pretending to show the title of the movie. "Molly, in the greatest city in the world, love shouldn't be this hard to find."
"Ugh, this would be one of those movies where I have to move to the country or something, right?"
"We've just missed Christmas but you could easily have an Easter miracle."
"Is that a sub-genre of movies I've somehow missed?"
"God, I hope so." I sniggered, imaging the movie. "Picture it, New York getting ready for chocolate onslaught. She's a chocolatier. He's…" I frowned, drawing a blank.
"He's a Canadian baker." Molly offered, leaning forward, her eyes dancing. "They're business rivals – pitted against each other. He's got the hot cross buns, she's got the chocolate eggs."
"But what's the conflict?" I asked.
Molly's brow wrinkled as she considered how to torture our characters. "They're competing for something."
I snapped my fingers, "best Easter window display. The prize from the city is ten thousand – which is just what is needed to pay off her-"
"His." Molly interrupted.
"His," I agreed, "debts."
"Why does she want to win?"
I glanced about. "Renovations. She wants to expand the distribution of her chocolates. She wants to go international."
"Yes! A badass business woman verses a down-on-his-luck baker. Who will come out on top?"
"We end with the bakery and chocolatier combining and-"
"Chocolate hot cross buns!" Molly clapped her hands together.
"You, Pecas, read my mind."
We beamed at each other from across the table.
"So, about that dat-"
The airhorn blew, interrupting our moment. Lolly waved from the table she stood on, getting the crowds attention.
"We now have round two. Those seated on this side," she waved at our section. "Go and take a seat at the table of those seated on this side." She waved at the other side of the room.
"As for the rest of you, stay where you are. We're starting round two and then you get to decide who will be your final date! Don't forget to grab your new clipboards from the registration table. We'll begin in five minutes." She made a little fist pump action, yelling, "Let's get Speedy!"
"Oh Lordy," Molly stood, looking strained once more. "This is what I imagine hell to be."
"No, Pecas. Hell is less painful."
She chuckled, heading off to the registration table.
The next round went much like the first. A few crazies, some desperados, a couple of women that I would have dated in another life if not for Molly.
The final horn sounded and I handed in my paper – the only name I cared about gracing my preference sheet.
Make this count.
Chapter Nine
