Page 6 of Jake

“I see you here. Give us just a moment and your server will seat you.”

Jake nodded and chose a seat to wait next to a heavyset man in what had to be an off the rack suit.

“First time?” the man asked.

“Oh, umm, yes,” Jake answered, stunned by the conversation.

“It’s really dark once they take you back, takes a minute to get your bearings. Name’s Rick.” The portly man stuck out a hand for Jake to shake.

“Jake.” He shook the hand and attempted to return to his own contemplations of what the evening would bring, but Rick wasn’t having it.

“This is my fourth date here. Have met none of the other women off the app, but I’m really hoping this one is the one for me. Wish they would let the men and women wait together, then we could survey who our date might be.”

Jake gave the man a tight smile as he contemplated how rude it would be for him to get up and move to another seat. The women had an entrance on the other side of the building, keeping the dates as anonymous as possible, and they didn’t wait together. He imagined it would defeat the purpose and the entire premise behind the blind date if they did.

“Jake?” a male voice called as they stepped around the heavy curtains that separated the waiting area from the dining room.

He stood. “That’s me.”

“Good luck, man,” Rick called as he walked away.

“You too.” Jake figured the man was going to need it.

“Just a few things to go over. When we step through the curtains, there is a second set on the other side we must walk through and then we will be in the dining room. There are other diners in there, so it is important that you stay with me and that you keep your voice down both with me and your date.” The man held up his goggles to show Jake. “I will be able to see where we are going, so when we go through the curtains, put your hand on my left shoulder and I will set the pace.”

Jake nodded and stepped behind the curtain with the server. As the curtain fell closed behind them, they were immediately plunged into complete darkness.

“Take a moment to adjust and let me know when you’re ready to go,” the server said.

Jake blinked a few times and took a steadying breath. “I’m ready.”

The man grabbed his right hand and placed it on his shoulder and started walking. Jake followed in what had to be one of the most bizarre moments of his life. It was difficult to follow at first. Not knowing what the pace was going to be, he nearly walked into the server a few times.

A soft white light illuminated all the seats on the ground, and a green glowing circle was at the end of the table. You wouldn’t be able to make out anyone at any point, but it was just enough to be sure there were seats there.

“We are stopping,” he said and took Jake’s hand off his shoulder. “The table is here to your left. It’s a booth and I’m going to set your hand on the table so you can feel where you are.”

Jake felt the table and then slid into the booth. “Thank you.”

“You’re welcome. Your date is seated across from you, and if you press the green button at the end of the table, I will know you need something. Your food will be out momentarily.”

Adding to the unusual experience was the fact that they had to place their orders ahead of time. There was no way you could order in the dark, but it was odd to sit down and not look over a menu.

“Hello,” he greeted the darkness toward the other person he hoped was there.

“Hi,” the woman across from him replied.

When she didn’t add anything else, Jake attempted to further the conversation, “Have you been here before?”

“I have.” Short answers were her thing, apparently.

“How is the food here?” he tried.

“It’s good.”

Jake swallowed a groan. It was going to be even more awkward if they didn’t talk. “So, what do you like to do?”

“I mostly shop and travel,” she answered. “What do you do for work?”

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