It was Thursday. All day long Steve walked around in a daze. The only thing on his mind was Cecilia and that he was going to be with her all evening. He was so wrapped up in his thoughts that he even passed her in front of the chapel without noticing her. She watched him go by deep in thought and then let out that cute little giggle of hers which used to erupt from her all by itself when something struck her as funny.
By evening he was in a nervous trance. As he went about the clumsy business of preparing himself for the date, he mumbled various admonitions to himself. If he could only keep himself under control, everything would be all right. Just so he didn’t do anything foolish. Just so he acted natural and normal. Just so….
“Well, you can start by putting the right shoe on the right foot!” he exclaimed as he pulled his left foot out of his right shoe.
Getting into his suit was a challenge. It had been so long since he’d worn it that he’d almost forgotten what went where. By 7:00 p.m., however, he was all ready to go, freshly showered, hair combed back, shoes polished, everything as shipshape as a sailor taking his first shore leave.
He was glad to be ready early. But now he had fifty minutes on his hands. He couldn’t go for a walk. He’d feel foolish all duded up like this. He couldn’t go to the women’s dorm without being conspicuously early. Then he had an idea.
“Why not drop in on Paul?” (I had moved downstairs that year.) “Maybe he can give me a few hints.”
So he came down to my room and knocked on my door. I was beginning to think about getting ready for my own date to the concert.
“Come on in,” I called.
Steve walked in self-consciously and said, “Evening, Paul.”
“Boy, don’t you look sharp tonight! I know one young lady who’s going to be mighty pleased when she sees you.”
He grinned sheepishly. “I have a little extra time here. Thought I’d see if you’d … well, maybe sort of….” He fumbled around with his hands in his pockets.
“Give you a few suggestions?”
“Something like that.”
Regarding him more closely, I was thankful he’d come to see me before heading over to the women’s dorm.
“Well, to begin with,” I said gravely, “do you always wear your necktie inside out?”
Incredulous, he stepped in front of the mirror. Sure enough! Big as a billboard, there was the label facing outward, and there were the frayed tucked-under edges of the cloth running up and down the center. When he saw this, his eyes popped. Then a broad grin wrinkled up his face.
“That would have been plenty hard to explain!”
“O, my friend. She would just have giggled and patted you on the cheek.”
This time he took care to tie it looking into the mirror. A dark frown flitted across his brow. I knew he was comparing his plainness with Cecilia’s beauty. I could see him thinking to himself, Fancy clothes don’t make a homely guy like me handsome. Won’t we look ridiculous, her and me strolling down the lane? Me and my pointed nose.
When he had finished retying the knot, I remarked, “Don’t let Hollywood see you.”
A pained smile met me as he turned around.
“She must have told you about our date.”
“Of course. And about the one you rescued her from.”
“Really?”
Silence.
Then, “I’m so grateful.”
He collapsed into my easy chair.
“Mind if I just sit here for a few minutes?”
“Be my guest. I’ll just get ready for my date.”
Ten minutes later he rose to go.
“Thank you, Paul,” he said as he disappeared through the door.
A moment later he reappeared in the doorway.
“Thank you,” he said again.