Grease and Guile - Chapter 6: Chance


  • Life isn’t easy. But when you meet someone who accepts you, flaws and all it sure is worth the effort. Nora was in law school here in Boston and I was job-hunting in the city when we first ran into each other. 

    Literally.

    “Ooomph..Hey!”

    “Oh no…I’m so sorry!” I exclaimed.

    I had rounded a corner with my head buried in today’s Boston Bugle when I inadvertently collided with her. I had been looking in the help wanted section for something that fit my skill set and she was apparently on her way to the Library. Her shoulder bag jostled to the ground and I instinctively snatched it up quickly, not wanting it to get dirty. 

    “Watch where you’re going!”

    “Are you ok?” I asked sincerely, handing the bag back to her.

    “Yes…”

    We finally found each other’s eyes, and luckily for me it seemed to diffuse the tension and caused us both to pause. It was certainly the most cliché, cinematic moment of my life. Time slowed and I was at a loss for words. Which, to be honest was not all that unusual for me.

    No one would accuse me of being a ladies man. Too many hours spent over a workbench tinkering left me awkward at best with the opposite sex. In that moment, the only thing I had going for me was luck. I was profoundly fortunate to have bumped into this creature. And I wasn’t going to let the moment slip by me.

    “I uh…I’m really sorry.” I stammered.

    Taking a shot I continued, “Maybe you’ll let me apologize more eloquently over a Nuka Cola?”

    I guess my awkward, yet direct approach worked. Just a few months later we were engaged. Nora was smart, like me. But where I could create something tangible out of nothing in a workshop, her intelligence had deep purpose and meaning. My creations were functional, sure. But Nora’s talent was the ability to connect with people across any and all social divides. I suppose it’s no surprise that my main weakness was her great strength. We would never have made it otherwise.

    I like to think she fell for my aloof genius, suspecting I had a good heart buried under the layer of obvious distraction and walled off emotion. And I, well I was completely taken by her. The grace and beauty with which she navigated the world astounded me.

    How did I get to be so lucky? 

        

Comments

2 Comments   |   Sotek likes this.
  • Sotek
    Sotek   ·  January 11, 2017
    A chance meet indeed. 
    is it me or can anyone else envision (Gearhead?) pondering this while he is tinkering away with an empty can of nuka cola and oil as he makes an incendiary device? 
    • Mottyskills
      Mottyskills
      Sotek
      Sotek
      Sotek
      A chance meet indeed. 
      is it me or can anyone else envision (Gearhead?) pondering this while he is tinkering away with an empty can of nuka cola and oil as he makes an incendiary device? 
        ·  January 11, 2017
      yes that's the idea :)