They met in the cafeteria at the top of the department store.
It had become a regular thing since the son had left home a year ago to move into a shared house with friends. He worked in town and would catch up with his father when the old man came into town, about once a month. It had been their habit to catch up this way for lunch. The younger man always had reservations about their meetings on account of his father’s continual harping on about how he should seriously consider finding a nice girl to marry and settle down with. He often wondered whether this prying and prodding was because of him being left on his own since his wife died. Perhaps he had nothing better to do. They hadn’t been sitting long when it started.
The father said, “So, how are you doing, now? Met anyone special?”
The other suppressed a sigh and said, “Well, I met this guy recently who’s promised to look at the problem I’ve been having with my laptop.”
The father winced. “No. I meant someone nice… you know.”
“He is nice.”
“Come on, you know what I mean. A nice girl is what I meant.”
The son felt it all starting up again, but thought before he spoke. He knew his father meant well. He was getting on, of course. His concern about his personal love life was probably reasonable, although he found it annoying. “I’ve had a couple of dates; nothing serious,” he said, hoping that would satisfy him.
“I just think that being in your mid-twenties, you should, you know, look to your future.”
“OK, dad.” He picked up the menu. “I’ll give it some thought.”
“You should. What about that nice girl from the library.”
“Dad! I told you, she’s engaged… I did tell you.”
“Oh! Right. Yes, I believe you did.”
“I did, yes.”
“Nothing on the horizon then?”
The son felt a swell of impatience and anger building, then he gave a heavy sigh. “OK. I guess I should tell you. There is this woman…”
The father brightened. “Really! Go on.”
“She’s well over sixty.”
“Over sixty?”
“Yes, and she’s pretty desperate for a man.”
“Desperate?”
“Yep. I gave her your number. Look, I’m hungry, can we order?”
