the matchmaker

it was the night before his senior prom and he didn’t have a date.

he found himself wandering through a forgotten part of the city.

he entered a place called “plato’s bar and grill.”

_______

it was empty and dark except for a light above the bar.

plato invited him to sit down.

he stopped washing out a glass.

“so i hear you need a date for the prom.”

he didn’t understand.

plato said “why don’t you tell me your idea of your dream girl and maybe i can help you.”

he told plato his idea of his perfect girl.

“i have just the one for you. but keep in mind she might not be exactly what you want because nothing in this world is perfect.”

he still didn’t get it.

“look here’s your tux and come back tomorrow night at 10 pm. they’ll be a car parked outside with the keys in it. start the motor and she’ll appear."

_______

he returned the next night with corsage in hand.

he got into a 1957 Bel-Air two-door with the top down and started the engine.

she walked towards him and let herself in the car.

“i’m so glad plato called me because i’ve never been to a prom before.”

he gave her the corsage.

he drove down the deserted street and as he passed under each light he caught a flash of her smile and eyes.

her teenage perfume mixed with the summer night’s breeze and her fragrance was pure and innocent.

she turned the radio on and elvis sang “are you lonesome tonight.”

_______

on their first slow dance she pulled him close.

“there now isn’t this better?

he said yes.

the other guys were envious and their dates were jealous of the way they looked at each other.

after the prom they dropped the car off at plato’s and went inside.

“you kids have a good time?”

she couldn’t stop talking about their evening.

plato winked at him.

_____

they left and went for a walk.

they passed by a park and and sat down at a bench next to a lake.

a school of phosphorescent fish jumped out of the water silently and in slow motion.

a firefly landed on her shoulder and she gently held it in her hand.

“isn’t he beautiful!”

he looked down and stared at his shoes.

she asked him does he ever say anything.

he tried to think of something and answered, “did you know it takes millions of years for a star’s light to reach the earth.”

she asked him to tell her more.

_____

they talked until morning.

everything was cast in dawn's greys and blues.

a wind wrapped itself around the trees and whispered between the branches and leaves above them.

it was time for her to leave.

they stood up and she told him "it was the best night of her life."

she kissed him and walked away.

he watched her until the form of her white dress blended into the distance and disappeared.

_______

he went back the following night to plato’s to return the tuxedo.

the bartender told him to keep it and "it was on the house."

he entered the street and looked back and the bar was gone.