Chance Encounter

Dan Turner paused in the aisle of the department store staring as the object of his peripheral attention lingered to examine something in the kitchenware section. In his imagination he compared the image etched into his mind from long ago when he was just beginning his climb up the corporate world. She’d put on a couple of dress sizes since that time since her slim and trim days and her head showed a touch of grey while her face had filled out a little but somehow, he knew this was his first love Rosa Rodrigues. Memories came flooding back in quick succession.

He’d then been working as an intern for accounting firm Rogers and Smythe doing data entry work and accompanying mentors on auditing assignments for a year learning the basics while he attended night school and chipped away at the requirements of his eventual goal to gain CPA recognition. He remembered sitting absorbed at his desk processing notes made by one of his mentors when he caught sight of her for the first time. She was being directed by someone from information desk to the HR department for an interview and as she passed his desk smiled her brilliant trademark smile. Dan remembered his heart pounding in a way he’d never experienced before as she disappeared into the office emerging an hour later with Ms. Mildred Smythe one of the founders’ granddaughters now HR Director to be shown around and introduced to those currently at their desks. She smiled again as she was formally introduced to him by Ms. Smythe then spoke.

“We went to the same high school, so I feel I already know you even though you were two years ahead of me there. Dan Turner the high school football hero! I used to watch and cheer for your team after school, but you wouldn’t have noticed that skinny young girl then Dan.” She smiled at him again and followed to the next desk to be introduced.

Dan watched her go and whispered to himself. “Well, I’m certainly noticing you now.”

Next day she was back but this time at work in the secretarial pool. She was focused on her work when he approached to welcome her to the world of accounting and initially, she was irritated to be interrupted from what she was doing but relaxed as soon as she saw it was Dan. She smiled again.

“Hi football hero!”

Dan welcomed her and asked if they could catch up at lunch time in the cafeteria at ground level to talk over their shared high school experience.

She nodded quickly looking around to see if anyone was watching.

“I better keep working as I want to make a good impression on my first day at work. See you at lunch time then.”

She quickly returned to the assignments in front of her after another glance around the secretarial pool. They were already gathering a few curious looks from the other secretaries, so Dan hastily returned to his desk.

He was completing his first year as an intern so was still under observation by those who made decisions on potential value to the firm in future years. Rogers and Smythe were one of the top accounting firms, and they only picked the best for their long-term staff and tolerated no slacking on the job. His internship had another year to go before a decision would be made about regular employment and that depended on his progress at university and units of study needed for his eventual CPA along with his aptitude and experience for the job.

At lunch time they met in the street level cafeteria and enjoyed reminiscing about high school. Rosa quietly sang the high school song and they both laughed. During their time together Dan studied Rosa closely. If she’d been a skinny young girl, then she certainly wasn’t now. She’d blossomed into a beautiful young lady and exuded confidence in the way she spoke and walked. He was smitten!

“Rosa, I must attend night classes in the evenings but wonder if you’d like to hang out sometime over the weekend. I had fun talking with you for this brief time and would like to do it again sometime.”

Rosa laughed. “I have a very jealous young man whose been paying a lot of attention to me during the last year, and we have been out a bit together. Do you remember Bill Evans?”

Dan thought for a few minutes. “Was he the captain of our basketball team?”

“That’s the one.”

Dan’s eyebrows lifted at the memory. “He was very aggressive!”

“He’s like a little lamb in my company.” Rosa eyed Dan carefully to see his reaction.

“I guess I’m outclassed then if he has an understanding with you. Too bad!” Dan looked at his watch. It was time to get back to his desk.

Rosa stood to take her tray back to the receiving counter as Dan picked up his own.

“I didn’t say Bill and I had an understanding Dan, only that he’s been paying me a lot of attention.”

She placed her tray neatly on the receiving table for cleaning and reached into her purse pulling out a notepad and pen. She wrote a number on the page and handed it to Dan.

“You can message me on this number if you’re still interested in an outing together sometime.”

Dan put the page in his wallet, and they walked to the elevator to take them up to the eleventh floor where corporate offices were.

That evening after classes Dan hurried home to his small apartment to review his class notes and do assignments, usually that took him a couple of hours. Then he’d gladly take rest until 5am when he’d work out on the treadmill and exercise equipment before a quick breakfast and preparation for work while catching up on news on TV as he ate. It was a tight routine. The small apartment was crowded with this exercise equipment added.

Weekends he’d take public transportation to the nearest beach to surf and hang out in the sun to counteract stresses of his urban lifestyle and care for his clothing needs for the week at the laundromat closest to his apartment. But this evening he’d been thinking of that interaction with Rosa and on impulse pulled the sheet of paper out of his wallet and began to message her before getting into a review of class notes.

To his surprise she messaged back instantly indicating she’d just been messaging with Bill Evans and some of her other friends from high school. She wanted to know what he was doing, and he went through reporting on his usual routines when at home. She messaged that he needed a diversion but understood it was good to have a future and he seemed to be on track to succeed in his goals for life with what he was doing. She admired that.

Dan then messaged he needed to get on with his study routine but what was she doing on Sunday as he normally went to the beach for most of the day to unwind and visited the laundromat Sunday evenings to have clean clothes for the week ahead. She replied that she’d like to join him at the beach. Bill Evans had been urging her to come with him to a country and western convention in a rural town one hundred miles from the city, but she’d said no, and he was going to travel there with a few of their high school buddies. He’d not been happy when she refused to join them.

They met at the beach next Sunday and Rosa deposited her things with him and went to change into beach ware. She emerged in a blue two-piece swimming suit and ran to the beach where he’d chosen a convenient spot and was erecting a beach umbrella and chairs.

Dan was overwhelmed with her excellent physical condition and beauty.

“You look absolutely astonishing and beautiful Rosa!”

Rosa skidded to a halt in the sand looking surprised and observing Dan looking embarrassed at having said what he did.

“Obviously that was spontaneous judging by your embarrassment and I’m highly complimented Dan. I had a crush on you at high school even though you wouldn’t have even known I existed. I might even get to like you again if you keep saying things like that. I never had close friends at school Dan and was rather a loner but since I graduated people have suddenly discovered I exist, and it has done a lot for my self-worth. I must have presented well at the office interview and that has done a lot for my self-confidence too. How did you bring the umbrella and chairs on the city bus? Seems like a difficult assignment.”

“I rent a locker here permanently and store my beach stuff here during the week and my clothes and personal effects go there when I’m at the beach.” He showed her the key around his neck on a chain, and she nodded appreciatively.

“What a great idea. Will the locker take some of my stuff? They say there are people around thieving stuff on this beach.” She pointed to the beach bag she had with her containing her street clothes and personal effects.

Dan nodded and she began to empty the things she wanted stored placing them on her beach towel.

“Could you put sunscreen on me before I sunbake waiting for you to get into your beach attire.”

Dan nodded again.

Dan’s hands shook as he liberally applied the sunscreen as he’d never touched any woman this intimately apart from his immediate family before.

“Your skin is so soft he said, and you have such a nice suntan.”

Rosa burst into laughter.

“For a college football hero, you sure are an innocent Dan. That suntan is the natural colour of my skin and as for the softness did you expect to be putting sunscreen on an elephant. What did you expect when my name is Rodrigues? I’m a Latino woman for goodness’ sake so my skin should be tanned and shouldn’t feel like a piece of leather!”

Dan was beyond embarrassment by this time and mumbled an apology.

Rosa stopped laughing and studied him.

“Dan I was just joking and am not at all insulted. As a matter of fact, I like your spontaneous honesty. I feel I can trust you. Now go get into your beachwear while I contemplate putting sunscreen on you and remarking on the feeling of your skin. I think we are going to get along just fine today and I’m enjoying being with you already.”

Dan grabbed Rosa’s things to be stored and ran across the hot sand to the building where showers, toilets and lockers awaited him. He showered and quickly changed glancing at himself in the mirror. Maybe he didn’t have movie star looks but he was presentable and not ashamed of his body. He made sure to keep in good fitness and health and was careful to eat good foods. He was not fond of much of the foods served up in the cafeteria below his workplace but there was sufficient healthy stuff to choose from.

He returned to their spot on the beach to find Rosa’s chair turned around to view his arrival and she was not sunbaking after all. She spoke as he approached.

“You look absolutely astonishing and handsome Dan!”

Both went into fits of laughter and Rosa continued to speak as they both controlled themselves.

“OK time for me to put the sunscreen on you now and remark on the quality of your skin.”

She applied herself to the job with enthusiasm and commented as she put the tube of sunscreen away.

“Firm muscles and untanned skin. We need to deal with that now. I’ve got the towels out in the sun so let’s put some tan on you now, so you look like one of my tribes.”

Dan was beginning to enjoy the banter. He’d enjoyed banter among friends in high school years but worked for a conservative business environment now so had forgotten how to laugh it seemed. He was enjoying this time with Rosa.

To Be Continued.

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