I mentioned in an earlier posting of my crush on a Hispanic girl that works at McDonald's. I know, many will say it's only a physical attraction, I know nothing about her, etc. I'm old enough to know that is all true, but nonetheless, I've not been able think of anything but her, her mannerisms, her smile.
Well, I've finally resolved that today I would finally get up the guts to talk to her. So, I stopped at a local market and bought a bouquet of flowers and brought them in with me to this nearby McD's in a duffel bag along with some of my other belongings.
I left for there around 11 am to avoid the lunch rush. Once I was there, I felt self conscious about the flowers, so I left them in my bag at a nearby booth, and walked up to the counter to order a coke from an older heavy black woman at the nearest counter. "Maam, I'm curious about a woman that works back there. The one that wears the the blue ribbon in her hair. I have a friend that would like to know if she is single." I asked her.
The woman's face lit up and said something like "Ohhhh you mean Sylvia? Oh yesss, she is single and she is a sweet sweet girl. But don't you come telling me you've got a freind that wants to know. I see you comin in here every day checkin her out!"
I smiled as if to admit guilty as charged and asked her if I could talk to her for a minute. The woman start chuckling and yelled across the room to some worker "Edgar! Can you go get Sylvia! There's a handsome young man here to see her."
"Handsome, young, man." That introduction will hopefully work to my advantage I thought.
So, anyhow...here's what I had planned to say. Something like "Hey, I just wanted to say, I've seen you here several times, and I really like your smile. To be honest, I that's the main reason I come in here. I'll be leaving town shortly, and was just hoping if you would be interested in joining me for a dinner before I go"
It's not totally false, I'm going out of town for several days on work. I just wanted to have a plan so if I don't return, it'll look as if planned instead of leaving defeated. Also, it'd give her the comfort that some stalker won't be at her place of work forever more. Anyhow, I thought it would work.
Upon the black woman's call, the back of the McDonald's counter seemed to come to life. I heard all kinds of talk in Spanish going on back and forth among the workers, and then all kinds of workers from the back started coming towards the front to see who was summoning for Sylvia.
At this exact moment, I felt a hand gently hit me on the shoulder, and standing in line next to me was a guy I'll call Joe along with several new young sales reps. Joe's the regional sales manager from the company I work with. I guess he's a good enough guy, and he's competent at what he does. He tends to be an ass-kisser to myself and others in the company that he thinks could advance his career. "Heeey! What's up!" Then he starts gushing on about how excited he is about a company presentation I did two weeks ago.
The last thing in the world I would want is this already difficult and somewhat vulnerable and embarrassing act witnessed by so many people. Especially those that work for me.
My nervousness is now turning to panic as I can now see this girl emerging from the back with a big blushing smile along with some giggling female coworkers.
The older black woman then reiterated "Yes..Sylvia's one sweet girl, but she doesn't speak English"
So the girl was now at the counter facing me and says "Hi" in a really thick accent. The reps waiting in line started to notice for the first time, there was something more than ordering going on with myself and the McD's staff. All the staff, instead of minding their own business and preparing food or taking orders, stood there, as if waiting for me to say the punch line of a joke. And a punchline I did deliver!!
The nervousness and the realization that she would not be able to understand what I would say without it going through a bunch of nosy translators made me forget everything I had planned to say.
"Hi, I wanted to say, I like your um I like your...you." was the only thing that could come to my lips. The staff all broke into laughs and hoots. Sylvia stood there with that sweet smile as if she didn't understand but was waiting for someone to translate.
"OK. I gotta go. Thanks. Bye" I said and then I headed out the door with my coke without looking at anyone.
Yes, I forgot my bag with possessions in the booth too.
I'm not much of a drinker but I'm going to drink like a fish tonight. I'm feeling so relieved to Boston to work for a week.
I can't believe it went so bad and I feel so dumb. I think I like that girl even more, now when I think of how she looked at me and said hi. Did I mess this up beyond repair??