//-------------------------------------------------------// Sassy Saddles Goes On A Date -by I Like Pie- //-------------------------------------------------------// //-------------------------------------------------------// The Date //-------------------------------------------------------// The Date Sassy Saddles sits at a table in a fancy and Italian dinner. Her small hands lay atop the table's silk tablecloth. She then impatiently glances at a golden and silver watch that's on her wrist. She's waiting for a person named Thelma. She met her on a online dating site about a month ago. This will be there first time meeting in person. Thelma is extremely late. Sassy noisily and repeatedly taps a foot against polished wood floor beneath her and obsessively stares at the restaurant's entrance. As if by magic the door then opens. The sound of a high pitched and dainty bell fills the air as Thelma walks in. She is very plump, she has light green skin, and she also has short yellow hair. She wears an elegant dark red dress that has many different triangular beads on it. Each bead is a different color and shape. A pair of turquoise wings that are like that of a butterfly's attached to the back of it. A old fashioned necklaces with a picture of her own face on it dangles from her neck. She pauses and looks around for Sassy Saddles. She then walks over to Sassy's table with a certain unconventional swagger in her steps. "Are you Sassy Saddles?" She asks in a loud and deep voice. "Yes, I am. I assume you are Ms. Thelma." She looks over this individual with a cautious, curious, and somewhat judgmental glance. Wow.. Her profile picture looked a tiny bit different. Then again there's always Photoshop. I probably should not be so judgmental. I'll try to make the best out of this, Sassy Saddles thinks to herself. Thelma pulls a chair back and then nonchalantly flops down into it. The two of them start talking about their lives. Sassy works at a tiny boutique in the suburbs while Thelma on the other hoof is a worker at an old thrift store. After a while a petite waiter with long, flowing, and yellow hair then walks up to their table, writes down what they want to eat, and walks away. They then immediately keep on talking and they even play a quick trivia game that the two of them really enjoy. Surprisingly, Thelma barely wins in the end. Thelma shakes and swings her shoulder about, moves her arms in circles, and smiles broadly, victoriously, and smugly. Sassy gives her a simple and quick giggle alongside a small and playful grin. Once Sassy Saddles stops laughing she asks Thelma a question. "Manikins and machinery, how the heck did you accomplish such a feat?" "It's quite simple. It's really just composed of two simple things. I just noticed a couple of patterns and picked up some things about history from working at a thrift store." Thelma shakes a hand to dismiss her comment. For a minute or two Sassy Saddles thinks of a good question to ask. "What's your family like?" After Sassy speaks Thelma stares at the ground meekly for a couple of second silently. Sassy stares worriedly at her as she waits for a response. "Satin and silk, did I say something wrong?" She lifts her head and shakes her head no. "I'm fine. My parents and siblings are.. dead." She sluggishly lowers her head again. Their area is now suddenly extremely silent. Sassy Saddles delicately places a comforting hand on top of one of Thelma's hands. Just when we just broke the ice this all had to come crashing down, Sassy Saddles thinks as she fidgets ever so slightly. "I'm sorry. You know, I've lost a bunch of jobs. I think I'm probably going to lose the job I have right now. I'll probably never achieve my dreams. My clients never like my marketing plans." A large tear rolls down one of Thelma's cheeks and falls onto one of her hands. The waiter walks over to them with a platter of food. She stares at them and blushes. She then meekly sets the platter on the table. "I'm just going to leave this here." Sassy nods. "Thank you." The waiter nods back. She then quickly runs away. "They died in a plane crash." She says quietly. Even more awkward silences occurs. "Do you want to cut off this date off right now? I don't want to force you to do something you don't want to do." "No. I want to continue this." Sassy Saddle sucks nervously on a potato chip. A selfish part of her wants the date to end right now. She knows she is in very shaky territory and could ruin Thelma's day. "Umm, I have a little something for you. It's a simple gift. Nothing much." She slowly pulls a snow globe out of one of her pockets and hands it to her. Inside the snow globe there is a tiny, old fashioned, and blue boutique in the center of it. Dark blue sparkles fall around it slowly and bits of fake snow surround it. "Your profile said you like blue and fashion.. I hope you enjoy it." "It's delightful." Sassy puts Thelma's sweet gift into her purse that lays on the floor next to her chair. "I'm more than glad you like it." Thelma suddenly checks her own watch. It is a light shade of green with teeny tiny blue and yellow stars all over it. "Are you okay?" She raises her eyebrows and stares in confusion. She shakes her head 'no'. "I really have to go. This has been fun. I'll talk to you later. Bye!" She slowly gets to her feet. "Okay. Yeah, I'll see you soon." Sassy isn't sure her wanting to leave is genuine. A moment ago she wanted the date to go on and now she has to leave. It seams to abrupt. Thelma nods, turns around, and quickly ;eaves the dinner. The date leaves Sassy Saddles with a bittersweet feeling. She's glad her judgments didn't get in the way of the date but she wishes she could've reacted better to Thelma's grief.