This is the first chapter of a story I decided to write.  Yeah, it's kinda a fantasy, but here goes....

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I wake up at 6 a.m., hitting the snooze button as usual.  This day, the 27th of November, happens to be my birthday, but I have to go to work, just like any other day.  Off I go into my normal morning routine.  Into the shower I go, lathering up the body wash before me, just as usual.  I get the shampoo out, but oddly enough, I commence to lathering it up on my body.  Before I realize it, I had used all the shampoo in my hand to bathe with!  After making that silly mistake, my hair gets scrubbed good and out of the shower I go.  I go back into my bedroom and find an outfit to wear for the day.  I am just about out of clean clothes at this point.  I look frantically for something that looks good on me.  Ah, I found it.  A blue shirt and some pants that are 32 in the waist.  It was my last pair of clean pants.

I usually fix myself some cereal for breakfast.  That is what my normal routine consists of.  This is just like any ordinary day.  Well, except for the fact that it was my birthday.  I figured I should instead go somewhere and reward myself.  After all, this isn't just any other day.  'Tis my birthday.  So, I go to my favorite place to eat and order my favorite food.  I don't guess it matters that I will be a few minutes late to work; the boss is very liberal concerning that.  I will just stay over before I leave this afternoon.  

While I am driving to the restaurant, I hear on the radio that the casulty figures from Hurricane Paula may be in the thousands.  Rescue workers are working at a feverish pace to locate survivors.  President Guliani will be making his way to the region to have a first hand look at the devestation.  In other news, oil prices have risen to record heights amid the destruction left behind by Hurricane Paula.  I just then realized that I needed to get some fuel.  Prices for hydrogen hovered around $1.50 per cubic centimeter, lower than it has been recently, despite the recent hurricane.  

Once I arrived at the restaurant, a new waitress gretted me. Her glistening blue eyes and her radiant red hair were as vibrant as a flaming torch.  She crossed the floor as graciously as a gymnist would a balance beam.  She was a bit shorter than I, around 5' 4".  Carring a menu in her hand, she walked over to my table.

"Hi, my name's Kim and I will be your server this morning...how's it going?" she asked in a calm, yet somewhat enthusiastic demeanor.  

"Okay I guess," I replied.

That was my standard answer to any question asked of me pertaining to how I am doing. I was acting like I didn't show any interest to the situation, but inside my heart was racing like a person in a hurry to get home to get a popsicle.  Her beauty was hard to ignore, just as it was hard to keep a secret about how much I admired her glowing personality.   

"Can I start you off with something to drink?"

"Umm well, I think I will have a glass of OJ--I mean orange juice."

"You seem quite nervous.  What's the matter?"

"Nothing, it's just that, well...."

I began to sweat bullets.  I didn't know what to say or how to say it. She was beautiful, but everytime I ended up complementing a girl, I ended up on her bad side.  I don't know what it was.  This time, my feelings are exceptionally genuine.  I must complement her.  Taking risks is something I have recently learned to become comfortable with.

"You look extremely well this morning, and, well, this morning is different for me because it is my birthday."

That couldn't have came out any worse.  It sounded like I wanted to make passionate love to her right there in the restaurant.

"Gosh, it is your birthday!  Well, happy birthday!  You are so sweet.  Most people usually try to come on to me with a lame pick up line, but you actually complemented my looks honestly.  I am actually flattered."

I tried not to let my jaw hit the floor.  I took a risk by complementing her attractive physique, and she appreciated it.

"I usually try to complement someone's beauty when I see it, and I just can't tell you enough how great you look," I replied as I was still shocked about how responsive the waitress was about my complement.

"You are really nice," Kim replied. "I will be right back with your orange juice."

As Kim walked away I got to thinking that I may have a chance to get to know her better.  Before today I have never really had a relationship that lasted longer than a couple of months.  I never seemed to understand why the people I dated lost interest in me.  The people I dated never gave a real reason either; I was left hanging wondering what I done wrong.  This felt different, however.  

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