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This is a semi-fictional story inspired by real life, true events that actually occurred to me a few years ago, but have been edited with flourish to become a flowing story. I completed this story in January of 2023, but let it sit finished, revised it here and there, and Dennis carefully edited so we could be sure it wasn't rushed. Names and places have been changed. Any people, places, names, products or events mentioned are done so without permission or endorsement.

A week ago, while in the midst of a low point in my depression triggered by mixed memories of my separation and divorce from my wife of 18 years, I was miserable, lonely, sad and depressed. Losing custody and having minimal visitation with my three children didn't help matters. One day all her lies will catch up with her, until then I hold the bag and pay the tab. At almost 50 I was sure I would never love again and definitely would never be loved again. I would try to flirt with women but would either overdo it and flame out, or get shy and lose my chance. In the last three years, two women I have dated lasted a few months each but the relationships both imploded. The third woman I was seeing liked to play word games and was only interested in a friends with benefits situation, but when it suited her, not me or us.

I don't want someone to come and go, I want someone to stay.

At the point of writing this, I am closer to 50 than 49, stand 5' 11" with very short, very gray black hair, hazel eyes, am in okay shape, and have a barely positive outlook on things and life. I have been single for about 11 months and had just about given up hope of meeting or finding someone. I was in Best Buy looking to upgrade my phone and while I was (and am) happy with Verizon, I still looked at all the carriers. The sales people are either poorly trained, don't care at all, or too busy to help, and that day I had an 18 year old girl who knew less than I did trying to talk me into T-Mobile.

While I was browsing, comparing, and trying to ignore the clerk, I bumped into a woman in her early 40's struggling to keep a stuffed shoulder bag up on her shoulder and what I assumed to be her son from climbing on the racks. I made polite conversation with her and the first two times she smiled politely but ignored me, a tactic that I myself employ. She was harried, frustrated, her brown hair was everywhere except her rumpled ponytail and she looked like a stressed mom trying to hold it together. She was 5' 10" with a frazzled smile, her loose, wrinkled skirt and blouse didn't conceal her nice body and she was pretty despite seeming overwhelmed. She moved close and said "Uh..." then changed her mind and looked away. Having three kids myself, when her son continued to ignore her and frustrate her, I knelt in front of him and asked if he wanted to know a secret. He stopped trashing the store and said "Yes." I glanced over my shoulder, moved closer to whisper, and told him that if he really wanted to mess with store security, he should stand still and behave. He blinked and I said "They expect you to run around and get into stuff, but when you behave it confuses them." He looked at his mom who heard most of what I said, then he straightened himself and smiled then said "Okay."

I stood and said "You watch, any minute someone different from that girl will come over and ask if they can help us. And it'll be because they can't figure out why you're behaving." The boy, maybe 11 or 12, moved his neck around and said "Alright" and then stood still and was quiet. The mom was staring at me as I went back to the phones and resumed comparing them. The mom came close to me and whispered "Why...? How did you do that?" I said "I have 3 hellions of my own and I know what usually works." She blinked and asked "Are they here with you?" Sore subject or not, I sighed and said they were with my ex, she got everything and I got screwed. The woman blinked and said "Boy do I know how that feels?" I stared at her with no idea what to say next when she asked "So you're single?" I laughed and said "Like it matters, I can't even get a woman to talk to me." She blinked and said "I'm talking to you." I laughed again and said "You're being polite and probably taken anyways." She stared at me and asked "Are you always this rude?" I didn't know what to say so I stood there and said nothing until she moved away while her son stood quietly looking around.

A few moments later another clerk came over and asked me if he could help me and I looked at the boy as I said "Nope, I'm all set." The boy stared at me then said "Wow, it worked." It was a lucky guess with the young girl busy and so many people in the wireless area, but it worked

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