The Dog's Dinner (First Line Challenge)

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The Dog's Dinner (981 words)

"I'll see you in ten days," he called over his shoulder as he headed toward the glass double doors of the building. Tom strode confidently with his golf bag slung over one arm and laptop bag over the other. He planned to get in a little tee time amongst all those road trip client visits. Golf not only gave him credibility with the CEOs who were ten years older than him at 32, but kept him in trim for the ladies. He was totally unaware as he walked out that his best friend and colleague from Marketing, Mel, was sighing with relief.

Under his breath Mel quipped, "Now maybe I'll get a chance to ask out Sara from Accounting." It's not that Mel really lacked confidence. He was just as good looking, terribly funny, (he thought) and worked in Marketing for Gawdsakes, but it seemed like whenever he was anywhere with Tom, women just looked right through him and focused on the slick talking, smooth walking sales manager instead. Sara was new and hadn't had time to be dazzled by Tom's charm yet. Mel hoped to ask her out to dinner, take her to a movie and be well into third date territory before Tom got back to the office.

Mel sauntered to the coffee shop just inside the building's lobby and got in line for his morning bagel and latte. He saw Sara ahead of him and tried not to stare at her when she walked past him blowing on her cup of Earl Grey tea.

"Relax, big dog. You've got plenty of time to woo the Lady Sara before Prince Tom returns to the castle."

He turned to find his cube neighbor Cathy in line behind him. She was into the whole Society for a Creative Anachronism scene and related everything to medieval terms. It was great when a client wanted an ad with a knight to ride up and deliver margarine from the back of a white charger to a bosom heaving princess (since she knew just what worked), but it got a little old in real life. Her cube was entirely decked out to resemble a castle - fake drawbridge and dragons included.

"Was I that obvious?" he asked under his breath.

"Nah, I just know how to spot Lancelot Syndrome." Cathy smirked.

"Tell you what," Mel offered, "breakfast is on me if you can help clue me into what my target audience wants to hear. It'd be great to get off to a roaring start with her before she notices Tom and gets swept off her feet like all the others." He put in his order for the bagel and latte and asked Cathy what she wanted.

"Just be yourself," she insisted. "It always works for me."

"What? I meant for breakfast?"

Cathy's face colored noticeably as she mumbled, "oh sorry - I'll just have a blueberry muffin." She turned away before Mel noticed her blush. He collected their order and they headed for the bank of elevators. He was so busy thinking about Sara, he didn't even notice Cathy's discomfort and she recovered quickly by continually stuffing muffin into her mouth so she couldn't answer his questions until they were back in their cubes.

After he replied to several client emails about a dog food promotion they were putting together, he leaned around the cube divider and got Cathy's attention. "So should I call her or send an email?"

Cathy sighed and told him to finish his weekly expense voucher. Mel looked quizzically at her so she told him he could drop by Sara's cube when he turned it in. "Oh, I get it. The personal touch." Cathy nodded and went back to working out jingles for their dog food project.

When Mel got back from Accounting, Cathy looked up and Mel shook his head hangdog fashion. "She wasn't there. I won't have an excuse to pass through there for another week. I'm thinking flowers. Roses or a mixed bouquet?"

Cathy sighed audibly, "remember that day you gave me a pansy you picked from the flower box in front of the building and then put in a styrofoam cup?"

"ye-ah"

"That gesture meant more to me than any florist bouquet ever would. Do something personal from your heart."

Mel went back to work on the kibble project but kept thinking about what Cathy had just said. He decided to make dinner reservations anyway and then sent an urgent email to Eric in the mailroom to help out. Just before the end of the work day, Eric arrived with a rolled up scroll on antique buff colored paper, complete with singed edges for an aged effect. He solemnly unfurled the missive and began to read loudly.

"Hear ye! Hear ye!" Eric started with a wink to Mel. Cube neighbor chatter came to a stop and people popped up leering over their cube walls like so many prairie dogs.

"The pleasure of the beautiful and talented Lady Catherine's company is hereby requested for dinner three hours hence at the behest of Sir Marmaduke the big dog of Denmark. What reply may I give to him my Lady?"

Cathy could hardly keep from laughing as she looked at Mel with his gently pleading eyes. She looked around at all their expectant coworkers who were holding their collective breath, awaiting her answer. "Squire Eric, you may relay word to Sir Marmaduke, big dog of Denmark, that I'd be most pleased and honored to accompany him to dinner this fine evening."

Whoops and shouts went up all around and then everybody went back to work. Cathy shook her head and smirked at Mel, "Well it looks like you tailored that message perfectly for your target market."

"Ahhhh. I did a little market analysis and found that I already had the winning message. I was just trying to appeal to the wrong customer."

This was written for the Short Story First Line Challenge, week 12. See http://firstlinego.gather.com/ for further information. Join the group to join in the fun. You'll find fun competition if you write; lots of good short stories to read, even if you don't.

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