One year ago, Jim met Stacy at a Dodgers Game. The Dodgers were losing to the Yankees. In the bottom of the ninth inning, the Dodgers hit a walk off home run. The ball flew deep into right field. Directly at Jim. As he reached to catch the ball, he spilt his beer on the girl in front of him. Stacy was all wet. After a few dozen apologies and a promise to never spill beer on her again, Jim asked for her number. She took out a sharpie and autographed his Clayton Kershaw jersey. Along with her phone number.
Jim could’t believe his luck. Not only was she beautiful. She was a dodger fan.
Jim called her the next day and asked her out to dinner. He assured Stacy there will be no more beer baths. Unless of course we were at a dodger game, and he had a chance to catch a home run hit. Stacy agreed that would be worth it.
It has been one year since that day at Dodger Stadium. During that year, Jim and Stacy have been inseparable. After baseball season, they had movies and concerts to entertain them. Friends met friends and parents met parents. Jim was with Stacy and Stacy was with Jim. And that was that.
Jim wanted to celebrate. Jim has been in other relationships but this one has lasted the longest. A year was a long time for Jim. Could this be it?
Jim made dinner reservations at “The Fire Place.” He reserved their normal booth with the autographed photo of Tommy Lasorda and Vin Scully.
Stacy had the fish and Jim had the steak. Dessert was on its way when Stacy received a phone call.
“Jim, I need to take this.”
“Sure. Of course,” said Jim.
As Stacy left the table, the brownie topped with ice cream arrived. Jim watched Stacy walk out of the restaurant. Then he watched a drip of ice cream stream down onto the warm brownie. I wonder what that’s all about thought Jim.
Jim reached into his pocket and played with the ring. The restaurant agreed to film the proposal on the Jumbotron. But this new idea was much better. He removed the cherry from the ice cream and put the ring in its place. The glimmering diamond made Jim smile.
Stacy came back to the table. She paused at the tables edge, clutching her purse strap, one corner of her mouth quivered, her eyes fixed on Jims.
Jim signaled to the booth across from his.
“Sit down Stacy.”
“I’m sorry Jim, I can’t. I need to leave.”
“Why, what happened?” said Jim.
As Stacy eyes dropped, searching for an answer, a sharp glint of light hit her eye. Then she saw the ring propped up in a mound of ice cream. She turned her gaze back at Jim. His look was more than she could take.
She turned and left the restaurant.
Jim didn’t follow.
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