“Don’t be scared!”
Amanda’s piercing scream made the nearby windows tremble.
“Sssh, don’t be afraid, I won’t hurt you.”
A colorful, fairy-like figure emerged from the darkness.
Amanda relaxed. This was a dream. She had probably had too much to drink at dinner, and now her brain was pulling nonsense from its deepest corners. No big deal.
“What do you want from me?” she asked suspiciously.
“I have good news,” the peculiar newcomer declared. “I’m here so you can clear up a few things with me.”
“What kind of things?”
“You’ve been praying for a man for, what, six months now?”
“Well, yes. Seems like it’s been for nothing.”
The fairy pursed her lips.
“I wouldn’t say that if I were you.”
“But it’s the truth. I’ve done everything I could, and nothing.”
“Uh-huh,” the creature grew irritated. “And the baker?”
“The one who called a repairman to change a lightbulb in his shop?”
“And?”
“I want a man who’s handy and can fix things around the house.”
“Got it. And the librarian who asked you out?”
“I saw him dance. No, thanks. He jumps around like a goat.”
“So,” the fairy cut her off, “handy and a good dancer.”
“Exactly. And smart, obviously. And he has to keep up… I mean, you know… … I mean, at least, you know…”
The colorful figure raised an eyebrow.
“How much ‘keeping up’ are we talking about?”
“Seven days a week…”
“So, you want a guy in his twenties or thirties at forty-five?”
“Of course not! Just a few years older than me.”
“Then reconsider that seven-days-a-week thing.”
“Fine. Every other day works?”
“I’ll do my best. Anything else?”
“Clean, well-groomed, polite, sporty, well-informed, and our political views should align.”
The creature rolled her eyes.
“And here I was wondering why all my candidates were getting rejected.”
“You sent more than just the baker and the librarian?” Amanda asked, surprised.
“Oh, just a few. The surgeon who cast your daughter’s arm, the dentist you saw a few months ago, the high school principal where you want to enroll your kid, the taxi driver, all four delivery guys, and the guy you interviewed last summer.”
“Wow,” Amanda gaped. “I really am picky. I’m sorry!”
“No problem. I’ve gathered all I need to know. I’ll send the next one I find.”
“Alright, and I promise I’ll give him a chance!”
“I expect nothing less after this.”
“Listen up,” a familiar voice whispered in her ear.
This time, Amanda didn’t scream, but she did frantically look around the bus.
“Stay calm. Take Friday off and go on a long weekend trip with your daughter to the lake. Don’t stay at the hotel, book the small inn next to it. There’s a single dad with two kids. He’s your match.”
“I can’t right now,” Amanda grumbled, pretending to talk on her phone.
“What do you mean, you can’t?! Do you have any idea how hard it was to find a dancing plumber who reads a book a week and plays in an old boys’ football team?”
“My daughter has important tests next week, in biology and history. She needs to study.”
“Hey! Queen of the Singles!”
The fairy startled her at work while she was sipping coffee.
Amanda realized she should probably see a doctor for these frequent hallucinations. But she turned toward the voice anyway.
“Yes? Found someone else?”
“Oh, and he’s a catch!” The sparkling creature beamed. “Learning salsa, yoga instructor, went to a technical school, his hobby is car repair. Never been married, a bit stubborn, but I think you could handle him.”
“Sounds good, especially since I haven’t had even a casual fling in a while. I’m really lonely.”
“Perfect. Take your friend to the salsa event tonight in the venue near your apartment.”
“Oh, yeah, I saw the poster for that the other day.”
“So, it’s settled then.”
“Yeah, but not happening tonight.”
“What?!”
“I’ve been working on a huge project for weeks. The deadline is the day after tomorrow. We have to push hard until then.”
“You have employees,” the fairy argued.
“Exactly. I can’t abandon them. What kind of boss would I be?”
The creature angrily smacked the coffee machine, which responded with a loud bang before dying forever.
“Get dressed. Now!”
Amanda jolted awake from her afternoon nap. She panicked and ran into her daughter’s room, only to stand in the empty space, confused. Then she remembered—her daughter was spending the whole weekend at her dad’s.
“I’m calling my doctor. I need a full mental check-up,” she muttered.
“You don’t need a check-up,” the impatient voice returned. “You need a man.”
“Oh no, not another one,” Amanda groaned.
“Listen to this—former competitive dancer, fifty-two, loves skiing, owns a restaurant, quite the ladies’ man, sometimes five women a week. He’s willing to settle down—if he finds ‘the one.’ And I think that’s you.”
“If that’s true, I’ll do anything to make it work. I’m free for two whole days, nothing on my schedule.”
“I thought so,” the fairy said sternly. “This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Plus, I’ve got four others on my waiting list.”
“You have a waiting list?”
“What did you think? I put in all this effort, and then just let them go to waste?”
“Okay, okay, you’re right. So? Where do I go?”
“Just to the park on the other side of town. He’s walking his German Shepherd. Don’t worry, the dog’s an outdoor pet and very well-trained.”
“I’m getting dressed. What should I wear?”
“Whatever you want. You’re exactly his type. He’ll fall for you instantly. Just walk up to him and tell him his shoelace is untied.”
“That’s it? That’s all I have to do?”
“Exactly,” the fairy chimed proudly.
Amanda got dressed and opened her front door.
“Oh, for f***’s sake!” she swore as she stepped outside.
“What’s wrong?”
“Can’t you see it’s raining?”
“Yes. And?”
“You seriously thought I’d trudge all the way to that damn park in this downpour, sink ankle-deep in mud, and have a soaking wet dog jump on me with his dirty paws?”