My duties this day seemed to fly right by and thankfully the evening hours came swiftly; my thoughts were exhilarated to say the least.  I couldn’t wait to get back to the club and see Sonia again!

The other fellas didn’t want to go this evening.  Just as soon as I was off duty I rushed to the staff showers, got cleaned up and dressed warmly.  In fact I knew I’d look sharp if I wore my black jacket, which Stéphane had brought for me on one of his stopovers in Fiji.  Glad I packed it!

“Someone’s got a hot date!” the guys teased me as I was leaving the ship.  Outside I was able to hail a cab quickly; there are always a handful of taxis waiting around the ship.  Only moments before the nightclub came into sight, I noticed a florist shop.

It’s not like I had ever before bought anything special for a girl but the thought of presenting her with a selection of flowers sure encouraged me to feel good – this would be right.

I immediately asked the cabbie to let me out there.  I paid him and went into the shop.  I selected half a dozen red roses and had them arranged with a spray of ferns and wrapped in clear cellophane.  I felt pleased with myself and walked to the club in the crisp evening air.

I went inside and quickly looked around the room for Sonia.  Nowhere was she, not even her sisters.  I took a deep breath and I felt my heart beat slightly increasing for a quick moment.  I was amused by my reaction.

I made my way to an empty table and set the flowers down; still standing a server came over to ask if I wanted a drink. I ordered a chilled Canadian draft beer and sat down. I had taken one drink from the frosted glass and I looked to the door again.  It was a little after 7, still early in the evening I assured myself.

Before another drink could be taken, I saw Sonia walking in with her sisters.  This time my heart went straight into my throat!  She smiled bright as soon as she saw me and while her sisters, waving a nice hello to me, sat down together at a nearby table, she came straight over to me.  I said ‘hi’ with my awkwardly extended hand.

She spoke no words but her smile spoke volumes!  Sonia approached me so closely and we fell immediately into a very warm and very nice hug.   She was 2 or 3 inches shorter than me and I kissed her on the forehead.

After a moment of eternity, we released our embrace and she sat down.  I still stood and reaching for the roses and I handed them to her.  She looked at them lovingly and she said, “Ah, so beautiful!”  I immediately replied, ‘so are you.  You are so beautiful, just like these roses!’  She looked into my eyes, giggling.

Now I sat down.  The waiter came to take her drink order.  I could sense the sisters taking turns glancing our way.  A couple of them got up to dance.  The waiter brought Sonia a nicely dressed ginger ale and she sipped on it so sweetly.

Her hands were placed on the tabletop and well, after that hug, I instinctively reached out to take hold of her hand, that which was closest to me.  Sonia did not once pull her hand away.

We talked with deep purpose; it just fell immediately into our conversation that way, the seriousness of our discovery of feelings for one another.  This was revealed in the manner of our words themselves; we were making plans!

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Anybody out there got a time machine?  Blue Masala was hoping to hitch a ride!

How about that?  Two posts in one night!  Well, I thought I should make up a little for all the glitches; a bumpy start to be sure.  All that can change now and well no more apologies.  I’m still aiming to post every Sunday night about 8p.  As the musicians say, “Play it by ear.”  And so we will.

Good night and a blessed New Year wish for all!