Two for One

Everyone Pleave note that the 'Steve Carroll' in this story in not me but my dad let's be clear i would never have invited to girls to the same date. Well except the time...


Two for One
Major Betzann Carroll

It is said that there is someone for everyone, but this time there were two!
Two for one!

Could it be true? Steve Carroll, a tall, handsome, and very intelligent man asked me out. We were actually going to a special farewell for mutual friends. It was all I thought about for two weeks. Meet him at the switchboard in the main hall of The Salvation Army Headquarters at 4:00 PM. Details played over and over in my mind. I had to work until 4:00 P. M., but surely I could get off a few minutes early.

The day had been overwhelming: five volleyball casualties, four lost lunches, three early dismissal complete with special arrangements, two nose bleeds, and one accident. (Use your imagination!) The last child left our summer day camp at 3:48 P.M. There were exactly twelve minutes to change my clothes, run a comb through my hair and get to that switchboard. I can do it, I will do it, and I have to do it. I flew across the street, praying that my body could keep up with my legs. In front of the main door I took a deep breath and tried to walk in calmly, straight toward the switchboard. “When what to my wondering eyes should appear, but …” There stood a young woman who was quite attractive, conversing with the switchboard operator. She had a southern accent and looked about as excited as I was. I had never seen her before and I worked at the headquarters office three days a week. I asked a friend who was passing by, “Who is the woman at the switchboard?”

My friend seemed surprised that I had to ask. “That’s the visitor from Carolina who stopped to see Steve Carroll. She is meeting him here at the switchboard at 4:00 PM.”.

“Are you sure? You mean Steve Carroll, Steve Carroll who works up-stairs?” “Yes, that is exactly who I mean, I just spoke with her. She is to meet Steve Carroll at the switchboard at 4:00 PM.”

Now it’s 4:02 PM and I wanted to run. My day seemed mild compared to this dilemma. Then the elevator door opened and my wondering eye beheld Steve Carroll in person. I eased back trying to make myself invisible, while Miss Carolina made a mad dash for him. Was this the right switchboard, the wrong time or a bad dream? I wasn’t sure. Why would she go to a farewell for folks she didn’t know? After she finished greeting him, she placed her arm in his and said, “I am ready.” Ready for what would have been my reply, but I never spoke.

I watched as he looked around, as though he were missing an umbrella. No, not an umbrella, he was looking for me. He saw me standing against the wall, which I wished could have swallowed me up. “There you are. Are you ready to go?” I didn’t know whether to laugh or cry. Was I ready? I had been ready for two weeks!
I just was not ready for Miss Carolina. Being the gentleman that Steve was, he introduced me to her. He said she had arrived unexpectedly and wanted to see him before she went home.
This was the only night she had free. He told her he was going to a farewell and she said that was just fine. Thus, two for one! My first date with the man of my dreams and now I was sharing it with the woman from Carolina. She clung to him like flypaper.

Miss Carolina was sweet, mushy, and very comfortable. I was the exact opposite.
Well, a little sweet. I tried to make an excuse so I wouldn’t have to go. “There is a nose bleed, no I mean a child I had to check on. My friend standing near offered to check on the child for me and urged me on. How unbelievable was this! We walked down the street to get to the subway, with none other than Steve Carroll in person; Miss Carolina to his left and I to his right. It was a long night, not to mention the ride home. When they dropped me off, Miss Carolina wanted a picture to remember the great evening. “Could you all take a picture of me and Steve?” she asked me in her southern speech. Could I take the picture? I wanted to do more than take her picture. I reminded myself that love was kind.

Two for one is great when it comes to special offers at the grocery store, but not for Steve Carroll. He was (is) a kind person, who never wanted to hurt anyone. He was gracious. I wasn’t as gracious in this situation. Disappointed, bewildered, perplexed for starters, but I was not gracious. Two for one, not for Steve Carroll! He was the man of my dreams and thirty years later I am right by his side (the right side).

I love you Steve.