I went to the park this weekend to sit around with some friends and enjoy the nice whether. While they engaged in a Scrabble game, I worked in my sketchbook on nothing particularly mentionable.

I felt some eyes peering over from behind me, so I glanced over my shoulder to find a tall man in a heavy sweater. Our eyes met, I gave him a reflexive smirk, but quickly returned to drawing. A few moments later I saw him again out of the corner of my eye. I assumed he was engaged in the Scrabble game.

All of a sudden he was half a foot away from me, crouching down next to me on the grass. I was startled. I didn’t expect him to be there, so close to me. He was older but very good looking, with piercing blue eyes and a charming face. But even still I felt kind of terrified.

He said hi and asked me how I was. I told him I was okay even though I was nervous. I knew what he was doing, but I wasn’t sure how it was going to play out. He asked me what I was drawing. I told him nothing. He said that I should sell my drawings, and I told him that I didn’t know about that. He said that he would buy one of my drawings, anyway.

He asked me if I’d like to get a drink or hang out sometime. I think I blushed, and turned my head away from him and said, “Maaaaaayyyybeeeee.” I really meant no, but to avoid any further confrontation I gave him my book for him to write his number in. He wrote it down, and said that he enjoyed the moment we had when we saw each other. I felt like there were a million tiny fish flailing around in my belly. He said goodbye, and walked away. I felt like I was going to puke.