I saw him as soon as we pulled in to the parking lot. Immediately I was drawn towards him and I knew it was virtually impossible for me to pass up this opportunity. I don’t exactly get out that often these days. Even with two kids in tow I knew that he would see me, too. All it would take was a single “Hey…” and I’d crumble.
MQD has been gone for three days. He is the sensible one. He keeps me in check. This guy would never talk to me if MQD was with me. I suppose I just wouldn’t be putting off the same “I’ll totally buy whatever you’re selling” vibe.
As we walked towards the co-operative grocery store in town I immediately remembered that I was still wearing workout clothes. Maybe he won’t know that I am his type. Maybe he won’t speak to me. With Lucy in a carrier on my chest, I took Emily’s hand and thought maybe if I just avert my eyes he won’t see me.
“Hey…” he shuffled on over to me. “I am selling these tie-dyes…”
And I crumbled. I was his. I saw some people I know. I took this as an opportunity to try and escape. “Lemme get some dinner in my kiddos and if you’re still here when we leave…” He gave me those eyes. The hippie boy in a parking lot eyes… the you never know if you’ll see me again but I hope you do eyes.
Em and I split some sushi. Lucy had some honeydew and a cucumber and a piece of Akmak. We ate outside. I watched person after person pass him by. My heart ached. Because I am a sucker.
We were walking towards the car. I had a ten dollar bill burning a red hot hole in my pocket. “Mom, I really do want a tie dye.” Until that moment in time it hadn’t really dawned on me to buy one for Emily!! I could get my Buy Crap From A Cute Hippie Boy on and I could blame it all on her! Genius. It would be a tough sell convincing MQD that the adult size large tshirt was for Emily, however.
“So, you’re selling t-shirts. And I’m a sucker. But you need to give me your sales pitch. Are you planning on saving the world?”
He smiled. He laughed. The Dazed and Confused style snicker that I adore. I took this to be a no. In that single giggle I knew he was not saving the world – unless the world would be saved by a twelve pack of Samuel Smith’s Oatmeal Stout or some glass beads that he planned to weave in to some hemp necklaces.
“I have this small hoodie tshirt?” SOLD! The hoodie tshirt is an elusive and grand item. It would be my absolute pleasure to share this with my first born.
Best of luck to you, Cute Parking Lot Boy (CPLB). If there was any doubt in my mind that you were not CPBL but actually Terribly Lost Tour Kid (TLTK) you sealed the deal when I asked if could take your picture. CPLB let his arm hover over my six year old’s shoulders, like I might freak out if he touched her. TLTK would have hugged her and let her take a bite of his half eaten falafel.
Excitement on the side 