Getting To Know You

Getting To Know You

“What’s your favorite book?” Leon asked Milli after a long silence. Blind dates were the worst, he never knew what to say.

“I don’t have one.”

“Don’t you read books?”

“Of course, I do!”

“But you don’t have a favorite?”

“I have eclectic tastes.”

Leon nodded and fell silent again.

“Do you have a favorite?” asked Milli

“The Day the World Stood Still,” he told her finally.

“Science fiction, right?” she said with a sniff.

“What’s wrong with that?”

“A mystery by any other name is still a mystery, to me.”

“So, it’s a subgenre. There’s nothing wrong with that!”

“Of course, there is! Genres should be pure. Mixing them is just confusing!”

“What are you talking about? Mixed genres spice things up!”

Milli turned up her nose and turned away from him.

“I’m a rocket scientist, what do you do for a living?” Leon asked in an attempt to change the subject.

“I think it would be obvious.”

“Why?” he answered.

“I’m a librarian.”

Leon swallowed.

“Where?”

“Metro Toronto Public Libraries Book Depository,” she replied.

“I think I went there once.”

“Everybody does, at least once.”

Leon subsided and the couple just sat there.

Milli turned to Leon and said:” Let’s skip the platitudes! What do you dream of doing with your life?”

“I want to go into space myself!” Leon blurted.

“I want to have my own bookstore. When I’m not selling them, I can read in a corner all day.”

They smiled at each other. They got up from the bench they’d been sitting on and began to stroll.

“Can I take you to dinner?” Leon asked.

“Let’s go to Murray’s. They have great food and ambience,” Milli urged.

“For once we agree on something,” Leon said taking her arm and speeding up.

300 WORDS DAILY FLASH 3/18/2025