Free Always by Timmothy B. Mccann Page B

we would have, like, brought it here, wouldn’t I, like, know it, dahhh?” Click . “Well, that basically crosses Florida State off my list. I don’t think I could live in a state for four years that’s this, like, illiterate?”
    I was cramping from, like, holding in the laughter.
    The next day we went to Panama City to check out the world-famous Florida beaches, and when we came back, once again there was a single red rose. So now I had to tell Veronica who I thought was doing it, and she was not as mad as I thought she would be. Still mad because she had not gotten one, but not as mad.
    â€œSo we’re only going to be here one more day, silly Billy. Why don’t you go talk to him?”
    â€œTalk to him? What would I say?”
    â€œAnything short of ‘Let me blow you’ is fair game. I do it all the time,” she said, painting her toenails pink and green.
    â€œWhat would you say?”
    â€œWell, first you have to make sure it was him, and then say something like, ‘I wanted to personally thank you for the fla’wars. It was very sweet. You are very sweet. WhereI am from, guys are not usually that sweet. I bet you taste sweet.’ And then say, ‘Can I blow you?’”
    Veronica ducked as I threw a pillow at her head while laughing.
    At about a quarter to five I nervously headed toward the front desk, because I suspected he would leave about the same time he left the day before, at five o’clock. So I’m walking along, practicing what I am going to say, when this guy passes me. It was the maintenance guy from the day before. The one thing I immediately noticed was how crisply his uniform was starched this time. For some reason, and I didn’t know why, I stopped and turned around. He was still walking, but damn, he made khaki come to life.
    So I stood there for a moment and it occurred to me why I stopped. It was the cologne he was wearing. He was wearing the same cologne the guy at the front desk had squirted on the flowers. He continued to walk, and I did something I had never done before. I said, “Excuse me, sir?” As he stopped and slowly turned toward me, I said, “I’m just curious, what cologne are you wearing?”
    â€œDo you like it?” he asked with a smile.
    My blood stopped. I remember my knees shaking and feeling weak. I cannot remember what I said when I saw those dimples. The next thing I know, he was walking toward me. I looked back at the front desk with a part of me hoping the guy had not left yet and a part of me praying he had.
    The maintenance man said low and sexy, “It’s called High North. Do you like it?” What was I going to say? He continued, “I usually put on a few squirts in the morning and it lasts all day.” Then he smiled and walked away.
    I didn’t like light-skinned brothers. My mom was fair complexioned and my dad was the bluest of blacks, and even though I am considered dark by most people, I like my coffee straight, but I was smitten by this brother.
    As he walked away, I wanted to scream “Come back” or something, but I had no idea what to say next. And then I thought of what Veronica would say. “Can I blow you?”No, not that. Then he turned, and said, “Ya know, this stuff also smells great on roses.”
    And that was the day I met my husband. It was May 15, 1973, at about ten to five. I was twenty years old, and I will never forget that day as long as I live.
    Washington, D.C.
    NBS News Studio
    9:40 P.M . EST
    â€œOkay, America, let’s assess where we are at this point. I’m told NBS News will be able to make a call in six to eight races within the half hour. Unlike before, I think we will have a few surprises. Right now, Senator Henry L. Davis the Second of Florida has taken a commanding lead in the race and has sixty-four electoral votes. That’s sixty-four for the junior senator from Florida. Thus far Vice President