Undo

Jennifer and Greg live in a world just like ours, except for one teeny weenie little difference.  The ubiquitous “undo” command found in almost every piece of computer software is available in real life for them.  You say something embarrassing…undo. The dog pees on the carpet…undo.  You trip on a curb and break your nose….undo. How incredibly handy that would be.  It sure would make that first impression with a member of the opposite sex interesting, wouldn’t it? 

The rules for using undo:
1.          Only the person using the undo command remembers what happened the first time around. 
2.          The scope of the undo is limited to the most recent verbal exchange or significant event.

Since there are only two characters in this story, I’ve made all Jennifer’s action & dialog italics .  Greg’s is all normal text.  So let’s listen in on Jennifer and Greg as they each try to make a good first impression.

******

Damn, the train is late again, and I’m standing here on this platform that smells like a cross between ozone and urine.  How sweet it is.  I guess it’s better than the alternative, driving in the madness outsi… Whoa, who is that gorgeous creature?  OK, try not to stare.  Oh, she’s definitely advertising.  Who wears heels like that on a train for god’s sake?  Oh, but those legs… Stop! Eyes ahead.  No staring…

Damn, the train is late again, and these heels are killing me.  It’s so unfair that women have to wear these killers.  If I leave them on much longer all my toes will be merged into one on each foot.  Ah, finally the train is coming.  I glance around at the competition for seating.  If I don’t sit down soon I’m going to fall down. Is that guy staring at me?  Nah, I guess not, now he looks like a soldier at attention.  Weird.  Kinda cute though…

From the platform I can see that the train is already packed to standing room only.  This is going to be a long trip home.  At least there’s going to be some eye candy on board.  Maybe I can get a spot next to her.  There she goes.  Hey, she’s smiling over her shoulder at me.

As I turn my head back I stumble into the guy in front of me, then my right heel gets wedged in the train’s door jamb. Arrgh.  Freakin’ two hundred dollar shoes.  How the hell am I going to…oh yeah.  “UND…”

“Excuse me Miss, can I help?”  I’m glad I caught her before she could undo.  Prince Greg to the rescue! Grabbing her shoe’s heel I pull a bit too hard, and she falls ungracefully on her butt inside the door.  I’m still on the platform, and the damn doors close right in front of me.  And of course the heel of her shoe is still in my hand.

From bad to worse.  That nice guy tried to help, and I fell like a 500 pound gorilla.  Where is he anyway?  There he is… oh damn, now he’s missed the train.  I shout “UNDOOOO”.

****

This time when he pulls on my heel I’m ready for his over exuberance.  I brace myself on the door frame, and as my heel comes free I hold the door open for him.  My, does he smell good. 

OK, say something suave…  “Can I have the heel of my shoe back?” He glances down at his hand, and turns bright red.  Oh, that was real smooth.  “UNDO!”

****

Unsure of what to say instead, I take a step toward the nearest hand strap.  Like a real klutz I’ve forgotten that my heel is missing and fall right into him instead. Hmmm, this could work…

I see her falling toward me, and reach out to catch her.  “Gotcha.”  When I get her upright again, I hand her the shoe’s heel.  “Gee, I’m awfully sorry about your shoe. Guess I pulled a bit too hard.”

“That’s OK, the shoes were on their last legs anyway”, I lied.  He laughs, and only then do I realize that I said something funny.

Cute and funny; that’s a nice combo. All right, time for a good pickup line.  “If you were a booger, I'd pick you first.”  Oh god, did I actually say that out loud? “UNDO!”

****

“Hi, I’m Greg”.  Much better…

“I’m Jennifer.  You know, I’ve never heard of a knight in shining armor named Greg before”.

“That’s Sir Greg, although my armor seems to be a bit tarnished.”

“So, are you in the market for a wife and future family?”

“Well, I… ahh…well…yes, I suppose someday when the right woman comes my way…”

“Just curious.  Undo.”

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And that’s the story of Greg and Jennifer, who undid their way into a romance.