Temptation

Temptation #1: I noticed her as soon as I walked into the UPS Store this afternoon. Red hair cut short, freckled skin deeply tanned, wearing low-cut jeans and a snug sleeveless top with a bright floral pattern. "Have you been waiting for long?" I asked to initiate conversation. That was all it took. From the Deep South, her name is Bobby Sue; she has just graduated college and is in NYC for an architecture internship. She was a classic target for me, and she was interested. She finished with her business before I did but hung around until I was done. Wow, I thought. Then I decided that I could not fall off the wagon on the first day as a loyal boyfriend.

Temptation #2: I was eating my lunch in Bryant Park, I had taken off my shirt and was basking in the sun dressed in nothing but my blue-jeans. She was asking park patrons to sign a petition for something or other. As we talked I caught her sneaking glances down at my belly and that area where torso gives way to legs. I feel a stirring inside, "Where are you from?" I ask. Eileen is from Jersey and goes to college in Vancouver. "I could get her number and take it from there" the little devil on my left shoulder thought. But the angel on the right won over. "Here is your petition" I said and picked up my stuff and shuffled back to work.