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Before we begin the story of Allison and Danielle I must relate a hard lesson learned. Bible students may recall the Israelites got into trouble complaining about manna from heaven day after day and requested quail to relieve their imagined monotony of diet. Which answered prayer literally made them sick to their stomachs. About a month ago I grumble that there were no new interesting cases at AAA. Nothing new under the sun so to speak.

So of course once a week I have been receiving very odd calls but last nights was a lulu. For the record it was Monday and I was stuffing membership envelopes but I overheard the calltaker asking supervisor Jeannie about it.

A gentleman of dubious pet care skills had purchased a baby boa constrictor and put it in his car and went somewhere for a bit--time elapsed unknown. Now a parent should never leave a baby unattended for any length of time. Heaven knows what mischief could come of it. He gets back to his car (which was locked and windows up) to discover his new acquisition was no longer visible to the naked eye.

Oops. He thinks maybe somehow it had got in the engine. He's afraid to start the car up and write finis to his new science project.

That's what HE's afraid of. My mind is wandering in all sorts of directions and already praying this moron isn't anywhere near my domicile in Fairborn.

AAA doesn't want anything to do with this.

But it's only a BABY boa!! drones the inept one. One man's diaper change another's heap of bad fun times. I'm thinking if that brave explorer of the unknown made it to the engine it probably has taken off looking for clean air and grass. Maybe next time use a box. AAA takes the easy way out. We are an emergency towing serice not the Humane Society. Happy hunting and NEXT!!! I recover my increased heart rate and start channeling Indiana Jones movies and call Andave Ya to whimper in fear and trembling and give her a laugh.

The main event: Danielle worked for AAA last summer doing trip tiks for members before going to Los Angeles for a year of college. She's taking up acting. We talked a bit on and off and the most memorable conversation was about Devil Child Gina and Jim's child custody issues and she left for college not knowing how Jim's lawsuit would work out. (New readers--it didn't.) There are two things about Danielle. Drop dead beautiful blonde--should be a model and would mostly play the love interest in chick flicks that guys would go see just to drool over. And she is one of the very nicest and humble ladies (think Grace86and Meg) I have had the pleasure to know. She always seemed genuinely interested in anything I would prattle on about. I sulked for two weeks when she left last year for school. On envelope stuffing nights I have her company until 6 pm then it's lonely in the back room until 11 pm.

To my delight she returned this year. I had gotten it into my head her major was ballet and Ice Capades and she laughed and shook her head at my memory loss and business per usual. Now her partner Jason had gone to University of Columbus pursuing his medical career so Danielle was to have a new partner in triptiks this year.

The delightful Allison.

Her and I did not start off well at all. Far far from it. Allison was a close friend of Tami's daughter Victoria. Tami works Monday through Friday as Dispatch Manager. I love Tami but fear her more. Tami is professional, knowledgeable and fearless. It is rare when life gets her down (to which I believe I am one of the very few to be privy to the sight which brings out my to the rescue mode and I believe there is a true affection for me from her.) She is actually furious at me about the medicine problem and spares me not a moment letting me stay on the hook. Allison is almost a second daughter to her. So I'm expecting mini-Tami with pirana teeth.

My first sight of her sitting next to Tami in Dispatch confirms my morbid expectations. She looked moody and bored. Learns fast. Oh well I'll never be important to her. Besides if Tami even thinks I'm checking her out I'll be missing my comfort zone real quick. She is cute however.

A week or two goes by and I miss some Monday envelope stuff nights due to my dispatch partners being off so there is little opportunity to talk to Danielle and I say nothing to Allison assuming she's a bit of a snob. Tami isn't a snob BUT appears to be one until you get to know her. Very good at getting what she wants etc. etc. Rare are the times I turn her down. Tami helped me a lot one evening just prior to my escape from the mid-life crisis which has generally made me loyal to her in gratitude.

But one day I'm coming into the back room where the trip tiks are being done to get my dispatch book out of my locker when Allison is by the paper cutter and to not acknowledge her is past rudeness so I simply announce I can't talk to her because she's Tami's buddy and I like my arms attached or some such nonsense. She stares at me and I honestly do not remember what she might have said back.

All this changes about a week later. I have observed her being very quiet but again thought it was the nature of the job and her quiet contempt for being here. I'm in a good mood for a Monday and I set my table up. At first I was going to have my back to my two doves but that seemed so obvious that I decided to face them. Yes it as the eye candy. Allison does not think so but I find her very very attractive from the male point of view. My life is about to change in roughly 20 minutes.

Now you must know envelope can be highly boring and I spend time thinking up ways to keep it interesting or think about things in general. Allison and Danielle are working steadily and my mind is wandering thinking young ladies just get lovlier each generation and where were all the pretty girls when I was growing up. You're married Rich and some people do know you can be a dog albeit a courteous dog. Danielle leaves at 5 pm while Allison has to stay until 6 pm. I notice her cell phone buzzes about every two to six minutes. She checks it --sometimes answers it and continues putting the trips together. I start to make a game out of how long between calls goes by and make a mental note. Allison observes me watching her. I suddenly remmeber I'm at least 35 years older then her and look like a stalker. Time to behave so I joke with her about what I'm doing that I'm winning private bets with myself about the calls. She seems amused and some silence descends and my eyeballs go back to where they belong.

Then the remark that changed my entire attitude and conduct towards her.

The phone rings again. She glances at the display then very quietly says, "Did you win your bet?"

I look at her. Her smile is serene and her eyes are dancing. I start to lie and then tell her the truth. I thought her next call would be about a minute or two so no I didn't win.

We laugh and we begin talking. A lot. It was like a door opened. I honestly told her what I had thought about her.. Her moods that first day or two. Well you would be moody too if you had been to a funeral for a friend that week and two months prior anothe young lady friend had committed suicide.

I feel like a hypocrite. Always feeling judged by personal appearance I had commited that sin on her with no evidence then I thought she would be similar to Tami and being pretty look down her nose at ugly old guys. Tami is a bit hard to get close to and does not respond well to offered sympathy. Thinks it is a sign of weakness.

Allison shares her dreams. She's expecting to go to University of Cincinnatii and wants so much to be a Math teacher. She loves teaching. The hour sweeps by and I sit enthralled (and not doing too much envelope stuffing but neither is she doing triptiks.) She says she is shy by nature and kept waiting for others to talk to her first. I hadn't talked in so long to someone that knew what they wanted out of life and where they were headed that I had an idea.

Well of course it's all about me. I would introduce her to Dan. The match making would be a joy to everyone involved and both kids would shower me with Avengers comics and Batman issues for years to come for bringing such obviously meant for each other couple together. I call Dan and start raving about this treasure just waiting to be claimed and hand the phone to Allison who is blushing like a chaste maiden and they talk for a minute while I dream and preen. The end result. They talk on Myspace every now and then. But Ohio/Alabama oh well.

Now in my mind I thought she was 22 and Danielle much the same. Oops. I call Dan after a week and he informs me she's a bit young. But she seems so mature. Nope. 18. What!!! Yep.

Guess what Allison thinks. Dan--too old. 25!!!! I remind both that Ruth and I share an eight year gap and nine years between June/July and we're doing just fine. A friendship between them is there but Dan is so busy I have little hope but Christmas is coming and maybe a date. Who knows. I did tell Allison yesterday 25 is just getting started. To which Danielle nodded knowlingly. She's 25. I just don't do ladies ages well at all.

Since Tami was recently hurt in the neck as a result of being in a car accident I have recruited Allison to be a proxy for Tami on the Pall Bearer Commitee. Have attempted to get her to mow the lawn for me but I think the other members of the team have got to her on THAT score. I even suggested when she was going out on a date that a proof of HIS character was to bring him to my place and have HIM mow the back yard. Any guy willing to do that has to be at least considered a keeper.

A week ago we were talking about this and that and a reference to my mid-life crisis was made. In the back of my mind I was wondering what if anything Tami had shared with Allison about me as my problems were common knowledge and remarkably I was not made a paraih for being such a fool. Allison frankly asked me just what I had been up to. The moment of truth. I decided this young lady (Danielle was there also and I have a great deal of respect for her also) deserved an honest answer. I asked her did she really want to know as the truth does me no credit and was liable to change her feelings about me. She said go ahead so I mentally said goodby to a friendship and shared the ugly truth. Again to my amazement. No rebukes--no repercussions--no stones thrown. Instead sympathy and care.

Danielle now enters the picture in an amazing way. She quietly shares her father had a similar situation. This is news to Allison and I am ashamed my behavior has contributed to opening what would be a painful wound. I do not deserve their affection and think highly of God's mercy and redemption for foolish weak men. A bit later Allison and I are discussing Christian behavior and sin and forgiveness and lo and behold Danielle is a sister in Christ as she shares a bit which explains her sweetness and quiet spirit.

So I have two new friends with bonds of affection and respect and bits of sufferings shared. I shall remember them what days I have left. Allison even gave me her phone number which I shall use sparingly to keep tabs. Latest news her university loans did not go thru so she'll have to do community college so she's dealing.

Last week her girlfreind made cookies for a band. I made a case for cookies for silly old men and there is hope for the future in that area.

Winding up here shortly. In discussing comics (inevitably with me) Allison surprised me by sharing who her favorite is. Snob me expected Spider-man or Wolverine but Allison is by no means a cliche. It's Aquaman. So next day I loan her my copy of Aquaman Archives (reprints from the early 60s).

And in celebration of their leaving at end of summer, and to bask in their smiles I buy a few cheap Aquaman comics for Allison. For Danielle she's doing summer theater as Sharpay in High School Musical so I buy the doll for her. Allison suggests I autograph the box and Danielle is all smiles. She adores Disney's Little Mermaid. Surprisingly Disney had only 8 issues of a comic devoted to her and the Bookery had a grand total of NONE. I substitute a DVD of Shirley Temple and The Little Mermaid which I suspect is from the old 1950s TV series Shirley Temple's Fairytale Theater.

Bought tickets today to see Danielle in Brookville at the theater on the 26th. Ruth will probably be working so Brandy and I will be going. Separate seats but that's fine. Should be fun.

Great summer--lonely autumn ahead. Sigh.

I'll be whining for Logos to notice me again by then. I always return to her. She is a patient one and the Mrs. is still long suffering but amused.