Stop Sign

Stop Sign1

Lloyd was at a stop sign in college, family, and love. You know. Sittin’ on a black leather seat in the middle of summer, waiting for the crossing cars to stop stallin’ and just go by already. Not much to do but to wait, and that was possibly the thing he was worst at doing. ADD had been a tough obstacle in his childhood.2

The first stop sign was from his professors. It wasn’t that he was dumb—on the contrary, he could be pretty advanced sometimes! But often, it was just a problem of the material they taught. He swore they could make anything sound as interesting as a rock. Oh yes, it was a large, oddly-shaped rock, but a rock nonetheless. Nuh-uh. Not interesting.3

The second stop sign was with his family. Don’t get it wrong—he loved his family. But sometimes they just didn’t understand. It totally ticked him off when they were on his professors’ sides. “Lloyd, you’ll never graduate if you don’t listen to your professors” and “What will you think your boss will do if you treat him like you’re treating you professors now?” were their favorite arguments. But really. Who wanted to hear about rocks?4

And man, the last stop sign. Love. And Trish. He honestly didn’t get why she just dropped their 2-year relationship. Come on, what did women want? He’d done everything he thought a good boyfriend should do, and he thought she’d liked it! But noo, suddenly she just stops and avoids him for like, a whole week. No calls, no visits, no contact whatsoever. Was he really that unbearable? Or did she find another guy who pleased her more, like his fears said? 5

Man. So many fears. It was like, how was he supposed to deal with all of this? Balance education, family, and love? It was darn right impossible! And he was only one person. Just a college student with nothing to win and everything to lose. 6

Briiiing rang the cell phone from its position in his car’s cup holder. 7

For a moment, in his anger and annoyance, Lloyd contemplated ignoring it, but his (formerly nonexistent) good manners urged him to pick it up. “Ya?” he answered flatly. “Lloyd here, what’s up?”8

“It’s Trish,” said the other voice. 9

“Trish?” Lloyd repeated, bolting up. Hadn’t expected her to call. D***, hoped he hadn’t sounded too annoyed over the phone!10

“Um, can you come to my place at seven for dinner?” 11

Why? Asked his brain. “Sure,” said his mouth. 12

“Thanks!” And she hung up.13

For a few moments, Lloyd registered that in his mind. Dinner. Seven. Tonight. Her place.14

Smiling dumbly, he felt his heart and spirit rise.15

Dinner. At seven. 16

Should he dress up?17

-----18

“Hey,” Trish greeted as she opened the door. She seemed a bit flustered. 19

Lloyd nodded. “Hey,” he repeated, and stepped into her apartment. He hadn't ended up dressing up, but he still felt awkward even in casual clothes. “So, how are you doing?”20

“Not bad,” he said. Since you dropped me a week ago? Horribly!21

“That’s good,” she said, and the conversation fizzled and died. 22

Oh, and the hated silence.23

Lloyd cleared his throat. “So, what are we having?” he asked, trying to spark a new topic.24

“Uh, I was actually thought that we could go out to Marie Callendar’s.” She avoided his gaze.25

That was strange, because Trish loved Chinese food like it was her boyfriend rather than him—but Lloyd didn’t want to break the somewhat more comfortable air. “Sure,” he said. “I can pay.” 26

“Well, uh—sure. I mean, if you’re okay with it.” 27

“It’s fine,” Lloyd said, and silently thanked his recent paycheck.28

“Okay, then. Should we go?” Trish grabbed her coat off of the coat hanger and started for the door.29

Lloyd followed behind. “Sure,” he said. But their relationship was still strained! 30

When they reached the restaurant, a mere two blocks and an entirety of silence away, Trish turned to him suddenly at the front door and said, “Lloyd, I want you to close your eyes, okay?” 31

He blinked. “Why?” This was just a date, right? A casual dinner date?32

“Just promise, okay?” 33

“Yeah, yeah,” he answered dismissively. If that’s what she wanted.34

“Okay. Let’s go in.” Trish grasped the knob as Lloyd’s world closed to black.
“You’ll have to guide me, ‘cause I can’t see anything,” he heard himself say.
Two hands pushed against his back and into the restaurant. Guiding him to the right and out to the balcony—he’d been here a thousand times and knew the place like the back of his hands—Trish pushed him down and he half collapsed into a chair. 35

“Okay. Wait here.”36

“Trish? Wait, Trish—“ But she was already gone. He sighed, feeling the stares of other customers and the embarrassment of drawing so much attention to himself. 37

He supposed he should be hungry, but honestly, all he wanted was some time with Trish. She’d mysteriously disappeared from his last week and he wanted to know why. Furthermore, why all the secrecy? It wasn’t his birthday or anything. 38

“Lloyd, you can open your eyes now.” 39

He’d been so engrossed in thinking that he hadn’t even heard her approach. Cracking his lids open and blinking at the sudden light, Lloyd felt a huge smile work its way up his lips, replacing any former feelings of irritation. There was his whole co-worker cast, ten-odd close friends, and Trish, all surrounding a Lemon Meringue Pie—his favorite type of dessert.40

“Wait,” Lloyd said, laughing. “Why the cake? It’s not my birthday or anything!” 41

Everyone stared at him blankly. 42

Oops. 43

“But I appreciate it, really! I mean, hey, this cake would go to waste if we didn’t eat it, right?” 44

Trish laughed suddenly. “Yeah,” she agreed as the rest of the people grinned as well. “Just glad you’re feeling better,” she said as she sat down next to him.45

“Was only feeling sad ‘cause you were ignoring me for the past week,” Lloyd said cheekily.46

“But that was for this!”47

“And it wasn’t my birthday at all! What on earth gave you that idea?”48

“Your little sister—“49

“Oh, she always gets my and my mom’s birthdays mixed together. Don’t listen to her.”50

She chuckled. “Okay.” 51

Lloyd stopped suddenly, and turned to her with a genuine smile on his face. 52

"Thanks,” he said. 53

“No prob. Anytime, Lloyd.”54

"Oh. And does that mean I don't have to pay?"55

"Not a chance! You eat it, you pay for it!"56

"Maaan..."57