Brief Encounter

No need to ask
He's a smooth operator
Smooth operator, smooth operator
Smooth operator
Sade 1984

I have spent most of my working life in uniform and know the power of attraction that it has on the opposite sex. viz Women & Firemen, Men & Nurses etc.
In my time I have known some very keen exponents of the art of attraction who were not averse to using the magnetic powers of the uniform.
Today I witnessed the finest piece of 'chat-up' I have ever seen AND he wasn't wearing a uniform to help him.
Here's how it happened.

The four of us had taken a day pass on the MTS trolleys ($5 each; all day. How's that for a deal)

We were trolley hopping to get the most value for our money and had gone down to San Ysidro which is where you cross the Mexican border to Tijuana. We couldn't find Herb Alpert so we caught the next trolley back.
It was pretty crowded so we were split up, the Smiffs & Val were on one side of the aisle with me opposite them.
A very pretty Mexican girl got on and sat opposite me, annoying Harvey as I had a perfect view of her cleavage and he didn't. Not that I took advantage. I did notice however that she had some oriental heiroglyphics tattooed on her forearm.

A little further down the line, a young hispanic male got on and sat next to her.
As soon as he sat down he went into overdrive.
Here's how it went

"Hey girl, what's the tattoos mean?"
"Cancer & Virgo"
"Cancer! S**t, you got Cancer?"
"Cancer & Virgo, my star sign and my best friends"
"I'm a Capricorn. You gonna get that tattooed over your left breast?"
She laughed at this.
"You like to party?"
"I don't get time"
"How bout you give me your number so we can make some time?"
"How bout you tell me your name so I know who's asking for my number?"
"I'm Richard. Now whats that number?"
And she gave it to him.
Less than 2 minutes to get this far. I told you he was good.
All this had been done in very good humour and we were all smiling & laughing at his charm 'cos that was undoubtedly what he was using.
In short order he had learned that

• Her name was Daisy
• Her age - 23, though she tried to kid him she was 18 for a start
  
• She lived with her mother in Chula Vista.
  
• She hadn't got a boyfriend (which amazed me)
• She worked at a Pizza joint in Mission Valley. (When he asked for free pizza she feigned indignation and jokingly asked him for her number back)
• She was off to visit her friend.
• She liked to go to the movies
• and a zillion other things.
• He had also told her a million things about himself too.

His brain and patter just never stopped working.
Before he got off that trolley he had arranged to call her that evening so he could meet her on her way back from her friends house.
He shook hands with her as he got off and that was the last we saw of him.

He certainly brightened our day up and I'm sure he brightened her's up too.
I hope they do get together, not only 'cos I'm an old romantic at heart but they just sparked so well. He was charming and cheeky and she stood her corner equally as well.

I hope you enjoyed this anecdotal cameo. It certainly made my day.