The Scooter: The Perfect Day

“What is your hat size, sweetie?” With his Blackberry, Pete had just called new girlfriend at work. He was hoping to go out for a ride together that afternoon, on his scooter. 

“You want to know my hat size? About seven and a half inches to seven and three quarters, I think,” Penny replied, not really knowing for sure. “I will be home about one o’clock.”

“Super! I will see you when you get home.” 

“I wonder what he is up to,” Penny thought to herself. “Maybe he is getting straw hats for the beach?”

On towards evening, Al, the middle-aged, grayish-blonde owner of the Oceanside Café watched the two of them approaching, from a distance. 

“I have seldom ever seen two people so much in love,” he thought to himself, as he waited for them in the doorway. It was as if time stood still for them. “They are locked into their own moment in time.”

The tall, elderly man with gray hair and a mustache, sat across from his girlfriend at one of the outdoor tables.

“They are such a good match.” Astonished at their joy-filled expressions, Al smiled and walked toward their table, anticipating an immediate beverage order. He held a tray in one hand and a white and blue, striped towel draped over his other arm. “What will it be, sir!” He waited for a moment, but neither of them spoke. “You two look so happy!” He could not help but smile again, as their smiles were contagious.   

“We are happy!” Pete replied joyfully, as he and Penny put down their jackets. “We are having so much fun!”

Penny nodded, blushed and smiled. For both of them, the day had been perfect in every way.

Earlier that morning, quite unexpectedly, Pete had purchased a bike helmet for his new girlfriend. The helmet he bought for her was a silvery-burgundy color, with a gray lightning design that matched the design on his gray bike helmet.

“Your bike helmet is halfway between those two sizes,” Peter had said, smiling as he handed it to her earlier.

“Wow! It is beautiful,” Penny had replied. She loved the bike helmet, the moment she saw it and accepted it graciously, allowing Pete to adjust the straps properly for her.  Much to her amazement, it fit her head perfectly, as well being an excellent match for her gray and burgundy, all-weather jacket.

“I was actually guessing about my hat size,” she confessed.

“It fits. Now, we are going for a scooter ride!” Pete had replied excitedly. “Grab your jacket, in case it turns cold later.”

“A scooter ride!” replied Penny. That was the very last thing she had expected.

Everything seemed so right to Pete. When he first met Penny, he had immediately been attracted to her. The feeling seemed to be mutual. This outing was going to be their first ride together. Initially, Pete had wondered if Penny would be willing to accompany him on his scooter. “Will she come with me?”

Amazingly, Penny had shown no hesitation about riding on the back of his scooter. After turning the first corner with him, she had effortlessly adjusted her body to balance with his. To her, it felt good to be that close to him.

“I have found the most amazing guy in the entire world,” she thought to herself.

For Pete, the breeze in his face and Penny hanging onto him tightly as they headed down the highway towards the beach, felt wonderful. He took it slow and easy with the scooter, as he did not want to bounce her around or frighten her, but she showed absolutely no fear. It seemed as if she was thoroughly enjoying the ride.

They pulled up beside a parking meter in a parking lot and took a moment to figure out how it worked. Fortunately, a parking attendant was nearby and offered his assistance. Then, Pete locked up both of their helmets.

“Let’s go!” he said, holding out his hand to her.

Hand in hand, Pete and Penny climbed the concrete stairway, crossed a single set of railway tracks and headed towards the sandy beach. The tide was out, so there were miles of open sand. In the distance, the water was a beautiful, azure blue, with tiny whitecaps. Dozens of huge, white logs had washed up along the shoreline.

“This is absolutely gorgeous,” she said.

“You are too,” he replied, putting his arm around her shoulder.

Barefoot, they strolled through the sand for about a mile. Every now and then, one of them would spot an unusual stone, a striking seashell, or a live crab struggling in the sand.  

“I am so lucky to have found you,” said Pete.

“I think I am the lucky one. Thank you, ever so much for the helmet.”

Pete hugged Penny and held her tight. She was quite shy, but obviously enjoying all of his attention.

Shortly thereafter, while resting on a huge piece of partially dry driftwood, they pulled out their Blackberry cameras and began to snap photos of each other, laughing together, at the same time. It was a good relationship for both of them.

The sun stayed bright and clear, throughout the afternoon. They enjoyed its warm rays beating down on them.

As early evening approached, the ocean shoreline began to get busier and busier. The beach was teeming with visitors. Children of all ages, played happily in the huge pools of water and soft, wet sand. Dozens of people strolled along the walkway, past a huge white rock.

Cyclists, young and old, dodged them, as Pete and his girlfriend headed for the Oceanside Café to get a cold drink.

“I love this place!” said Penny. “It is wonderful!”

“I love you,” replied Pete, kissing her on the lips.

The cafe appeared relatively quiet for the moment, as there were no other customers. 

“Perfect,” thought Pete. “We are alone.” 

“Do you have apple cider?” he asked Al, who was still waiting beside their table and now, grinning from ear to ear.

Pete was obviously one happy man and Penny was beaming, too. 

“What are you two up to, anyhow?” asked Al. “You look so happy!”

Meanwhile, like a lone sentinel, the scooter stood watch beside the parking meter just down the street.