if I hadn t been speeding

I smiled. I liked his sense of humor and found his humility refreshing.

“That’s all in the past. Let’s talk about something really serious.”

I arched a brow, suddenly on guard. Where is this going?

“Do you think dyslexic people have trouble dancing to the song, YMCA?” He asked, dipping a fry in the ketchup.

The laughable image of dancing dyslexics trying to form their letters backward totally disarmed me. “That’s entirely too serious a subject for me,” I laughed, twirling my straw in the cup.

“You live in Tulsa or just visiting?”

“I’m thinking of moving there,” I answered without adding that I’d already filled out several applications for a teaching position.

Lunch was over all too soon. We stopped at the counter to pay our bills and walked down the stairs together.

He was whistling cheerfully.

I was thinking I’d almost go to Heck for a chance to get to know him better.

But that was impossible. We were two strangers headed in different directions.

When we walked out on the pavement, Josh caught me entirely off guard. He leaned down, put his hands on the tarmac, and began walking on them, feet high over his head.

“W-what are you doing?” I stammered, “Trying to impress someone with your gymnastic ability?”

“See this? I’m standing on my head.”

“I can see that. You didn’t tell me you were a gymnast.”

An amused passerby had stopped to watch.

Looking up at me with mischievous eyes, he announced, “I’m not clowning. You’ve turned my world upside down, and I plan to stand here on my head until you promise that you’ll go out on a date with me.”

I broke into a sidesplitting laugh. It had been a long while since I’d laughed so hard, and it felt marvelous.

“Get up on your feet before you crack your head,” I insisted.

“Better a cracked head than a broken heart.” His face was reddening.

A plump, middle-aged woman standing near me sighed, “How romantic.”

Still, on his head, Josh insisted, “Promise me a sunset walk by the lake. I’ll bring the caviar.”

“I can’t do that. I don’t even know you. Besides, I don’t eat caviar.”

“Did you hear that? She doesn’t eat caviar.” He leaped to his feet and spoke to the watching woman. “Ma’am, will you help me out here? I need an introduction to this lovely lady. Tell her my name is Josh Henderson, and I’m going to marry her.”

Ignoring the incredulous look on my face, the nameless woman played along.

“My dear, this gentleman is Mr. Josh Henderson. He says he’s going to marry you.”

“Thank you, Ma’am” he murmured, bowing over her hand in a courtly manner.