Nerves

Jeremy was a guy who liked to be well-prepared and punctual for his dates. And though he was looking forward to a second date with a blind date from last week, his whole day had been going wrong. First his car didn't start up and it had to be jumped by the next-door neighbor. Then he forgot his lunch and realized that in his hurry to leave for work, he'd left his toothbrush and toothpaste on the roof of his car and they were long gone. Finally, his boss went on and on about who-knows-what as the clock ticked and ticked.

When Jeremy was at last able to leave, he barely had enough time to stop by a store and grab a new toothbrush and some toothpaste before heading home to drop some trivial necessity off to his roommate and head over to the lucky girl's house only a few minutes late (he'd send a text). But right after he pulled up to a parking spot a few houses down from his place, grabbed his new toothbrush and toothpaste, got out of the car, and had his fingers in texting position, he saw a horror: the girl he was to pick up had somehow come to the conclusion that she should show up at his house. She waved from her car and started to get out to come over to him. Without a moment's hesitation, Jeremy put a small squeeze of toothpaste on his tongue, and shoved both tube and brush in the nearest mailbox. "Oh, hi Abby!" he said, smiling to hide his swishing tongue. "Ready for our date?"

For Ann Cannon.