The Writers' Circle

A SERIOUS PARTNER

Louise is in the dining room reading the "Classified" section of The Sunday Times, and her friends are on the balcony. "Any status? This person wants a married one! A married one? " No, this must mean separated or single," she thought. "Come outside," Marie said. "This summer you are not going to stay indoors; tonight we are going dancing," Maurice said.
The three of them are sharing a flat in Bugibba. They ate from Lyon, France. Marie has been married to Maurice for over 20 years and is Loise's mother's best friend. "OK, I promise we will have fun this time," she replied, reflecting back on when they worked in France. A crazy man from hospital was obsessed with her and ended up killing himself. She knew his family and came to Malta last year.
The advert: "Smart, tall, 35-year-old single male looking for a serious partner. Kindness is my caracter. Any status. Please write  to PO Box 149, The times." She read it again. "Why do you want a serious lady? Are you jealous or just cautious? I want to meet you," she thought. She went to her room to write a letter. "I won't tell my my friends yet. Let's see how serious you are. I will set a trap. I will give him my address."
Her letter: "Flat 2, Sea Street, Bugibba, 25 May 2006. Dear Sir, Re your advert in The Sunday Times, I am tall, 1.75m, 65kg, 31 years old, single from Lyon. Now working in Malta. I am very interested in a serious relationship. Perhaps you can call me to arrange a date. Mobile 9923-2124. Thank you, Louise."
She read the letter through once again, and went to posted.
A few days later she received a call. Someone rang just once. She thought, "You received my letter! I want to see how smart you are."
The following weekend she and Marie were in the balcony when suddenly she saw a man looking at her. He was with another man. Both were tall and young. She just observed them.. They went to talk to someone who works at the corner bar. Then one of them sat outsideholding a glass of red wine. He was laughing.
"What is he doing there alone? My God, I can't believe it! I am no detective, but this is too easy. How can I tell my friend that am in trouble again?" Loise became agitated and looked at him. The man saw her and called his friend, who told him: "Don't look at her, just see if a man comes outside!"
"You silly spies, you must be good to play detectives with me!" she thought. She turned and kept loking at him for two minutes. "I hope you are his brother or friend. I am mad with you guys." He looked lost. He melted like an ice-cream under her gaze. "Come on, don't be like that. You can call me but come alone next time," she whispered. He is taller than his his friend and looked typically Maltese. "OK, I will turn and if you are still here..." He was gone and took his wine too. "It's really funny. I won't tell my friend yet; let's wait," she said to herself.
After a few weeks someone called. Marie took his mobile number. When Louise saw it she thought, "My friend's advert!" They kept in touch for two weeks by clling each other or sending massages. Mark -that was his name - said that he was looking for friends.
August 10 came - the day of the much longed-for meeting. She was waiting for his call. They agreed to meet at 9 p.m. near Grand Hotel. He called and she said she will be there in two minutes. When she arrived he was looking inside the hotel. He went up to her and after introductions they sat down for a drink. He was different: slim and with green eyes. His mobile phone was receiving a lot of messages from his friend, who was waiting inside the hotel. She didn't give them time to plot. Mark was really nervous and called his friend to stop it.
Louise became alert. "Why did you write a serious partner? she asked.
"Someone to relly on; not to have her husband come after her," he answered.
"This is a good one. Anyone who is married does'nt write letters. She has her husband or best friend to have a relationship with!" she said.
Nearly two hours passed. They talked about their hobbies and jobs. She was a physiotherapist and he was a travel agent. She was sure that he didn't come alone and she was confused. "They are like children!" she thought.
"The address was a TRAP," she said.
"TRAP in Maltese means dust," he joked.
"How self-confident you are; not like your mate," she thought.
He asked her to go for a walk. This gave his friend time to go to their car which was parked in the main road. Walking made them more relaxed. They could be good together...she is pretty, has long, brown, curly hair and brown eyes.
"I hope will see you again," she said.
"Yes, next week," he answered and left.
"Ca va bien?" his friend asked. Joe had a French girlfriend before and thought he knew everything about France. "You are lucky that she didn't see you tonight," Mark said. "I had such an experience...I was trapped!" he joked and drove away.
Ten days passed and Louise got not news from him; she decided to ask him if they were still going to keep in touch. Mark told her that he was busy. She sent the last message that said "You are a bad friend". She told her friends everything.
"You are a devil," Maurice said.
"Maltese man are very cautious," said Marie. 
"A blind date is a blind date." "What about me? I took a risk too! I trust my intuition, when he grows up will find real friends or his friend has to find him... a serious partner!"
                                        -END-