I rode my bike to the Seaside Market in Cardiff by the Sea. Being a medium sized local market it serves our community of south Encinitas and Cardiff. The owners live here as well as do most of the staff. A right friendly place to shop. And the view of the Pacific ocean from the parking lot is as good or better from a lot of houses in the neighborhood.
I was chaining up my bike at the bike racks supplied by our store when I noticed two young guys, probably seniors in high school. They were talking about a party they were planning to attend later.
Young good looking guys, athletes I'n sure, surfers no doubt.
"This is gonna be so cool everybody will be there" said the taller of the two.
"Yeah until the Sheriffs show up and shut it down." the other guy said, chuckling.
The San Diego Sheriffs Department were notorious for breaking up local parties. Part of the anti-good time league rampant in North County San Diego.
The tall one says "Ha, you got that right, it'll be cool until then though."
It was kind of fun for me as they were totally unaware of the old guy locking up his bike and eavesdropping.
Just then three young girls walked up heading for the store. Let me say these were, THOSE type of girls. Long blond hair, thin, athletic, perfect skin, just drop dead gorgeous. These guys stoped their conversation and looked at these girls in silence. As did I, wow, was all I could think. As they walked passed one of the heavenly creatures looked at the shorter guy and said.
"Hi John."
John was able to gasp out "Hi Beth."
Beth smiled and the three walked on into the market.
"Dude you know those girls? They are so hot." the other guy asked.
"Er yeah, sort of, not very well Beth is in my english class at school." John said.
"Man why didn't you see if they wanted to go to the party tonight?" The tall guy asked in a dumbfounded tone.
"Oh shit Sean, I couldn't do that. I don't hardly know her at all. I'd be too embarrassed."
Sean (Now I got his name) comes back with, Dude! What's the big deal" What is the worst thing that could happen? All they could do is say no, that's it. No harm no foul."
A few minuets later the beautiful trio exited the market and walked toward Sean and John.
John musters up the courage and says'
"Beth we heard about this killer party happening tonight and we were wondering if you guys would like to come along."
Beth looks at her two friends and the magic, speechless, expressionless, almost telepathic, communication that only women and girls can do happened.
So Beth smiles and says, "Oh wow sorry thanks but we have made other plans for tonight. We are heading out there now."
"Oh cool." John replied.
The girls start to walk away but Beth stops and turns around. She looks John in the eye, smiles and says, "But don't stop asking." She turns back around and joins her friends.
That incident really brought home to me a lesson that I learned way later than I should have.
You see Sean, even as young as he was, got it.
"You never get anything in this life unless you ask. And the worst that can happen is they say no." As Sean said No harm, no foul.
I smiled all the way home.