Alexa, Tovala
and the Brown Bear Car Wash
by Jerry Guarino
Jennifer was a thoroughly
modern young woman. She had a degree from an
elite, but not pretentious, university, a good
job in a non-profit and an attractive face,
physique and personality. In short, she should be
quite content. But there was one aspect of her
life lacking, a loving partner.
She wasn’t too
particular, in fact she dated quite a bit. Men
found her auburn hair and freckles enticing,
giving her a wholesome and girl next door look.
She looked like she could still play college
soccer, where she starred as a midfielder. More
often than not, she would have a pleasant meeting
in a coffee shop or park and decide not to pursue
the gentleman in question while making him feel
some magic in the rejection. No drama, just a fun
first and last date. Men remember those women.
She always began her day
with a request to her electronic assistant.
“Alexa, start my day.” Her echo show
would rattle off the weather, news and commuting
facts for the day. “Alexa, play my morning
playlist.” Alexa played an upbeat collection
of songs, perfect for showering and dressing. 30
minutes later, she interrupted the music. “Alexa,
when is my first meeting?” Alexa reminded
her to be in Berkeley for a 10:00am conference.
On her way out the door,
she paused to get a cup of tea and check the
fridge for dinner ideas. A new shipment of Tovala
meals brightened her gaze. “I think I’ll
have the Mediterranean Chicken and Veggies.”
You can tell her life was organized and efficient.
Dinner would require only a minute of prep, then
pop into the oven for 20 minutes. “If only I
could find a guy with the ease of cooking dinner.
Oh, well, I have a lot to be thankful for.”
This even temperament was
evident to everyone who met her. She was as
popular in the workplace as she was in college.
Her work was meaningful, providing aid to
refugees escaping from war torn countries.
Lawyers and government types offered her jobs in
their organizations, but she preferred a low-key
work life. She had no time or interest in
politics or the machinations of legal scheming.
The Friday conference ended
in the early afternoon so Jennifer decided to get
a car wash before heading home, for another
uneventful weekend.
She pulled up to the Brown
Bear Car Wash, entered her payment into the
electronic kiosk and waited for the bar to raise
and let her into the wet and soapy tunnel. Amidst
the brown and yellow color schemes were iconic
bear graphic figures, smiling, because all car
wash bears smile. Following the instructions on
the digital signage, she rolled up her window,
put the car in neutral and took her foot of the
brake. That’s when she saw him, a clean cut
(of course) man in his early twenties, soaping
the front of her BMW. When he looked up, their
eyes locked. But the car was now moving into the
wash cycle. Jennifer smiled as did her admirer,
but the slow-moving car did not allow for
conversation. The young man continued to soap the
driver side and rear of the car and watched as
the young lovely slipped out of sight into the
watery machine.
But Jennifer would not be
deterred. After the car went through the drying
cycle, she turned around and paid for another
wash. This time she had her name and phone number
on her phone and held it up for the young man to
see. But he wasn’t there! A young woman had
taken his place.
Jennifer sighed. As she
finished her second car wash, she saw the young
man standing with a towel and a smile. They
talked, exchanged numbers and parted with great
expectations. That weekend, the man came over to
her apartment for a romantic date, aided by an
Alexa playlist, a Tovala dinner and an impeccably
clean car.
Alexa,
Tovala and the Brown Bear Car Wash by Jerry
Guarino
Copyright September, 2021 – All Rights
Reserved
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