Once
upon a world race squad, there were six guys and one team of only
girls (and there just happened to be six girls on this team). These
six guys hadn’t been able to spend much time with those six girls, so
they decided that while the whole squad was living together they
would take the team out on a date. They planned and plotted, and
each of the guys stealthily asked a specific girl to be his date for
this group date. They set up a meeting time and would not give
details other than that there would be food involved and they wanted
the girls in their “Sunday best” – after all, they would be
going out shortly after church on Sunday. So the girls squealed
because of the amazing hearts of these guys and became very excited
about their pending dates. They all went to different churches in
the morning, then rushed back to the house to get ready for this
special outing. They met the boys at their house, and so began the
“date.”
These
boys were gentlemen – they walked next to the girls on the way up to
the bus stop and entertained with stories. They showed interest in
the girls (even though dating is not allowed on the world race). And
when the bus came and some of the girls reached in their pockets for
fare money, the boys reminded them that they were on a date and that
their fares were being taken care of. Now these girls already knew
that world race guys were pretty high quality and a very rare breed,
but they took another step up by paying for everything that happened
on said date. The guys told the girls that they would be taking the
bus in to the city and then taking taxis to the “location”
– but allowed them to remain in some suspense. The bus was very full
when this small band of travelers entered, but as they got closer to
downtown, seats opened up, and the wonderful gentlemen allowed the
ladies to have the open seats first (and then when more seats opened
up they sat next to their dates and were able to continue
conversations with them). After arriving at the end of the bus line
downtown, the guys started looking for taxis and two couples piled in
to each taxi bound for “the location.” The couples laughed
and joked that this was the “central america race” for the
world race and that whoever arrived last would be the ones paying,
but alas, this did not happen. All six couples arrived at almost the
same time, and after paying the taxi drivers the ladies were escorted
to TGI Friday’s. Much excitement ensued as the ladies had been
craving “American” food for some time. Since they were
told there was going to be about a thirty-minute wait for a table for
twelve, two of the couples decided to walk next door to a chocolate
shop. As they entered one remarked that this could very well be what
heaven smells like. The gentlemen decided to buy chocolate for their
dates and one even bought a chocolate flower (deciding to “kill
two birds with one stone” by getting flowers and chocolate all
in one).
As
those two couples returned to the restaurant, they noticed that their
friends were already seated (it had definitely not been thirty
minutes, but they were fine with the shorter wait as everyone was
hungry). Three couples decided to share an appetizer sampler
platter, and then the rest of the eating ensued. Many great
conversations were had around this big table, even amid all the
distractions that “American” restaurants have to offer like
televisions and balloon-making clowns and face-painters. After
eating, the gentlemen took the ladies across the street and treated
them to Hagen-Daaz ice cream. Even though the ladies were very full
from the wonderful lunch they had just eaten, all were grateful and
took the gentlemen up on their offer to buy ice cream. More eating
ensued, and more great conversations were had before it was time for
the special afternoon to come to a close. The couples caught taxis
back to their house, and returned just in time for the evening meal
(not that anyone was hungry, but a few may have been seen browsing
the food tables anyway).
The
ladies from this all-girl team knew that World Race guys were special
and loved being treated by them on that very special day. Much fun
was had by all, and they lived happily ever-after.
Here is a picture of my date Kyle and me:
