It used to be a rare site to see a woman in a comic book shop. Not so any more! Allow me to regale the beauty I encountered years ago.
About 10 years ago, I worked very briefly in a comic book store. Comic Relief was my comic shop of choice at the time. Located in the former A & S Plaza (now Manhattan Mall), it was a convenient midtown location. The manager, Brian, was this really nice guy. At first, he thought I was an actor of some celebrity, but just couldn't figure it out. I told him I was an actor, but not famous. Yet. We used to chat it up a lot and he was always cool to me. I was waiting tables full time and making phat bank.
One day, Brian asks me if I wanted to work there during the holiday season. I didn't need the money or the job, but he promised perks of free books, first dibs on specials, discounts, etc. I figured it could be fun. Only 1 or 2 days a week and not long shifts. So, I agreed.
As mentioned, not many females came in unless they were mom's looking for stuff for the kids. A few girls here and there. And one hottie. Stephanie. Petite, brunette, busty and cute as hell. Just like I like 'em! She would come in every Wednesday to get her books. I'd walk around with her and we'd flirt the entire time. And, she was a big Batman fan, just like me. Sweet! I'll dress up as Bats, she can be Catwoman and we can start "fighting crime". We always ended our weekly visits with a big flirty smile and a "See you next week!" This went on for a month or so and I thought it might be time to ask her out. She seemed into it and all.
We only knew each other at the store, so didn't know much about each other. She knew my last name, both places I worked at, what comics I liked, music, etc. I knew she was hot. We'd make a perfect couple!
I come in Wednesday for work and Brian pulls me aside. "Dude, I have to talk to you about Stephanie." Okay. Cool. What? She's been asking about me? Nice. He continues, "Dude, she really likes you. A lot!" Sweet! I am so in there. He goes on, "But.."
Uh-oh. He goes on to tell me that she really digs me, but is conflicted. She has been in and out of a relationship and possibly getting back into it with her boyfriend. I am a nice distraction, but if she is going to work things out with him, she just cant have the complication and confusion of liking someone else. Wow. Pretty specific. But, she digs me! Woo hoo! Still, kind of lame at the same time.
She comes in next week. A-w-k-w-a-r-d. She's getting her books, and I leave her alone. She glances over a couple of times. I finally go over to her. "Listen you jerk! You KNOW you want some Jimmy Jam!"
Okay, I didn't do that. I just went up and told her it's all good and to not worry about it. I'm flattered she digs me and obviously, I dig her too. But, will not pursue out of respect. She was cool and said she wanted to hang, but just didn't feel right about it. I ended the conversation with telling her that if she figures things out and wants to hang, she knows where to find me.
She looked at me with those big brown eyes, and kissed me like she was diabetic and my tongue was the insulin.
Okay, that didn't happen either. It's how I like to remember it though, so shut it!
About a month later, I stopped working there and eventually the shop closed down about 6 months later. Randomly, we ran into each other many months later at another comic book store. We caught up for a few minutes, but things were different. I was with my girl and I think she was still with that guy. My girl went over and kicked her ass. The fanboys went crazy!
Yeah. Didn't happen. We said good-bye and as I left, I turned back. There she was watching me leave. A tear in her eye, clutching a Batman comic and dreaming of what could have been. Or maybe I just remember it that way.
