GEN I: Chapter 7

Alan started off the day cleaning his whole house. He was off for the next two days, and wanted to spend it in a clean place. He did laundry and cleaned the kitchen counters and stove. Also took out the trash, and paid the bills. After all the work that needed to be done was complete he decided to jog to the park. Just because he was off of work, does not mean he could slack on his workouts!

When he got there he saw Bobby, his boss, playing chess. When Bobby noticed Alan jogging up, he invited him to join his game. Alan happily sat down and started talking about how much of a great day it was to be out jogging. Pretty soon the conversation turned, Bobby had been thinking of traveling to Egypt. He had saved up enough money for he and his wife to take the trip, and were going to leave tomorrow morning. He was going to go into work a little later this afternoon, just for some paperwork since he was going to take a few days off. They finished their game and Bobby got up to leave.

Alan was not quited ready to get home, so he went to the local pool for a quick swim. He had someone challenge him to a contest of who can hold their breath longer. Alan won. Last time he attempted this, he lost. To his boss's wife. He was a little more in shape now, than he was when he moved here. So he has gotten a lot better at this. After a few laps around the pool and one more contest, Alan went home.

Alans taxi pulled up to the front of the house, and as he got out, His boss exited his car behind Alans taxi. Alan greeted Bobby and invited him inside. They stood in the living room talking for a little while, and Alan thanked his boss for giving him his recent promotion to Flight Officer. He really enjoyed that job.

After some more conversation, Alan got out some leftover waffles for them to eat. Waffles were Bobbys favorite meal. Bobby told Alan, that he and his wife were definitely leaving in the morning and would be back in a few days. He got up from the table, thanked Alan for cooking, and even put the dishes in the sink.

Alan saluted his boss as Bobby walked out the door. By the time he left it was pretty late. Alan sat and watched TV for a while, and then went to bed.

After his morning routine and breakfast, Alan went out to the park again to hang out on the swing. He met another gentleman there doing the same thing, and they chatted a while. Alan talked of exercise, and the severe lack of women in Twinbrook. The two guys laughed together. Just when the conversation died, and they were just chillin' in silence, Alan noticed someone across the street that he had never seen before. It was a pretty blond woman, in a green shirt. Without saying goodbye to his new acquaintance, Alan got up off the swing and, as if in a trance, followed this young lady. She got in her car and went somewhere else, but quickly Alan hailed a taxi and requested the cabbie to follow her car.

**Writers note: Really this was a little strange to me, so I am just gonna interpret it into the story, but he changed clothes all on his own. And no he did not have to work that day.**

When her car came to a stop, and she stepped out, Alan just stared at her. For some reason he felt he needed to know her better. Alan stepped out of his taxi and, as if to impress her, changed into his work uniform.

The woman Alan had followed here, sat on a picnic table to read a book. Alan walked right up to her and said "Sorry to interrupt your reading, but I saw you from across the street and wanted to introduce myself. I'm Alan." She seemed shocked that someone would just approach her like that and say hello. She smiled politely "My name is Jenni, it's lovely to meet you Alan." At first Alan started off doing all the talking, Jennie seemed pretty reserved. Almost like she was expecting the worst. About 10 minutes passed by before she warmed up to him a little bit and joined in the conversation. They talked of exercise and books, of fishing and rain. Alan learned that she works at the day spa, and he told her his title (as if it was not obvious with him in uniform). They seemed to hit it off pretty well. Actually Alan was completely infatuated with this woman who appeared out of no where.

Jennie had to leave, but told Alan he was welcome to come over to her house. Alan quickly accepted this offer, he still did not get enough of talking to her. She told him where she lived, and it shocked Alan to find out that she actually lived 2 houses down from him. He had never gone down that way to visit those neighbors. Alan kept thinking to himself "I have been looking all over town for the right woman, and find out she lives right next door!" He was still in shock while he walked up to her door. This looked like a nice house. A woman who seemed to be Jenni's mother answered the door. "Oooh finally another man has come calling for Jenni! Hopefully this one will stick. Come on in." Alan was not sure what she meant exactly but put it out of his mind. He came inside and talked to Jenni's mother. When she found out that Alan was in the military and very athletic. Renee asked if Alan would give her some tips on exercising.









Alan was happy to do so. Jenni had said she needed to stop at the store before going home, so obviously she is not here yet. But he wanted to wait for her. After only about 20 minutes on the treadmill Jennies mother said she was done, and for Alan to go introduce himself to Jennies father, Lenny.

Alan found him and shook his hand. The moment he met Lenny, Alan noticed that he was pretty upset about something, and fuming. Alan tried to calm him as much as he could, and make him feel better. Alan gathered that Lenny was upset about something that Jenni's mother Renee did. After Lenny was feeling a little more calm, he talked to Alan for a while. Then Alan heard Jenni walk through the door, and go upstairs. He followed.

Jenni and Alan talked for a little while, and gossiped about the neighbors. The more she talked, the more Alan fell in love with her voice, and everything else about her. He never saw himself falling for a blond, he preferred brunette or black hair. But here she was, this blond woman, stealing his heart right out from under his nose. Alan suddenly realized, he had no idea if she was even interested in him, much less single.

So he asked.

She giggled, and told him that she was not seeing anyone at the time. She had found no one interesting in Twinbrook. Alan wasted no time, he complimented her as soon as he could. Just as Alan was about to use his perfect pick up line, his phone rang. "You get that, I will meet you downstairs" Jenni said, and before Alan could object or ignore the call, she was gone. He quickly answered and said he had no time to chat, he was busy, then hung up.

Alan followed Jenni downstairs to continue the conversation. Jenni had come down to set out snacks for everyone, but Alan did not pay attention to how hungry he was, he just wanted to talk to Jenni. Pretty soon he was flirting with her again, and to Alans great joy, she responded in kind.

Eventually, Alan noticed the hunger pains and decided to have some bread and jam. As he was eating his snack, he also noticed how tired he was. So, promising himself he would see her tomorrow, that she was not going to disappear, he left for home. He arrived home positively elated at the thought of meeting Jenni. That night he dreamt of Jenni, and her parents, he also dreamed of weddings and the sandy shore of the lake where they met. Maybe one day he could marry Jenni.