Allen pulled into his driveway and sat listening to Babyface's CD For the Cool in You, before getting out of the car to take a long look at the starry sky. He slowly walked towards his home, imagining a second meeting with his insatiable fantasy woman. As Allen walked into his home, he had an idea. He thought of his encounter at the grocery store and all that was said. What he focused on most was how their conversation ended.
"That's right," Allen said with conviction. "She said that her name
was Gwen, Gwen," Allen fought with the exactness of her last name.
"Gwen, Gwen Martin, no that's not it."
Allen sat down and replayed the conversation over and over in his
head.
"What was her last name?" Allen questioned himself.
As he thought aloud, his phone rang.
"Hello," Allen spoke with frustration. "Oh hi Mom," he said as he
changed his vocal tone. "Nothing's wrong, how are you? I know, I know
when I start to worry about things I should read Matthew chapter 6."
Allen caught himself as he reflected on what he had just said.
"That's it Mom, that's it! GOD is good. I'll tell you tomorrow, good
night and I love you. Tell Dad the same. I know Ma tomorrow is not
promised. I'll tell you tomorrow. Bye."
Allen finally found the last name that had been eluding him.
"Gwen Mathews, that's her name, Gwen Mathews. Now the only
problem is," Allen paused, "finding out what city she lives in."
Allen picked up the phone and dialed information. He asked for
Calabasas and the surrounding cities for a residential number for a
Gwen Matthews. As Allen awaited the response from the operator, he
planned for disappointment, but hoped for achievement.
"Thank you," Allen responded to his attempt. "A hand full of cities
down, a hand full to go," he said as he dialed information again.
"Yes, I need a residential for a Gwen Matthews in Encino or the
surrounding cities please."
Again Allen waited with pessimism, and again his request was
unfulfilled. He wondered if she was unlisted or if she was visiting from
another area. He tried again in the 213 area code. He called and asked
again for a residential listing for Gwen, and again was greeted with the
same response. Allen took the disappointment as a learning experience
and began to think about what his father told him as a child.
"Dad always said, 'never be the kind of person to say, I wonder what
would have happened if...'" Allen reiterated as he hung up the phone.
Allen sat momentarily thinking about what he had just done and
smiled. He was in love. He was definitely in love.
"I'm in love, I don't know you Gwen Matthews, but I am in love with
you." Allen said as he walked to his bedroom, "I'm in love."