3: The Searchers
Potsie gave her directions to the restaurant and returned to the stage for the finishing act. She found a spot off to the side, laughing and moving to the beat of the music.
It had to be the fastest changing act in the history of entertainment. Potsie wished the band and everyone a Happy New Year, heading to 'Arnold's' and the non - date. Entering the restaurant, he spotted the white scarf immediately; she sat with her back to him, a young couple was seated facing her. They were sitting at his favorite table, close to the kitchen for quick service but not too close that one had to yell to be heard over the banging of pots and pans of the chef calling out orders.
"Hi, sorry it took so long. Have you ordered?" Trepidation and excitement mixed to make him nervous.
"Hi, I'm Cassandra Fox, Mrs. David Fox." Her hand was smooth, firm, the emphasis on the "Mrs." and the ring on her finger didn't go unnoticed. She had been beautiful at the show, now, in this setting Potsie took notice just how lovely she was.
"Good evening, Mr. Webber, your usual?" Their waitress had waited while introductions were being made.
"Yes," Potsie responded, then turned his attention to his guests. "I recommend the chicken fried steak breakfast. Arnold's has the best in the state."
"Then make it four." Cassandra handed the menu to the waitress.
Their food was delivered steaming hot and delicious; consumed over light and lively banter. Potsie paid attention to Cassandra and that certain smile.
"Thank you, Mr. Webber, for a wonderful evening but we must be getting home." The couple rose, preparing to leave. "Please stay and enjoy your after meal coffee."
"You have a beautiful daughter, Mrs. Fox." Potsie observed as they settled back in their seats after watching the young couple leave. The waitress cleared the table and took the order of coffee.
"How did you know Annie was my daughter?" She sipped diet soda through a straw, her eyes playing hide and seek from dark eyelashes. "Are you a private detective also?"
"No, not at all." Potsie smiled, "The family resemblance is unmistakable, she's too old to be your granddaughter, therefore she has to be your daughter."
"And why did you ask me to this breakfast non - date after seeing my wedding ring? Most men would have run for the nearest door." Their coffees were delivered along with the check.
"First, when I saw you at the show, there was no man around nor did a man join you. You are too beautiful to go out for the evening without a husband or at least an escort/boyfriend. Only two reasons would account for that: divorce or widowed. Second, you still wear your ring, that would eliminate divorce. I had a fifty - fifty chance you'd say yes so I took the risk.
"Also, your daughter and son - in - law were chaperones if I was a cad. We've been left alone so I'm guessing I've passed her test...or was it your test?"
"A bit of both, I guess. I asked if you were new at dating. I confess I'm new at it too. Annie thinks I should get out of the house more.
"Why here, I'd think you'd want to get home? And please, call me Cassandra or Cassie."
"I'm in no hurry to go to an empty house, Cassandra. Arnold's also has better food and coffee; I'm no cook, oatmeal is about my limit."
Line Break
Part 2
As Potsie and Cassandra talked over the meal and coffee, it grew late. Joanie, Potsie's friend, began to fret, Potsie usually called after the show. She and her boyfriend, Chachi, roommate/friend normally stayed up late until they heard from Potsie.
"Where could Potsie be? He said he'd call after the last show, what if he got into a car accident?" Joanie asked, wringing her hands as she paced.
"I wouldn't worry, Joanie, if he was in a car accident the police would have called. He's old enough to take care of himself."
"Look at how late it is." Joanie had checked the time on the grandfather clock every few minutes. "Think we should call Fonzie?"
"If it'll make you feel better, go ahead." Chachi wasn't too worried about Potsie, instead he thought of their friend, Ralph Malph and the surprising events of he and Madeline announcing their engagement.
Joanie hit the wrong number and had to redial before she heard the phone being answered at Richie and Lori Beth Cunningham's home.
"Hello?" Luckily, Fonzie answered.
"Hi, Fonzie, have you heard from Potsie? He hasn't called and I'm getting worried."
"No, Joanie, I haven't heard from Potsie. Maybe he just forgot to call."
"Will you do me a favor, could you look for Potsie, please?"
"All right, Joanie, I'll save you this time."
Joanie saw Chachi cringe as she hung up. Chachi and Fonzie might be cousins but they might be completely different. "I hope he finds him."
Chachi patted Joanie's shoulder, "I brewed some tea, want a cup?"
"Yes, thank you, Chachi." Joanie continued her pacing.
Line Break
Part 3
Pulling on his black motorcycle helmet, Fonzie hoped he'd find Potsie soon, the storm was growing in strength. He guessed Potsie wouldn't be at the Grand Ole Opry but if he was lucky Tom Cash, Potsie's manager, might still be there and would know where Potsie might had gone. It was a good place to start. Firing up the motorcycle with matching black fuel tank, Fonzie roared off into the storm.
He was lucky, only Tom supervising the breakdown crew was present when he walked into the room.
"Hello, Fonzie." Tom broke away from the crew, walking toward Fonzie.
"Hi, Tom. I'm looking for Potsie. Is he still here?" They had known each other for years, their friendship easy and comfortable.
"No, he left as soon as the show ended. He said he was headed for Arnold's. I got the impression he was meeting the blonde he meeting during the show, not sure though. You want me to tell him you were looking for him?"
"A blonde did you say? Are we talking the same Potsie Webber? I don't think I've see Potsie with any woman. Ever. No, no need to tell him. I'll probably find him first."
"That was my only impression, they talked during the intermission then he left like his pants were on fire."
"Maybe they were, Tom." Fonzie winked wickedly, "That would explain why he forgot to call Joanie."
Fonzie laughed as he rode away after thanking Tom. 'A woman? A blonde no less. This I gotta see.'
Potsie gave her directions to the restaurant and returned to the stage for the finishing act. She found a spot off to the side, laughing and moving to the beat of the music.
It had to be the fastest changing act in the history of entertainment. Potsie wished the band and everyone a Happy New Year, heading to 'Arnold's' and the non - date. Entering the restaurant, he spotted the white scarf immediately; she sat with her back to him, a young couple was seated facing her. They were sitting at his favorite table, close to the kitchen for quick service but not too close that one had to yell to be heard over the banging of pots and pans of the chef calling out orders.
"Hi, sorry it took so long. Have you ordered?" Trepidation and excitement mixed to make him nervous.
"Hi, I'm Cassandra Fox, Mrs. David Fox." Her hand was smooth, firm, the emphasis on the "Mrs." and the ring on her finger didn't go unnoticed. She had been beautiful at the show, now, in this setting Potsie took notice just how lovely she was.
"Good evening, Mr. Webber, your usual?" Their waitress had waited while introductions were being made.
"Yes," Potsie responded, then turned his attention to his guests. "I recommend the chicken fried steak breakfast. Arnold's has the best in the state."
"Then make it four." Cassandra handed the menu to the waitress.
Their food was delivered steaming hot and delicious; consumed over light and lively banter. Potsie paid attention to Cassandra and that certain smile.
"Thank you, Mr. Webber, for a wonderful evening but we must be getting home." The couple rose, preparing to leave. "Please stay and enjoy your after meal coffee."
"You have a beautiful daughter, Mrs. Fox." Potsie observed as they settled back in their seats after watching the young couple leave. The waitress cleared the table and took the order of coffee.
"How did you know Annie was my daughter?" She sipped diet soda through a straw, her eyes playing hide and seek from dark eyelashes. "Are you a private detective also?"
"No, not at all." Potsie smiled, "The family resemblance is unmistakable, she's too old to be your granddaughter, therefore she has to be your daughter."
"And why did you ask me to this breakfast non - date after seeing my wedding ring? Most men would have run for the nearest door." Their coffees were delivered along with the check.
"First, when I saw you at the show, there was no man around nor did a man join you. You are too beautiful to go out for the evening without a husband or at least an escort/boyfriend. Only two reasons would account for that: divorce or widowed. Second, you still wear your ring, that would eliminate divorce. I had a fifty - fifty chance you'd say yes so I took the risk.
"Also, your daughter and son - in - law were chaperones if I was a cad. We've been left alone so I'm guessing I've passed her test...or was it your test?"
"A bit of both, I guess. I asked if you were new at dating. I confess I'm new at it too. Annie thinks I should get out of the house more.
"Why here, I'd think you'd want to get home? And please, call me Cassandra or Cassie."
"I'm in no hurry to go to an empty house, Cassandra. Arnold's also has better food and coffee; I'm no cook, oatmeal is about my limit."
Line Break
Part 2
As Potsie and Cassandra talked over the meal and coffee, it grew late. Joanie, Potsie's friend, began to fret, Potsie usually called after the show. She and her boyfriend, Chachi, roommate/friend normally stayed up late until they heard from Potsie.
"Where could Potsie be? He said he'd call after the last show, what if he got into a car accident?" Joanie asked, wringing her hands as she paced.
"I wouldn't worry, Joanie, if he was in a car accident the police would have called. He's old enough to take care of himself."
"Look at how late it is." Joanie had checked the time on the grandfather clock every few minutes. "Think we should call Fonzie?"
"If it'll make you feel better, go ahead." Chachi wasn't too worried about Potsie, instead he thought of their friend, Ralph Malph and the surprising events of he and Madeline announcing their engagement.
Joanie hit the wrong number and had to redial before she heard the phone being answered at Richie and Lori Beth Cunningham's home.
"Hello?" Luckily, Fonzie answered.
"Hi, Fonzie, have you heard from Potsie? He hasn't called and I'm getting worried."
"No, Joanie, I haven't heard from Potsie. Maybe he just forgot to call."
"Will you do me a favor, could you look for Potsie, please?"
"All right, Joanie, I'll save you this time."
Joanie saw Chachi cringe as she hung up. Chachi and Fonzie might be cousins but they might be completely different. "I hope he finds him."
Chachi patted Joanie's shoulder, "I brewed some tea, want a cup?"
"Yes, thank you, Chachi." Joanie continued her pacing.
Line Break
Part 3
Pulling on his black motorcycle helmet, Fonzie hoped he'd find Potsie soon, the storm was growing in strength. He guessed Potsie wouldn't be at the Grand Ole Opry but if he was lucky Tom Cash, Potsie's manager, might still be there and would know where Potsie might had gone. It was a good place to start. Firing up the motorcycle with matching black fuel tank, Fonzie roared off into the storm.
He was lucky, only Tom supervising the breakdown crew was present when he walked into the room.
"Hello, Fonzie." Tom broke away from the crew, walking toward Fonzie.
"Hi, Tom. I'm looking for Potsie. Is he still here?" They had known each other for years, their friendship easy and comfortable.
"No, he left as soon as the show ended. He said he was headed for Arnold's. I got the impression he was meeting the blonde he meeting during the show, not sure though. You want me to tell him you were looking for him?"
"A blonde did you say? Are we talking the same Potsie Webber? I don't think I've see Potsie with any woman. Ever. No, no need to tell him. I'll probably find him first."
"That was my only impression, they talked during the intermission then he left like his pants were on fire."
"Maybe they were, Tom." Fonzie winked wickedly, "That would explain why he forgot to call Joanie."
Fonzie laughed as he rode away after thanking Tom. 'A woman? A blonde no less. This I gotta see.'