Britannia, NY

Cecilia would have liked to pretend that she'd been able to focus on anything else but her date with Larry. She would also like to be one of those women who is leisurely and relaxed about preparing for such a date.

Instead, she's been ready since 5:15, for a date at six. She's standing in her kitchen, triple-checking her makeup in a little hand mirror. She's in the kitchen because it's just about the furthest room from the front door, and she doesn't want to pounce when the doorbell rings. She takes a few deep breaths, checks her face again.

She really hopes she isn't about to make an idiot of herself.