A Skilene-Filled September
Scenario 2: “Dating Practice”
Thursday, September 2, 2010


Just shy of nine months since she had gone on that infamous petsa with Fred, Marlene chuckled to herself as she recalled the whole escapade. She found it funny that she had found him funny, only to learn too soon that her “Bobo” was just a run-of-the-mill buffoon. In fact, she had all but sworn off dating ever again the very susunod day.

But could she truly hold out on dating again forever? Marlene soon pondered such a question.

“Forever certainly is an awfully long time,” she then thought to herself. “Maybe I could go on a petsa again someday, but it’s really going to take someone special for me to even consider it.”

But then she had another thought.

“But what would I even do on a date?” she wondered. “Fred was the only one I ever went out with, and being with him didn’t really help me get any dating experience. If only I had some way to practice for the future so I would know how to handle myself.”

She then sat for a few moments to reflect, beginning to regret even bring up the whole thought of dating again. But it struck her after a while that maybe she could convince one of her mga kaibigan to go on a mock petsa with her so that she might be better prepared to handle another real petsa someday. But who could she get to help her?

“Forget Julien, I don’t want him to think I’m ‘hopelessly in love’ with him again,” she sinabi to herself. “I need the complete opposite of that -- I think I need Skipper.”

Marlene then left her habitat to go to see Skipper to see if he would be willing to take part in her practice session. She knew that he would be tough to convince, but he was the only one she could really trust for something as personal as this.

When she reached the ibong dagat enclosure, Marlene jumped into the air and tumbled down in the middle of the habitat’s platform. She landed firmly on her feet -- she always did -- and found Skipper there peering through a pair of binoculars. He put them down as he approached Marlene.

“So, Marlene, what do you need my help on today?” he asked nonchalantly.

“Wait, how did you know I wanted something?” Marlene asked.

“Call it a hunch, my gut, or an eighth sense,” Skipper replied.

“Um, don’t you mean sixth sense?” Marlene wondered.

“No, I meant eighth,” Skipper replied. “My sixth and seventh senses are classified. But anyway, what can I do for you?”

“Well, I was hoping you could do a special favor for me,” Marlene replied. “You see, someday I might like to go on a petsa again, but I’m nervous about what exactly to do on one. Going out with Fred didn’t really help prepare me for the future, so I’m afraid that I might not do or say the right things if I ever went on a petsa again. So I was hoping you could help me practice.”

“Practice how?” Skipper wondered.

“By taking me out on a mock petsa so that I could gain experience without the pressure,” Marlene replied. “If I do this with you and make a fool of myself, at least I wouldn’t be doing it in front of a guy I’m trying to impress.”

“So you’re asking me, probably the least qualified guy in this zoo on the whole ‘relationship’ subject, to help you?” Skipper asked. “Why?”

“Because I know you the best and trust you the most,” she replied. “Trust me, for something like this, I’d much rather have someone I feel ligtas around be the one to assist me. Someone who’d be honest and not in it for themselves.”

“Well, I suppose I could help you, as long as you realize that I’m not dating you for real,” Skipper stated. “So, what’s next?”

“Come to my habitat tonight for diner,” Marlene replied. “We’ll pretend that you’ve taken me to a big expensive restaurant.”

“Very well,” Skipper said. “I’ll be there.”

And with that, Marlene thanked Skipper and then left to go prepare for later that day.

At 1800 hours that evening, Skipper left the HQ to go over to Marlene’s habitat for their mock date. He stopped briefly along the way to pluck a few bulaklak to present to her, then continued waddling along to see Marlene.

“These are for you, dollface,” he sinabi as he presented the bulaklak to Marlene. “I’m not sure what they are, though.”

“They’re dandelions, Skipper,” Marlene replied as she led him in. “But it’s the thought that counts.”

“Anything to make this whole scenario madami realistic for you,” Skipper said, briefly breaking the character of Marlene’s supposed “date.”

The two then approached the mesa to begin their mock petsa together, hoping to give Marlene the confidence she needed to someday go on a real one again. Before Marlene went to sit down, Skipper pulled her chair out for her -- a true gentleman.

As they soon got down to eating a delicious tuna casserole, Skipper and Marlene began talking with ease. They laughed together. And Marlene felt encouraged sa pamamagitan ng the way she made Skipper smile; he was truly playing the role of a petsa better than any Oscar-winning dramatic actor ever could.

Little did she know that Skipper had stopped pagganap five minutos into the date.

Time passed quickly that evening. Before they knew it, it was already 2200. And Skipper had early training the susunod morning.

“You know, Skipper, this evening with you turned out to be far greater than I could have ever imagined,” Marlene said, meaning every word from her heart. “And we’re getting along so well and getting to know each other so well that I’m actually–”

But Marlene couldn’t finish her sentence. She wasn’t sure how Skipper might take it.

But Skipper smiled, knowing full well what Marlene was going to say. In fact, he finished Marlene’s sentence for her.

“… sad that this wonderful evening together is coming to an end,” Skipper said.

Marlene smiled. And blushed.

“Actually, I’m sad that this is just a mock date,” Marlene said.

“I hear you,” Skipper replied. “So I guess we’ll have to wait until tomorrow to have a real one.”

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Thank you for pagbaba the segundo of the 30 scenarios that will be part of my project. There is one madami sample posted here on Fanpop; you may click link to access it.