"That includes unlimited use of our heated swimming pool," says the elderly man standing behind the counter.  "And we got WiFi."

"Wireless internet," I say to my date then reaching for my worn Bosca brand wallet.  "We'll take it."

"What about electricity?" says my woman.

"Water and electric is an additional $15," says the man then pointing to a hand lettered cardboard sign.

"That's a good sign," I say then smiling.

"It's handy," says the man.

My date is applying lengthening mascara while at the same time looking into the small built-in mirror attached to the tube when she says:

"You'll need electricity for your computer, baby." 

The blade of a small electric fan is spinning only a foot or so from where my date is standing and when she talks the fan chops up her voice making her sound elderly and it makes me want to look at her longer than I normally would.

"Maybe you don't want to write, honey," she says then pushing the mascara applicator back into the tube then dropping it into her big American designer purse.

When my date says, "honey" the man standing behind the counter smiles and then says:

"$65 if you want to write."

The tent I've brought along is thick and made of canvas and it has two screened windows and a long awning over the zippered door and my grandfather died in it in 1978.

"Let's assemble the tent," I say.

"Let's pitch the tent," says my date.

"That's what I said," I say.

"You said assemble, sugar.  One pitches a tent."

We are in my vintage Cadillac heading to our campsite when I say:

"Love you."

"I love you, she says then pushing her full lips onto my cheek.

I didn't say, I love you.  I said, Love you.  Love you is better for me and it has nearly the same effect as if I had said, I love you but it's 96 degrees in Key West Florida and the humidity makes it hard to breathe and soon the two of us will be inside a canvas tent once owned by my grandfather and the tent has two screened windows and a long awning over the zippered door and it will be better if we both love one another.

"Happy 4th," I say then kissing the top of her good female hand.

Florida Blood Services is wanting donations and their collection bus is parked near the entrance to the campground so I say:

"When we're finished I'm gonna give some blood."


We eventually pitched the tent and then we went inside and the first thing my date said was, "It smells like somebody died in here."


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