Proposal Crasher

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I’m a regular at my local coffee shop Hebrews. So regular and devoid of change, in fact, that the baristas begin making my tea as soon as I walk in the door. When I step up to pay $2.50 for my drink, they hand my already steaming cup of Hot Cinnamon Spice to me and I find a vacant chair near the floor-to-ceiling windows.

My typical agenda on my weekly visits to Hebrews usually consists of homework. But on this particular day, I was simply there to read (re-read) Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. Because I was reading instead of my usual homework, I opted out of listening to music. This change in my pattern is what sparked this eavesdropping tale. Without the steady sounds of movie soundtracks to block out the noise in the coffee shop, I was free to listen to the conversations swelling up around me.

There was a young guy sitting at the table I was facing. As he was sitting alone and silent, and I barely gave him a second glance as a sat down with my Cinnamon Spice and Harry Potter. Not long after, a woman joined him and the two began conversing. Still, not much of my attention was spared as they were not loud or captivating enough to draw my mind away from the second Triwizard Competition. Soon, however, their conversation broke through my attention and forced me to merely stare at the pages in my book as I listened to them.

I am aware that eavesdropping probably is not the best character trait.

But as their conversation was compelling and loud, and my self control

towards such habits is limited, I continued to listen.

As the two continued to talk, I gathered a few important details. One, the guy had a ring, a date, and a plan to propose. Two, the girl was an important part of the proposal process. As the future fiancé and the girlfriend’s best friend began to talk about impeccable timing, convincing half-truths, and perfect locations, they got more and more excited. Finally, they decided on a plan. The boyfriend would "leave" to go out of state for a baseball game and the friend would lure the girlfriend to a perfect location to take photos and spend the day together. Unbeknownst to the soon-to-be-bride, her nervous boyfriend was waiting around the corner to pop the question as the sun was setting. This day would be a very important day for the both of them.

I have no idea of the identity of the boyfriend, girlfriend, or friend. I don’t know what day the question was posed, how he asked her to spend the rest of her life with him, or whether she cried when he got down on one knee. I know nothing of what happened after the two left the coffee shop to go scour different locations for the perfect proposal. From then on, I can only guess at the magical night that would soon transpire. I doubt I will ever see those people again. If I did, I probably wouldn’t even recognize them. No matter.

Shortly after they left, I was again immersed in Goblet of Fire and preparing myself for the tragic events that would occur later in the book. More often, I prefer to people watch than eavesdrop. And even though I didn’t intend on listening in on the conversation that took place mere feet from me, I’m glad I did. If nothing else, it put me in a happier mood as a continued to read in the coffee shop.