Match Up:

Simone’s Notes:

Courtship is the traditional dating period before engagement and marriage. During a courtship a couple dates to get to know each other and decide if there will be an engagement. Usually courtship is a public affair, done in public and with family approval. It includes activities such as dating where couple go together for a dinner, a movie, dance parties, a picnic, shopping or general "hanging out", along with other forms of activity. Acts such as meeting on the internet or virtual dating, chatting on-line, sending text messages or picture messages, conversing over the telephone, writing each other letters, and sending each other flowers, songs, and gifts constitute wooing.

Travis looked at his four young female interns. They had just come in at the beginning of this month. For months now, Barrett had sent request after request to have his “daughters” as he called them be transferred to Central City. It was a pain, but worth it in the end. His little “family” was complete now. The “daughters” as he called them all had different personalities. Demetria was rebellious, loud, and a punk-rocker. Peyton was more emo but yet had a big heart. Papi was spicy and flirtatious. Missy was shy and quiet. Travis mentally promised them a welcoming gift. He got Demetria and Peyton blank CDs so that they could burn more music to play while they were at work. Barrett got Papi a tight red dress that showed cleavage and curves. But yet, he couldn’t figure out what to get Missy this time.

Private Melissa “Missy” Hawn was a nice and shy girl. She didn’t talk much. The girl was fairly attractive-looking. Her deep brown hair was in a boyish cut. Her eyes were a mint green. The young woman’s eyelashes were a light brown color. Her cheeks were soft and pale. She always wore pale lip gloss. Missy was cute indeed. And also very single. Her “sisters” wondered why she never had a boyfriend. They tried to hook her up but to no avail. The lt. gen. watched Missy as she was gathering up her files for the morning to get started with her work. That suddenly gave Travis an idea.

“Hey Hawn!” he called out to her. Missy stood up straight and saluted him.

“Sir?” she asked. Travis just smiled at her kindly.

“As you were!” he told her. The woman took down her hand and stood still. Travis watched her closely.

“Tell me something, Hawn,” he said to her.

“Okay sir,” she replied. Barrett sat up at his desk.

“Do you have a boyfriend?” he asked innocently. Missy blushed instantly at that question.

“General!” she exclaimed. “I- I- I don’t know what to say!” Travis lightly held up his hand.

“There, there,” he said. “A simple yes or no would do.” Missy froze for a moment. She had never expected such a question come out of Travis’ mouth before. She didn’t know how to answer at first.

“No, why?” the private asked. The lt. gen. kept smiling at her.

“How about I set you up on a date?” he asked her. Missy’s eyes grew big in shock.

“Well… uh… I don’t know!” she said aloud. Travis kept smiling at her. Then he took out his notepad. He wrote something down on it quickly and ripped out the page.

“Here,” he instructed. “Read to yourself.” Missy did so quietly. Her eyes widened in shock again. These were instructions to meet up for a date. This is what the paper said:

Red Water Club

1900 tonight

Table on the second floor looking out at the view

Look for a guy with Ace of Hearts

Missy looked up at her boss again. “This isn’t for you and…” she began to ask.

“No, no, no!” Travis said quickly. “Doubt that Anika wants to share me with anyone! That is for you, but I’m putting you on a blind date tonight!” Missy was both relaxed and worried. Relaxed because she Travis wasn’t her date and worried because she didn’t know who Travis would hook her up with. She had heard of many blind date stories gone horribly wrong with her “friends.” She didn’t want to be another victim of them. The private just nodded nervously. Travis noticed her face.

“Aw what’s wrong?” he asked. “I won’t put you with a sleaze bag! You know me better than that! Trust me on this one!” That didn’t really help. But Missy nodded away. Travis kept smiling at her.

“Good,” he summed up. “That is all!” Hawn saluted and headed out the door. Travis smiled to himself tenderly. He got the fish baited. Now all he had to do was find her a mate.

So far, Travis was coming up short. Most of the men were taken or pervs. But Barrett wasn’t willing to give up just yet. He was determined to find the right guy for Missy. That’s when he saw Breda. The lt. was walking back to Mustang’s office. Travis considered his options. Breda was a decent guy. He maybe normal looking, but he was funny and pretty much a gentleman to the ladies. Plus, he was pretty much single. Barrett grinned to himself. He had found himself a winner. Travis walked up to Breda causally.

“Lt.!” Travis said aloud to him. Heymans stopped up looked up at him. He saluted quickly. Travis made it straight to him. “Very good choice indeed!” he thought proudly.

“As you were!” Travis said. Breda lowered his hand.

“What is it sir?” he asked. Travis looked around quickly for a bit and leaned in.

“You doing anything tonight?” he asked in a low voice. Breda stared at him confused.

“Nothing,” he answered slowly. “Why?” Travis smiled at him boldly.

“Great!” he replied. Breda was confused and a little uncomfortable now.

“What do you mean?” he asked. The lt. gen. didn’t answer. He pulled out his notepad, wrote down some information, tore the page out, and handed it to the lt. Breda took it cautiously. He read the information to himself. He raised an eyebrow at it. This is what the paper read:

Red Water Club

1900 tonight

Table on the second floor looking out at the view

Look for a girl with a red germanium bracelet on her right wrist

Breda looked up at him slowly. Travis was still smiling at him.

“Are you serious?” he asked in shock. The lt. gen. nodded at the lt. Heymans didn’t fully believe him yet. He had to get the facts first.

“This isn’t a prank at all?” he asked. Travis shook his head.

“Why would pull any pranks on my men?” he asked.

“Good point…” Breda replied uneasily. “So, I’m supposed to just meet this girl at this club?”

“Exactly!” Travis replied.

“No tricks?” the lt. asked.

“Guaranteed!” the lt. gen. replied. “So will you try it out? Going once… Going twice…”

“Sold!” Breda yelled out. Travis smiled.

“Great!” he replied. “Don’t let me down!” He patted Breda on the shoulder and walked away. Now, the lt. was uncertain. “What have I gotten myself into with him?” Heymans thought nervously. There was only one way to see tonight. He hoped this wouldn’t be a date from hell.

1900 hours came with the moment of truth. Missy walked into the Red Water Club like a traveler in a strange land. She felt awkward for doing this. Her friends all dressed her up for the date. The private was dressed in deep brick halter top with a long black skirt, black silk low heel shoes, black opal and silver necklace, red daisy flower clips in her hair, and the red germanium bracelet on her right wrist. Her black handbag was on her right shoulder. Missy noticed that the boys were staring at her like she was some fresh meat. She began to feel very uncomfortable now. “This isn’t really my scene!” Hawn thought. “This is more of Papi’s place!” Missy kept walking until she found the silver and well lit stairs. She took Travis’s note out and read it to herself. “Table on the second floor looking out at the view!” the private thought. Missy took in a deep breath. Then she bravely headed up the stairs to her mystery date.

Breda was waiting at the table Travis had written down for him. He got there early and was now waiting. So far, the girls that passed by him were not wearing a red germanium bracelet on their right wrists. The lt. even had the ace of ace of hearts sitting on the table by his drink. (The boy had no idea why the lt. gen. gave him the card in the first place. It seemed kind of pointless to have it in the first place. But, he kept it anyway.) He was beginning to think that this was a prank after all. Then along came Missy.

“Excuse me!” a sweet voice spoke up to him. Breda quickly looked up. Missy stood before him looking nervous. He noticed that she had a red germanium bracelet on her right wrist, just as the note said. He began to smile kindly. “Finally!” he thought happily. “I’m getting somewhat!” Breda sat up gentlemanly.

“Can I help you miss?” he asked kindly. Missy began to blush wildly. Her heart skipped a beat at his words. She really wasn’t expecting this. The private almost lost her words. Then, she noticed the ace of hearts on the table. It was clear that this man was her date tonight.

“Uh….” she began. “I guess I’m your date tonight…” The woman’s blush became redder. “Oh my!” she breathed out. “I feel so dumb. I haven’t done anything like this before. I don’t know where to start! My boss set me up on this date! I am completely new to this!” Breda couldn’t help but to smile at her. Her confusion made her even cuter to him. He lightly took her right hand. The private blushed even more. Her heart skipped a string of beats. “Oh my!” she thought instantly. “He has such a strong grip!” Heymans kept smiling at her in kindness.

“Just follow the night,” he replied. Missy began to relax by the sound of his voice.

“Okay!” she breathed out quickly. Breda kept smiling at her.

“I’m lt. Heymans Breda, by the way,” he told her.

“Private Melissa Hawn,” the private answered. “But you can call me Missy!” Both shook hands. A brief moment of silence passed over both of them.

“You can sit down if you want,” Breda offered. Missy blushed again.

“I can’t….” she murmured to him. The lt. raised an eyebrow at her.

“What do you mean?” he asked. “Why not?”

“You still have my hand…” she replied.

“Huh?” Breda asked in light confusion as he looked down. It was true. He still had her small hand in his shaking it lightly. Somehow he just couldn’t let go.

“Oh... Sorry about that…” he replied. Then he finally lightly let go of her hand. Missy sat down next to him ladylike. The private began to smile at her soon-to-be boyfriend. Breda just smiled back at her.

“Does your boss happened to be named Lt. Gen. Travis Barrett?” he asked boldly.

“Yes why?” Missy asked. The lt. just smiled and shrugged.

“He must have brought us together!” he said whimsically. Missy tittered at that statement.

“I guess he did!” she replied. The rest of the date went on smoothly. Breda and Hawn got off pretty well. Even though there was nothing physical at all, they hit it off pretty well. One could tell this was the start of a beautiful relationship just by sitting by the newly blossoming couple and listening in on their conversation. Turns out, Missy likes chess as well! This was even the first time she even opened up and talked to someone in her life. Breda even brought her non-alcoholic drinks. The private found herself walking into a force that she hadn’t experienced in her life. A force that was just hard to put into words.

“Can I see you again some time?” Missy forced herself to ask while blushing. Breda smiled as he was lightly playing with her short dark bangs.

“Sure!” he said. “I intended on that anyway! I’m beginning to like you now. I’ll walk you home tonight if you like.” Missy smiled again his voice and words. She finally understood what love was.

“I would love that!” she called. He lightly held her small hand again. She held his hand as well. Thus another couple entering into the wild and swirling game of love.