Today was a special day. Just the day before Luann had been thirty-eight, and suddenly here was her birthday, and she was thirty-nine. She woke up slowly as was her habit. She always enjoyed those extra few minutes before having to get out of bed and face the day. She remembered that there was something special about this day bit guarded was she could not recall at the moment. "What the heck," she thought to herself, "the day can start without me, I am going to take a few more minutes." She turned a few more times but then decided to get up.

Passing the mirror in the bathroom she stopped then looked critically at the face that was staring back at her. "Not bad", she thought to herself. "Not bad at all. I don't really look like 38." And then she remembered, today was a birthday and she was 39.

She poked a finger at the image in the mirror and then said out loud, "this is not a 39-year-old woman, this is a young 28-year-old chick." And then she talked quietly to herself again, "this was a little childish, but it was fun. Hey, Luann, you're not getting older, you're getting happier." She sometimes had those conversations with herself which was quite natural having lived a single life for so many years before Tommy stepped into her life.

When she opened the bathroom curtain a golden way of sunshine sneaked in through the window and landed on her hair. She watched with pleasure as the sun played on her hair, bringing forth hints of coppery red here and there. I am really still good looking, she admitted to herself. I am trim and slim, she added, maybe a bit too slim for some, but I like myself.

As she left the bathroom she was at peace with herself and the way fate had dealt her cards. She smiled at Tommy as she walked past him to the kitchen. He was awake, his eyes following her. And she knew that it would not be long before he would join her to watch her prepare breakfast. Since it was a Sunday, and her birthday, it called for something special, she thought. Maybe some Swedish waffles with syrup? Why not, she decided, they both liked them.

As she busied herself with breakfast her thoughts drifted back to when she tried so desperately to meet the man with whom to share her life. Why, she wondered, couldn't I click with any of them? Maybe there is something wrong with my personality, or maybe my sights are set too high.

Her family and her friends had introduced her to plenty of men, but not one of them had kindled a spark in her. Dating agencies had not helped either.

But then her friend Louise changed the picture. She told Luann about Tommy. Tommy was from Texas, a veterinarian who had recently moved to the city. Now here was a good omen, Luann said to herself, as a little girl Tommy had always been her favorite boy name.

Louise had suggested that they meet at their favorite little breakfast grill for a cup of coffee on Saturday. But it was not to be. Louise came down with a bad cold and Tommy phoned to apologize for not being able to come either. He had to make an emergency call at the Humane Society kennel.

Maybe they could meet there and later have breakfast together, he had added; his emergency call shouldn't take more twenty minutes.

Luann remembered that morning well; the tall figure in the white smock treating a dog at the end of the aisle, and she talking to the dogs in their pens. Most were barking or whining, except one who was silently pleading with his eyes. She talked to for moment. "You know what I would name you if you were mine? I would give you the name that has always been my favorite for a boy."

Tommy and Luann had had a cup of coffee in the small café just around the corner, making small talk and feeling each other out. He had offered a dinner invitation and this time she had had a better opportunity to get to know him, where he came from and was his ideas for the future were.

Luann offered Tommy the first waffle and then prepared one for herself. When she turned with her waffle she found Tommy still sitting there, waiting patiently for her to finish her breakfast. She did not speak until she had done the way with her waffle and the coffee that she suggested," Let's go for a walk." Tommy went ahead to the hallway and waited for her at the door with his leash between his teeth.

Tommy the vet hadn't made the grade, but Tommy the retriever had.

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