MURDOCK'S IN LOVE

by C. VAN

      "Are you enjoying your ice cream Murdock?" asked Face. The pilot he
was talking to had been staring into space as he licked his ice cream at
a slow, steady beat.    "Huh?" answered Murdock with a surprised look.
    "Are you enjoying your ice cream?" Face asked again.
    "Oh, uh…sure Face." Face shook his head. Something was eating at
Murdock….and it wasn’t his snack.
    "Murdock, what’s wrong? For the past ten minutes you have been
completely ignoring me." The two men began to walk down a long sidewalkin L.A.
    "I’ve met a lot of girls that I liked." replied Murdock, "They were
nice…but they weren’t the girls for me." Murdock paused.  "I’ve been
thinkin’ Face. Maybe there’s a really nice girl out there….waitin’ for
me. Sometimes I wish that slinky of destiny, would just quicken itspace."
    Face nodded.  It had been awhile since Murdock had been this blue.
    "Murdock, sometimes these things just take awhile…uh…" Face replied.
He glanced at Murdock. The look upon his friend’s face was full of
sorrow. This wasn’t working. "Hey Murdock how about we go down to Burger
Heaven and get something!" Face hated that place, but he had to cheer up
Murdock some how. Murdock gave Face a slight grin.    "Okay."
    They crossed the street and began to walk down the block.
    "But Face…" said Murdock, "I haven’t met a single girl who likes the
things I do." He turned to his friend and continued, "Look me in the eye
and tell me you know a girl who watches Gumby regularly!" Face just
shrugged. "No one likes to play Pac-Man either." Murdock shook his head
and declared, "What has happened to this society!!!" Face grinned.
Murdock sounded like a Shakespearean actor.
    Suddenly, as they turned the corner, a small figure and the duo
collided. The girl they ran into was on the ground. Murdock immediately
came to her rescue.    "Are you okay?" he asked as he helped her up.
    "Yeah, I’m fine." She answered. For a second their eyes locked. Then
she looked away. He began to stare at her. She was wearing cacky pants
and a t-shirt that said "Freak in the room." Her dark hair was pulled
through the hole in the back of her blue baseball cap and she was wearing
black chucks.    "Hi…my name’s Murdock."    "I’m Tracy." replied the girl shyly.
    Silence covered them for what seemed an eternity to both of them
until finally Murdock smiled and said, "Uh… we’re goin’ down to Burger
Heaven to get somethin’… ya wanna come along?" Tracy’s eyes lit up.
    "Sure! That’s my favorite fast food place!" she exclaimed. Murdock
offered his arm and Tracy took it proudly. Together they walked, with
Face following close behind.
    Face thought to himself, "Murdock sure has a strange way of picking
up girls….Hmmm, maybe I should try it sometime."
    When they arrived, Murdock got two Captain Bellybuster hats. He and
Tracy put them on. Face, realizing that Murdock wasn’t going to introduce
him, presented himself. "Hi, I’m Templeton Peck, but you can call me
Face. I’m a good friend of Murdock’s" Tracy shook his hand and grinned.
Murdock and Tracy ended up sharing a Triple Layer Super Snowshake. It was
a humongus milkshake. Face stood in the corner watching the two
lovebirds. "Wait until Hannibal finds out about this…." He thought.
    Soon They were on their way home. Murdock and Tracy were discussing
the Golfball Liberation Army. Face walked behind them shaking his head.
He watched as Tracy kissed Murdock on the cheek, quickly stuffed a piece
of paper in his pocket and ran inside.  Murdock had stars in his eyes.
Slowly he pulled out the piece of paper. It read:
                        Tracy Evans 555-0168
                        Call me soon! XOXOXO    Murdock smiled. He smiled big.
    "Well Face…" he said, "I think this is the beginning of a beautiful
‘friendship’!" Face grinned. Only Murdock could do this. Only Murdock.