I just woke up from a dream that I got invited to go clubbing with my friends last minute while I was wrapping up a volunteer shift at a big community center so on my way to the club I stopped at a mall and grabbed a random dress but for some reason I couldnât change at the mall so I went farther down the highway and stopped at a rest stop. it was pouring rain and on the way in i slipped and got covered in mud & i dropped my dress in a puddle and it got soaking wet. i keep a blow dryer in my car (i travel a lot) so i grabbed it and went to the bathroom and started blow drying the dress.
i was freezing cold and soaking wet so i took off my jeans and t shirt since no one else was there but a man walked in, in a full blue velvet tuxedo and when we saw each other in my state of undress we both apologized.
he said the menâs room was closed for maintenance and asked if i minded if he used the womenâs and i said i didnât.
he came back out of the stall and said he was tired and actually came in to rest for twenty minutes before he got back on the road and i said that was fine so he sat on the bench in the bathroom and closed his eyes and we were both silent for a few minutes and then he opened his eyes and asked where i was headed and i said i was meeting friends at some club and he said
âi donât know why youâre going to the club when you could be going to Ravioli Night.â
he sat up excitedly and began to describe what sounded like a black-tie ball, all centered on eating a multi-course meal of different ravioli dishes.
it was already ten at night so i assumed heâd just come from there. i said sorry i missed it but maybe next time.
he said, âit only happens every four years, but youâre in luck; the first course isnât served until midnight.â
i said, âpeople gather at midnight to eat ravioli?â
he smirked mischievously and said, âuntil dawn.â
my dress was mostly dry so i pulled it on over my head and i said, âbased on your tux, i think iâd be too underdressed.â
he said, âyou can be my plus-one, and no one will ask.â
it seemed to me this man had some sort of major social authority in this mysterious, nocturnal world of ravioli.
i considered it, but i said, âsorryâŚ.my friends are waiting for me.â
he smiled sadly for a moment, stood up, and asked if i had a pen. i did in my purse. he wrote coordinates on my arm and said, âif you change your mindâŚ.â
i walked outside and he was already gone. i got in my car and hesitated to turn the key, considering the thrill in my chest at the concept of so much ravioli.
then i woke up at that moment. iâll never knowâŚâŚ.would i have followed my heart?