005 – Back to the Beginning (Part 2)

A week or so after launching, Clancy was reviewing the client applications of those who had filled out the multi-page web form. He was using the site’s back-end that they had quickly thrown together. It was as basic as it gets. Black text on white browser window – none of that alluring design that Kelly the designer they had hired came up with. She had guaranteed that her sensual CSS would bring users one step away from licking their monitors.

They used stock photography too. He and Kelly had spent a few hours looking through Corbis and a few other stock photo sites trying to find images of couples who had both that wholesome everyman vibe as well as looking like they may spontaneously orgasm from happiness at any given moment. Clancy had fun that day – picking out photos. He and Kelly had to sit close on his blue and white striped couch, fighting for control of the mouse button to click on potential pictures on his laptop. Her perfume or shampoo or whatever it was made it pretty hard to concentrate on the computer.

One of the requirements of Kelly being hired was that she join the website and enter her profile as well. Jude was anticipating (for reasons unbeknownst to Clancy) a higher level of male applicants and needed the females to match them up with. Feeling slightly guilty about it, he quickly did a search and brought up her profile and answers. Spending equal amounts of time scanning her answers and constantly glancing around making sure that he didn’t get caught, he read as many as he could. Trying to decide it their magic “algorithm” would match the two of the together.

Clancy’s early encounters with the opposite sex came mostly from his time spent working at a pub near the airport. His uncle, a self-proclaimed Willy Loman was a long time traveling salesman. The main difference being that Uncle Graham sold semi-condoctors and microprocessors to burgeoning technology companies in the 80s. He did so well, he retired early and devoted himself to opening the kind of bar that he long wished for while he was on the road. The Tipsy Traveler was created to serve the desires of weary road warriors in need of a place to go for a few drinks, a burger and a more than decent jukebox.

Things didn’t necessarily work out the way Uncle Graham had hoped. The place was more popular with the locals then with the out-of-towners. Most visitors arriving at the airport were whisked to their hotels in shuttle busses and minivans. Only those paying close attention with the ability to read at 45 mph could make out the sign in front of the Tipsy Traveler announcing 50% off meals with an airline boarding pass.

That was okay though. The place did well enough. Clancy at 17 found himself spending half his time observing the pub’s patrons in all of their under-the-influence glory and the other half hanging out with a bunch of people who seemed hell-bent on topping anything that took place during business hours.

Going through the last of the profiles, “Jack and Diane” came on the XM station he was listening to. He liked songs about couples.

Jack & Diane sounded okay – making out by the Tasty Freeze or however the lyrics went. Who were the two from that Steve Miller song? Billy Joe and Bobbie Sue. Those two were his favorite. They sat around the couch getting high and watching the tube. He’d never been high, but liked watching TV.

He could envision scenarios in which he and hopefully Kelly would take the money and run.