Just then, a pigeon, who had been up too late the previous evening, fell asleep while attempting to land atop a nearby street light. The arc of its flight flattened and it slammed into the back of Marty’s head with a wet thump.

“Jeezus!” Marty yelled, grabbing the back of his neck. He massaged it to make the twin images he was seeing go away.
 
Behind him, the pigeon wandered aimlessly on the sidewalk trying to figure what had happened. Marty didn’t bother to look and was simply grateful it hadn’t been a brick this time.

“Wait!” he yelled. “Hey!” He lunged forward to grab Katie’s shoulder and stop her.

She stopped and turned, gently flicking his hand from her shoulder. Her face bore a look of sweet indulgence. She gazed on him like a pet.

“Look,” he said. “I haven't got a job or  bills as such…and not much of a life, really..." He watched her watching him. “But I can’t just go running off to—“

“—the airport.” She offered, failing to take the bait.

“Right,” he said. “—the airport, without making some plans...letting some people know...” He felt silly objecting. He desperately did want to go, desperately did want to do anything with this woman of his dreams, but had seen too many day-time dramas from the comfort of his friend's couch to go galavanting across the world with a strange...sexy...woman...

The moment hung there, the two of them looking at each other, their chests rising and falling with their breath, the tiny sounds of a flight of pigeons (who had gathered to check on their fellow, Fred) shuffling on the sidewalk in the background.

Katie drew in a deep breath.

“Okay,” she said. “See ya--"

"Nowait!"

Her left eyebrow arched.

Marty stepped lively and threw his arm around her. Katie smiled.

"Where did you say we were going?"

She chuckled.

"Come along, now," she said.

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Things to consider:
- Marty is unemployed.
- Marty is smacked in the head whenever something important wants his attention. Curse or magical ability? Take your pick.
- There is a red-haired girl named Katie who is rather mysterious. Marty has fallen in love with her.
- There is a lady police officer who is very suspicious of Marty, and would likely take steps to pin something on him.
- Katie's friend thinks that Marty is a dork. Marty has her phone number.
- Someone stole Marty's pants, and replaced them some time later with a different pair after Katie had written her address on his hand.

updated Jun 3 '09 by olius_brightwell