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Dear Breakup Girl,

Heeelllp! I wrote you recently, asking for advice about how to turn a first date into a second one.

Anyhow, I've just gotten back from the first date (as in you're the first person to hear this). We went to see Shakespeare's "Measure for Measure." Naturally, we got lost on the way to the theater. Naturally, once we arrived, I realized that I had forgotten the tickets in the car. Naturally, I dashed back to the car, and promptly wrenched my ankle. Naturally, we were five minutes late, and never found out why the Duke disguised himself as a Friar.

Long story short (okay, abridged), I think that in spite of everything (i.e. me), she had a good time. And, she nodded in the affirmative to my vague suggestion that we do something like this again. But, I still kind of feel like I'm in limbo; that my actions now (perhaps even more now than before) will decide whether she will accept my proposal for another date...

Any advice that you might have would be enlightening.

-- Knee Deep in a River...

Dear Knee Deep,

Verily, what a case of mistaken identity! You're drawing conclusions -- and great confusion -- from a series of unrelated, overanalyzed scenes involving different women, different tastes, different places. But you know what? You're honestly doing just fine. Let me try to clarify with this synopsis of all you really need to know to understand the next act.

1. Flowers on a date are tricky if only because then someone has to carry them.
2. At-home dating "rules" get bendy on the road.
3. You cannot go wrong with a kiss on the cheek.
4. There needn't be any "actions" between the end of the first date and the invite on the second; just ask.
5. The Duke disguises himself as a friar -- having pretended to leave town -- so that he can observe certain goings-on in his "absence."

Once more into the breach!

Love,
Breakup Girl

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