Frank felt stupid. What had he let himself in for?

"Okay." The shadow of a woman stood behind the camera in the half darkness. "Just look directly into the camera, and act naturally."

"Ah-h-h. What should I say?" Panic was building in Frank's gut.

"Well, start with your name, then something about yourself. What you like to do, hobbies, your work, that sort of thing. Oh, and of course, the kind of woman you're looking for."

The red light blinked on the video camera. Frank blinked back, his mind a total blank. He couldn't even remember his own name. Why had he let his brother talk him into this?

"Mr. Stevens? Any time now."

Frank cleared his throat. "Hi. My name is Frank. Um-m...I'm an accountant. I'm forty-six. Um-m...I was married, but my wife died eight years ago. We didn't have any children. I enjoy hiking, camping, movies, and traveling." He paused. The woman signaled for him to continue.

Why hadn't he written anything down? "I'm-I'm looking for a woman friend, somewhere between thirty-five and fifty. And someone who shares most of the same interests."

He looked at the woman, and shrugged. The red light stopped blinking. "I think that'll be fine," she told him. "We'll put your video in the pool, and let you know if there's any interest."

Any Interest! Frank beat himself up mentally. Hell, he felt like a bull being considered for breeding. "Thank you," he muttered. Unable to meet the woman's eyes, he beat a hasty retreat back into the lobby. He leaned against the wall, and pulled on his boot. "Thank God that's over."

"Its always hard the first time."

Frank jumped. The woman behind the reception desk smiled. It was a smile that reached well into her gray eyes. "My first time was a lot more fun than that," he chuckled.

"Mine too." She laughed with him.

Frank tugged at his other boot, all the while watching the woman out of the corner of his eye. A few strands of her short, bobbed hair fell across her heart shaped face. Her chubby fingers pushed them aside. Frank was still grinning as he stepped out in the cold, December sunshine.

The winter breeze lifted the mans wavy, silver streaked hair to reveal the slight thinning on top. Watching from the window, Holly sighed. He had a light step for such a tall man. It matched the easy air he gave off.

It was two weeks before Frank was back at The Video Dating Club. A woman named Holly had called, informing him that there was some interest in his tape. He had promised himself he would never return, yet here he was. Curiosity, he told his embarrassment.

Holly looked up. She remembered the man who was nervously tapping his fingers on the counter. "Hello, Mr. Stevens. How are you today?"

"Fine," he replied, returning her smile.

"If you'll follow me, I'll show you where you can view the tapes of the ladies who would like to meet you."

Frank trailed after her to an unpretentious, dimly lit room, containing a small sofa, a coffee table, and a television. "Have a seat, Mr. Stevens." Holly placed three tapes on the table. "The VCR is turned on, so when you're ready, just pop in a tape. There's a coffee machine over there. Help yourself. Take as much time as you wish. If you have a question, push that button. And don't worry," she added with a wink, "they wont bite."

Frank stared at the round white button. A panic button, he thought. He drew a deep breath, and picked up one of the three tapes. Might as well find out who was interested. The TV screen buzzed, then cleared. The image of a woman appeared. She had short, brown hair, and wore thick-lens ed glasses. She was devoid of make-up, except for a pale shade of lipstick. "Hello." The woman coughed, nervously clearing her throat. "Hi," she started again. "My name is Amy. I'm forty-eight with a twenty year old son. I'm a book-keeper for an insurance company. I don't really have any hobbies, but I like to read, and watch old movies."

The screen went black. Frank laughed. His built up tension vanished. Amy was as scared as he was.

The next tape was of another brunette. Very pretty, he thought, especially her big, brown eyes. Her long hair swung as she spoke. "Hi. I'm Dorothy, but everyone calls me Dee Dee. I'm thirty-five and single. I just love hiking, swimming, skiing, and horseback riding, which comes in handy in my work because I'm a sales clerk in a sports store. I also love eating out, dancing, and traveling." "Well," Frank raised his eyebrows, "you're certainly bubbly. I'm tired all ready."

The last woman's image came on the set. Frank sat up straighter. Her long, ash, blond hair brushed her shoulders. Gorgeous, blue eyes stared into his dark ones. "Hello. My name is Karen. I'm thirty-seven and divorced." God, Frank thought, even her voice is incredible. "I'm a physician. I'm looking for a gentleman who can be understanding of a doctor's hectic lifestyle. When my schedule allows, I enjoy the peaceful release of hiking and camping in the wilderness. But I also find the great cities of the world fascinating, especially their museums." She paused for a breath. "The man I would like to date must have a responsible job, but his actual occupation is unimportant. He should be between thirty-five and fifty. A sense of humor and a positive attitude is a must."

Frank sat back stunned. Karen was one of the most beautiful women he had ever seen. And a doctor to boot. He looked at the three tapes. Three tapes -- three women. One shy, one perky, and one definitely sure of her own worth. All different, all wanting to meet him. Complete strangers. What should he do...eeny-meeny-miny-moe? That desperate childish thought put a smile on his face. He knew what he was going to do.

Holly took the tapes from the mans hand. His satisfied grin told her that he had made his choice. Deep inside, she felt an unexplainable sadness, but she pasted on her best face. "Well, Mr. Stevens, have you made your selection?"

"Yes," Frank replied. "Yes, I have."

Five years later, Frank sat looking out at another December day. Wet flakes fell gently on the snowman he had just built with his small son, Josh. It was still hard to believe how much his life had changed.

"A penny for them?" his wife asked.

"I was just remembering how we met."

She laughed. "Not with regret, I hope," she teased.

He rose and gathered her into his arms. "I love you, Holly."

"Good, because I loved you from the first moment you walked into the office."

He dropped his head to kiss her. Just before their lips met, he wondered absent-mindedly if he had ever thanked his brother for insisting he go to The Video Dating Club.

BARBARA OSWALD,BarbOswald@compuserve.com lives near Montreal, in Canada. She is a long-time Purr contributor with her friend Bernice Lowe. Both writers were recently interviewed on a Canadian TV station. Barbara just won an editor's choice award from the National Library of Poetry for a poem that is coming out in their Best of 1997 anthology.