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Dinner With Cupid

Server meets sailor

Can they agree on a course?

Kathleen Dillon, 24, and Dan Stewart, 23.

KATHLEEN DILLON > 24

Coast Guard seaman

THE LAST THING SHE READ AND ENJOYED

The Teammates, by David Halberstam

WHO PLAYS HER IN A MOVIE?

Jennifer Lawrence

DAN STEWART > 23

Server

THE LAST THING HE READ AND ENJOYED

I Hope They Serve Beer in Hell, by Tucker Max

WHO PLAYS HIM IN A MOVIE?

George Clooney

7 P.M. KHAO SARN, BROOKLINE

> WELCOME

DAN I tried looking into the window as I was walking up [and] I noticed Kathleen.

KATHLEEN The hostess seated us right after he arrived. I thought he was very attractive, but young-looking. He ended up being a year younger than me.

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DAN She had a nice smile, and she was well dressed and blond — all good things in my book! [But] she seemed pretty nervous. She did some nervous laughing, and I could tell she wasn’t completely comfortable. I was pretty comfortable at the beginning. I mean, I meet and talk to strangers every day.

> TONIGHT’S SPECIALS

KATHLEEN [Before ordering drinks], we discussed our jobs. I was interested to hear from him about working in the restaurant industry. He has a goal of one day owning or managing his own restaurant, and I admired his ambition.

DAN We talked about her being in the Coast Guard and how she just moved to Massachusetts. You know — all the usual questions you ask someone when you first meet them.

KATHLEEN He has been to 46 out of 50 states, which I thought was interesting.

DAN We both enjoyed our dishes, and the waitress was pleasant. It was a nice little restaurant.

KATHLEEN The service was excellent. Dan kept telling me different tips he had picked up over the years, working in restaurants.

> COURSE CORRECTION

DAN The night went on [and] we never really loosened up. There were a couple of jokes here and there, but we were running out of things to talk about.

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KATHLEEN We didn’t share any common interests, but [we] still found fun things to talk about.

DAN I’m not sure if I said anything to make it or break it. But the deal breaker for me was how quiet she was. I felt like I was doing most of the talking and she did a lot of agreeing. When I was trying to get a conversation started, it just didn’t go anywhere.

KATHLEEN I thought that there wasn’t much chemistry fairly early on in the dinner. I think we’re at different points in our lives, with different goals that we’re working toward.

DAN I just knew that “this is not going to work,” because I like people who will just cut loose with me and talk about anything and everything. I like banter! Maybe Kathleen was just a little too shy for my personality.

> POST-MORTEM

DAN B

KATHLEEN A-

 > SECOND DATE?

DAN No, I think that maybe we can be friends.

KATHLEEN No, I don’t think so. Dan was a really interesting guy, but there was no spark.  — Compiled by Peter Cocchia

GO ON A BLIND DATE. WE’LL PICK UP THE TAB. Fill out an application at boston.com/cupid.