This is how I see it...
A man feels alone in his relationship, he begins to drift in his feelings. The couple grows distant, and she wants to leave, but then he gets that spark.
'taking a number' I think is keyed with realization, meaning that it took him a long time to get a hold on himself,
as for the front and back of the lines being the same,
I think it means that he couldn't tell by her actions, that she was disappointed with him. It all looked the same/ordinary to him.
This is how I see it... A man feels alone in his relationship, he begins to drift in his feelings. The couple grows distant, and she wants to leave, but then he gets that spark. 'taking a number' I think is keyed with realization, meaning that it took him a long time to get a hold on himself, as for the front and back of the lines being the same, I think it means that he couldn't tell by her actions, that she was disappointed with him. It all looked the same/ordinary to him.