the patio steps. “Well, look what the catfish brung in. What the deal is with you? Better
you look in da suit!” He yells out, “Hey everybody, the suit, he is back!”
I lean in toward the big man. “Bo, why are you doing that? Why are you calling me ‘the suit’? I intentionally dressed down
so you wouldn’t call me that.”
Bo just laughs, saying, “Suit is as suit does,
cher
.” He slaps me on the back. “Git on in here now!”
Much of the crowd is the same. But there are some here today I don’t recognize. And I don’t see Carlos or Hank. But there,
at the same table, are Cynthia and Andy.
Andy seems genuinely happy, surprised, and flustered to see me. “Steven! Hey, you came. Come here and join us.”
He pulls out a clunky wooden chair and motions for me to sit.
“Welcome back. Did you give Bo your order? Never mind, he’ll bring you what he wants anyway.”
He stops a busboy and orders me an iced tea.
“You remember Cynthia.”
Her flowing skirt is even more colorful than the one she wore last week. Bracelets dance across the table as she reaches for
me. She stands and gives me a warm and genuine hug. I smile, feeling more welcome here than I do at the office I’ve been at
for years.
“Hello, my dear,” Cynthia says. “So, we didn’t run you off completely, I see. It’s so good to see you.”
“Hello, Cynthia. How’s the book coming?”
“Pamphlet, dear. A trifold pamphlet. And it’s coming along fine.”
These two are not what I’d expect out of mentors. She’s sharp as can be, but neither of them seems very intentional about
anything. They wouldn’t last a month in my world.
A busboy distributes iced tea and a fresh glass of ice for Andy.
I look across the table. “So, let me try to piece things together here. Cynthia, whatever it is that Andy’s been trying to
do with me, you’ve been doing with him?”
“Something like that, I guess,” she says.
“I’ve got a dozen questions. Andy here seems bent on answering every question
except
the ones I’m asking.”
“Ask away, my dear,” she says, adjusting her chair. “Ask away.”
“Andy,” I say, peering at him, “you okay with this?”
Andy nods. “It’s actually one of the reasons I brought you here last week. Do you mind if I stay?”
“That’s fine. So, Cynthia. Andy sets up a time to get together. He makes this big deal about us meeting. And I’m thinking
we’re really gonna get after some stuff. I don’t know, whatever a counselor-type does. I’ve got some stuff to work on, and
a wife who wants me to work on it, let’s say. But Andy won’t bite. It’s like he doesn’t take me seriously. To be honest, it
feels like I’m wasting my time. Did you teach him that?”
She tilts her head as though she’s not been asked this before. “Well, maybe a little bit of yes and no. I’d like to think
I was probably a little more subtle than Andy can be.” Cynthia gives Andy a knowing wink. “Let me see if this helps. Andy’s
really not so concerned right now about your particular issues.”
“Is that so?” I smile sarcastically. “Well I, on the other hand, happen to be kinda concerned about my particular issues at
the moment.”
“Yes, I understand,” she answers. “I mean, he’s more listening for a way in, before he tries to approach those issues.”
“Come on. That’s so weak,” I say. “That’s what people in my world say when they don’t know what they’re doing.”
“All right,” she says. “Steven, do you mind if I treat you like a regular?”
I know that language. It means, “I’m about to get in your face.”
“Whatever. I’d just like a straight answer from someone. You’re all aware I have a job and a family, right? These little soirees
aren’t built into my schedule. I do have an actual high-pressure career here.”
“Steven, your issues come and go, don’t they, dear?” Cynthia asks. “Some will be with you for the rest of
you look in da suit!” He yells out, “Hey everybody, the suit, he is back!”
I lean in toward the big man. “Bo, why are you doing that? Why are you calling me ‘the suit’? I intentionally dressed down
so you wouldn’t call me that.”
Bo just laughs, saying, “Suit is as suit does,
cher
.” He slaps me on the back. “Git on in here now!”
Much of the crowd is the same. But there are some here today I don’t recognize. And I don’t see Carlos or Hank. But there,
at the same table, are Cynthia and Andy.
Andy seems genuinely happy, surprised, and flustered to see me. “Steven! Hey, you came. Come here and join us.”
He pulls out a clunky wooden chair and motions for me to sit.
“Welcome back. Did you give Bo your order? Never mind, he’ll bring you what he wants anyway.”
He stops a busboy and orders me an iced tea.
“You remember Cynthia.”
Her flowing skirt is even more colorful than the one she wore last week. Bracelets dance across the table as she reaches for
me. She stands and gives me a warm and genuine hug. I smile, feeling more welcome here than I do at the office I’ve been at
for years.
“Hello, my dear,” Cynthia says. “So, we didn’t run you off completely, I see. It’s so good to see you.”
“Hello, Cynthia. How’s the book coming?”
“Pamphlet, dear. A trifold pamphlet. And it’s coming along fine.”
These two are not what I’d expect out of mentors. She’s sharp as can be, but neither of them seems very intentional about
anything. They wouldn’t last a month in my world.
A busboy distributes iced tea and a fresh glass of ice for Andy.
I look across the table. “So, let me try to piece things together here. Cynthia, whatever it is that Andy’s been trying to
do with me, you’ve been doing with him?”
“Something like that, I guess,” she says.
“I’ve got a dozen questions. Andy here seems bent on answering every question
except
the ones I’m asking.”
“Ask away, my dear,” she says, adjusting her chair. “Ask away.”
“Andy,” I say, peering at him, “you okay with this?”
Andy nods. “It’s actually one of the reasons I brought you here last week. Do you mind if I stay?”
“That’s fine. So, Cynthia. Andy sets up a time to get together. He makes this big deal about us meeting. And I’m thinking
we’re really gonna get after some stuff. I don’t know, whatever a counselor-type does. I’ve got some stuff to work on, and
a wife who wants me to work on it, let’s say. But Andy won’t bite. It’s like he doesn’t take me seriously. To be honest, it
feels like I’m wasting my time. Did you teach him that?”
She tilts her head as though she’s not been asked this before. “Well, maybe a little bit of yes and no. I’d like to think
I was probably a little more subtle than Andy can be.” Cynthia gives Andy a knowing wink. “Let me see if this helps. Andy’s
really not so concerned right now about your particular issues.”
“Is that so?” I smile sarcastically. “Well I, on the other hand, happen to be kinda concerned about my particular issues at
the moment.”
“Yes, I understand,” she answers. “I mean, he’s more listening for a way in, before he tries to approach those issues.”
“Come on. That’s so weak,” I say. “That’s what people in my world say when they don’t know what they’re doing.”
“All right,” she says. “Steven, do you mind if I treat you like a regular?”
I know that language. It means, “I’m about to get in your face.”
“Whatever. I’d just like a straight answer from someone. You’re all aware I have a job and a family, right? These little soirees
aren’t built into my schedule. I do have an actual high-pressure career here.”
“Steven, your issues come and go, don’t they, dear?” Cynthia asks. “Some will be with you for the rest of
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