they bring their cars in, it’s part of my good customer service strategy. And... I was wondering if you’d like to get a drink sometime. I think you should say yes, so give me a call at home, 612-555-7849!”
I didn’t know whether to be shocked, happy or skeptical. Whatever. My list of Minneapolis acquaintances was severely limited. At
the very least he could be a new friend.
I picked up the phone and dialed.
“Hello?”
“Carolyn, you’ll never guess what happened.”
“Ethan called.”
“How did you know?’
“Because he called here first, and I gave him your new number.”
“Oh. Right, I suppose that makes sense. So what did you think when you spoke with him? Was he polite, or did he act full of himself?”
“I don’t know.” Her own voice sounded rather flat. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing, it’s not anything. Charles and I sort of had another fight, but it’s not a big deal.”
Then there was a knock on my door. “Carolyn, hold on a minute, there’s someone at the door. I’ll be right back.”
Standing in my doorway was Bill from the laundry room. “I always repay my debts,” he said, and handed me a quarter. I was surprised that he went to the trouble.
“Oh, thanks. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Well, I’m an old fashioned guy, and I don’t believe in being in obligation to a lady.”
“There really was no obligation, but thanks again. I’m on the phone, so I should go.”
I closed the door before he could answer, and picked the phone back up to speak with Carolyn. “So what happened?” I asked her.
“Nothing. It’s not a big deal.”
“Carolyn...”
She sighed. “It wasn’t even a true fight. We had another talk about marriage. He said he knew he wanted to get married soon and have kids because he’s always wanted to have a family. All I said was that’s an easy thing for him to want, because it wouldn’t change anything for him. But for me, it would. I would wind up never leaving here, and having kids would make it rather hard to go out on auditions. Meanwhile, who would be taking care of those kids while he went out and did his music? You know?”
“What did he say?”
“He said if that’s what I think, then I don’t know him very well, and thanks for the vote of confidence. Then he stormed out. I have no idea where he is.”
“Well, what are you doing right now? Other than waiting for him to come back?”
“Nothing. But I should stay here.”
“Why?”
“Because he might be even more upset if he comes back ready to talk, and I’m not around.”
“But sitting around the apartment moping is only going to make you feel worse. If you wait for him too long and he doesn’t show, after a while you’re going to start feeling angry, and that will make everything worse. Isn’t it better to go and get your mind off things?”
“I don’t know.”
“Oh come on Carolyn, let’s go for one drink. It will make you feel better, and it will get me out of having to spend the evening with Missy.”
“So that’s how it is? Why don’t you just tell her no?”
“I did. I’ve told her that several times already. She’s starting to take it personally. I think it’s better to be gone when she gets back. But I could come over...”
“No, that would be awkward if Charles did show up.” She took a deep breath and exhaled. “You know, I don’t like sitting here, waiting for him. You’re right. Let’s get a drink.”
* * *
I once read a poem that compared men to busses. The basic idea is they’re the same. You wait and wait for one, feeling like it will never show. Then, all of a sudden, just when you’ve given up, three appear at once, and you have no idea which one to get on. Well, while Carolyn and I were sitting at the C.C. Club (a grungy but popular bar in our area), completely unconcerned with the many guys who surrounded us, we were being checked out. Two guys approached the table, one of whom Carolyn already
I didn’t know whether to be shocked, happy or skeptical. Whatever. My list of Minneapolis acquaintances was severely limited. At
the very least he could be a new friend.
I picked up the phone and dialed.
“Hello?”
“Carolyn, you’ll never guess what happened.”
“Ethan called.”
“How did you know?’
“Because he called here first, and I gave him your new number.”
“Oh. Right, I suppose that makes sense. So what did you think when you spoke with him? Was he polite, or did he act full of himself?”
“I don’t know.” Her own voice sounded rather flat. “What’s wrong?” I asked.
“Nothing, it’s not anything. Charles and I sort of had another fight, but it’s not a big deal.”
Then there was a knock on my door. “Carolyn, hold on a minute, there’s someone at the door. I’ll be right back.”
Standing in my doorway was Bill from the laundry room. “I always repay my debts,” he said, and handed me a quarter. I was surprised that he went to the trouble.
“Oh, thanks. You didn’t have to do that.”
“Well, I’m an old fashioned guy, and I don’t believe in being in obligation to a lady.”
“There really was no obligation, but thanks again. I’m on the phone, so I should go.”
I closed the door before he could answer, and picked the phone back up to speak with Carolyn. “So what happened?” I asked her.
“Nothing. It’s not a big deal.”
“Carolyn...”
She sighed. “It wasn’t even a true fight. We had another talk about marriage. He said he knew he wanted to get married soon and have kids because he’s always wanted to have a family. All I said was that’s an easy thing for him to want, because it wouldn’t change anything for him. But for me, it would. I would wind up never leaving here, and having kids would make it rather hard to go out on auditions. Meanwhile, who would be taking care of those kids while he went out and did his music? You know?”
“What did he say?”
“He said if that’s what I think, then I don’t know him very well, and thanks for the vote of confidence. Then he stormed out. I have no idea where he is.”
“Well, what are you doing right now? Other than waiting for him to come back?”
“Nothing. But I should stay here.”
“Why?”
“Because he might be even more upset if he comes back ready to talk, and I’m not around.”
“But sitting around the apartment moping is only going to make you feel worse. If you wait for him too long and he doesn’t show, after a while you’re going to start feeling angry, and that will make everything worse. Isn’t it better to go and get your mind off things?”
“I don’t know.”
“Oh come on Carolyn, let’s go for one drink. It will make you feel better, and it will get me out of having to spend the evening with Missy.”
“So that’s how it is? Why don’t you just tell her no?”
“I did. I’ve told her that several times already. She’s starting to take it personally. I think it’s better to be gone when she gets back. But I could come over...”
“No, that would be awkward if Charles did show up.” She took a deep breath and exhaled. “You know, I don’t like sitting here, waiting for him. You’re right. Let’s get a drink.”
* * *
I once read a poem that compared men to busses. The basic idea is they’re the same. You wait and wait for one, feeling like it will never show. Then, all of a sudden, just when you’ve given up, three appear at once, and you have no idea which one to get on. Well, while Carolyn and I were sitting at the C.C. Club (a grungy but popular bar in our area), completely unconcerned with the many guys who surrounded us, we were being checked out. Two guys approached the table, one of whom Carolyn already
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