not-so-secret flying admirer," I guessed. "It's a pretty good headshot."
"Luke would never," she said. "He's much too shy. You know, this is just the sort of immature humor that is so like Jake Riverdale. Have I complained
to you enough about our issues on the set? He's just such a pig. How did he get the combination for my trunk? I'm going to—" She cut herself off, and for a second, she seemed to collect herself. Her
posture straightened, her breath evened. "This trip is about you, Flan. I won't waste another second talking about how much
I hate that egotistical . . . whoops. Like I was saying, tell me all of your sorrows."
"Hey, how did you do that?" I asked, pulling at the edge of my bottle's blue Orangina label. "How'd you get a grip on yourself
like that? I've never seen you so self-possessed. I'm impressed."
"It's part of what I'm going through with my new guru. Breathing exercises, positive mantras, a series of small adjustments
to help me manage life's little obstacles. Being in the happy place really helps. I'm so glad you noticed, Flan."
"It was kind of hard not to notice."
"Right, well, I guess I'll be able to facilitate the exercise more smoothly with practice. The goal is to make seamless transitions
from mood to mood and maintain a constant equilibrium."
"You might have a way to go before that," I joked. "But seriously, that's great. I could use some equilibrium myself."
"Right! Okay, therapy first. You play the crazy person for a change, and I'll listen and provide counsel."
"Ugh, okay," I said. "But it's probably going to sound totally stupid and unimportant."
"Nonsense, Flan. Now, hit me."
As I started to recount the many disasters of the trip for SBB, I did feel a little bit petty. I mean, here she was, having
flown away from her movie—where she deals with struggles everyday that I can hardly begin to imagine—and I'm complaining about
my lame high school social life?
But the more I talked, the more compassionate SBB became. I don't know if it was the happy place, or the proximity of a real
friend, or the release of just saying all these words out loud, but pretty soon, I had unleashed the whole ugly story. From
seventh grade and spin-the-bottle all the way up to Meredith and Judith totally bailing out on me—and my fears that all of
it was my fault.
SBB didn't make me feel stupid, or petty, or any of the things that I was worried I was being. She just listened to my entire
exhausting story, and at the end of it all, she sighed.
"Girls are tough, aren't they?"
"Yeah." I nodded.
"You know, I never had to deal with all of this high school drama. You see it on the movies, and it all looks so romantic,
but—"
"Romantic? It's not romantic at all."
"Of course it is. You can't see it now, but this is enriching your character, Flan. It's almost like dealing with a broken
heart. It's painful and traumatic in all sorts of ways, but figuring out who your true friends are is also an important part
of growing up. I envy you, Flan. I'm sorry that this is happening on your vacation, but there will be plenty of vacations.
You may only get this valuable life lesson once."
"But what does that mean} That I should just sit back and let Kennedy steal all of my friends?"
"People like Kennedy can only rule the roost for so long." She closed her eyes. "I predict her reign of terror cannot last."
She opened one eye and winked at me.
"Now you're a fortune-teller?" I asked.
"I've been told I have clairvoyant eyes."
"Thanks for coming," I said. "I really needed to see a friend today."
"I know you did," she said. She retied the scarf around her neck and put her aviator glasses back on. "I hate to say it, but
I think my work here is done. What I wouldn't give to linger in Nevis! Damn that workaholic Roderickson!" Then her Zen composure
came back, and she smiled at me politely. "Take care, my love, and think about how strong you'll be after this trip."
And with that, she
"Luke would never," she said. "He's much too shy. You know, this is just the sort of immature humor that is so like Jake Riverdale. Have I complained
to you enough about our issues on the set? He's just such a pig. How did he get the combination for my trunk? I'm going to—" She cut herself off, and for a second, she seemed to collect herself. Her
posture straightened, her breath evened. "This trip is about you, Flan. I won't waste another second talking about how much
I hate that egotistical . . . whoops. Like I was saying, tell me all of your sorrows."
"Hey, how did you do that?" I asked, pulling at the edge of my bottle's blue Orangina label. "How'd you get a grip on yourself
like that? I've never seen you so self-possessed. I'm impressed."
"It's part of what I'm going through with my new guru. Breathing exercises, positive mantras, a series of small adjustments
to help me manage life's little obstacles. Being in the happy place really helps. I'm so glad you noticed, Flan."
"It was kind of hard not to notice."
"Right, well, I guess I'll be able to facilitate the exercise more smoothly with practice. The goal is to make seamless transitions
from mood to mood and maintain a constant equilibrium."
"You might have a way to go before that," I joked. "But seriously, that's great. I could use some equilibrium myself."
"Right! Okay, therapy first. You play the crazy person for a change, and I'll listen and provide counsel."
"Ugh, okay," I said. "But it's probably going to sound totally stupid and unimportant."
"Nonsense, Flan. Now, hit me."
As I started to recount the many disasters of the trip for SBB, I did feel a little bit petty. I mean, here she was, having
flown away from her movie—where she deals with struggles everyday that I can hardly begin to imagine—and I'm complaining about
my lame high school social life?
But the more I talked, the more compassionate SBB became. I don't know if it was the happy place, or the proximity of a real
friend, or the release of just saying all these words out loud, but pretty soon, I had unleashed the whole ugly story. From
seventh grade and spin-the-bottle all the way up to Meredith and Judith totally bailing out on me—and my fears that all of
it was my fault.
SBB didn't make me feel stupid, or petty, or any of the things that I was worried I was being. She just listened to my entire
exhausting story, and at the end of it all, she sighed.
"Girls are tough, aren't they?"
"Yeah." I nodded.
"You know, I never had to deal with all of this high school drama. You see it on the movies, and it all looks so romantic,
but—"
"Romantic? It's not romantic at all."
"Of course it is. You can't see it now, but this is enriching your character, Flan. It's almost like dealing with a broken
heart. It's painful and traumatic in all sorts of ways, but figuring out who your true friends are is also an important part
of growing up. I envy you, Flan. I'm sorry that this is happening on your vacation, but there will be plenty of vacations.
You may only get this valuable life lesson once."
"But what does that mean} That I should just sit back and let Kennedy steal all of my friends?"
"People like Kennedy can only rule the roost for so long." She closed her eyes. "I predict her reign of terror cannot last."
She opened one eye and winked at me.
"Now you're a fortune-teller?" I asked.
"I've been told I have clairvoyant eyes."
"Thanks for coming," I said. "I really needed to see a friend today."
"I know you did," she said. She retied the scarf around her neck and put her aviator glasses back on. "I hate to say it, but
I think my work here is done. What I wouldn't give to linger in Nevis! Damn that workaholic Roderickson!" Then her Zen composure
came back, and she smiled at me politely. "Take care, my love, and think about how strong you'll be after this trip."
And with that, she
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