Fallentown Phone Conversation # 899

I gather my wits, re-fill my coffee, take a deep breath and finally make the call I've been wanting to make for a couple days.

"Hello."

"Oh. Hello...I didn't recognize the number...the name looks like a legal firm."

"Yeah, I'm at work- it's a law office."

" Lawyers? Doesn't seem like you...I didn't get that project finished yet, but I will..."

" Oh, don't worry about that, I was calling to ask you-"

"Hey, I ran into so-and -so the other day and you were playing his band and..."

A twenty -minute ramble ensues, my opinion is solicited.

"Well, if he says it's true , then it is. I've known him for a long time and he's totally reliable...I think I've known him 20 years, about as long as I've known you."

"Nineteen."

"Nineteen?"

"We've known each other since 1988. Nineteen years."

"Really?"

"Well, I'd seen you at (this place, that place etc) in 1986 and 1987, but I didn't meet you until 1988."

"No shit. You remember all that?"

This is great to hear! She's been checking me out since 1986? Awesome. My timing is perfect today, I can feel it.

"Yep. 1988 was the year I broke up with..."

OK, I get the break-up story, followed by a lament about having no social life and no friends anymore since everyone got married and had kids, and yeah I totally relate to that...

"Well, it's funny you say that- I was calling to see if you wanted to go out Saturday. I don't feel like going to D.C. and I thought maybe we could have dinner instead- cook in or eat out, your choice."

"......."

"Huh?"

"IsthislikeadateorisitbusinessrelatedorbothbecauseIthinkImightbegivingyouthewrongimpressionImean IlikeyoubutjustnotlikethatbutIwishIcouldmeetsomeonewhoislikeyoubutisn'tyou"

"Could you repeat that? A little slower?"

"No."