Soaking Mae

"He promised me the rain would pass."



"Of course he is in charge of that."



"I was looking so pretty. I was in this Ralph Lauren floral; my hair tamed..."



"Your attitude developing like thunder showers."



"I meet this man for the first time and I am completely soaked."



"The park has a covering band shell."



"Yes." She then sighed.



"And?"



"The music was excellent and everyone piled closed to the stage."



"I understand, but knowing you, after a while you wasn't looking to stay dry were you?"



"Why do you say that?"



"You didn't like him. You could have went to the lower level to stay dry."



"Maybe."



"But your soaking flagellates you in front of him. And then you are are like, look at what the fuck you have done to me."

"And he didn't get it." She sighed. "I hate you."

"Yes."

"I wasted my time."

"Your mind is ridden with someone else so it's ok."

She laughs. "And I discovered that it is no help that he doesn't have and online presence."

"What do you mean?"

"Netflix is all he has and since we are still friends there, it is the only place I can observe him without him noticing."

"You are in a boat 25 miles out from the coast of Pitiful."

"I am instead anchoring there, purchasing some goods on the dock."

"Of course."

"You love no one so how could you understand."

"There is that."

"I sit there staring at the movies that are "at home." and wonder why none of my recommendations are in his Que." She says adamantly. "I see what he gives high stars and then I read his reviews. I read his languished sentence about Finding Nemo--again, just to be close to him."

"What can I say?"

"What can I say?" She says silently "That's all it leaves me searching for."

"Well you do have a boat."

"And a soaked pack of cigarettes."

"What is it about not talking to him, Mae?"

"I don't know I guess speculation gives me the opportunity to be ready to run."

"So you don't know what he's thinking?"

"Well I feel--since he is not talking to me his doubts are on loud speaker."

"And.."

"Yes?"

"You don't want to talk to him?"

"Well." She started and then went silent.

"You like drama don't you?"

"What?"

"When you was growing up your favorite show was Dallas wasn't it?"

"Falcon Crest."

"If there isn't a conspiracy you create one don't you? I didn't know this about you Mae."

"All you know is I like Pall Malls."

"And lemon cookies."

"But I'm also afraid."

"OK."

"I just like the beginnings of a relationship."