They were young and lived in the same city, but truly, the only thing they had in common was loneliness.
She sent him her photograph. “Tell me about urself. What do you do in life?” That was all she wrote. He sits bent over his keyboard, stalled for a reply, waiting for inspiration.
Should I tell her I deliver pizza five nights a week? Oh, now that would really impress her. Well at least she’d know I was employed, had a car and could bring her a large pepperoni when she is hungry. To be honest, I should probably tell her that I have no interest in sports, that I choose to not have a TV, and that I read a lot. Do I have to tell her I live in a basement? He leaves his computer and goes to make a peanut butter and jelly sandwich, thinking, she’s just a woman, I’ll figure it out.
Later that night, he writes back to Tiffani.
“Let’s see … what can I tell you about me — you know, without scaring you off? I graduated from Cal State last June, and I work nights in the food service industry, well, okay, pizza delivery, basically. It’s just temporary, because I am applying to film school in the fall. I live in a basement studio – it is not great, as you might imagine, but it is okay, clean at least, and the plumbing works. Usually. I read a lot and I am trying to write a screen-play. It’s only about half-finished, but it is good. I think it’s good. The music I listen to is mostly blues – really old Chicago stuff like Charlie Musselwhite and Paul Butterfield. Do you know their music? And I like to go to the foreign films that they play down at the Third Street Nickelodeon. I don’t know what else to tell you, except, you know, I am a nice guy. I don’t smoke and I don’t use drugs anymore – except for my allergies, ha ha. By the way, this photo of me was taken yesterday. For what it is worth, that’s exactly how I look. I am 23 and 5’11”. Tell me about yourself, Tiffani.”
She stares at her computer for a minute, empties her glass of fizzy pink wine, pours another. She takes a couple of drags of her Honeyrose herbal cigarette, carelessly dropping ash onto the keyboard. She taps out a reply without thinking much about it.
“If I am being truthful, Joel, I have to say I hav’nt read a book since hi school. I remember they made us read a Tail of Two Cities. It was sooo boring! I mean I do read - I read Twitter all day long and a few other socials, just not books. I like Indie music — my most favorite bands are The Interrupters and Game Time. I don’t know anything about Chicago blues. Sorry but I thought blues was sort of old people’s music? I don’t spend much time at my apartment cuz I get bored when I’m alone. And I hardly ever invite people over because honestly me and my roommate we’re really messy. It always kinda looks like someone broke in and trashed the place. :-) And it is a little embarasing.
I go out to Caffè Rio a lot, it’s just down the street and they have an open mic so you never know who is going to show up there. I didn’t go to college like u. I got a job right away when I left home. I work at the Co-op on Bush Street. It is not a great job but I like it ok. I am taking math classes now to get my GED certificut but I’m not sure what I want to do after that. Prollie I’ll figure it out pretty soon but I don’t have any plans yet. I’m only 21, I have time, right? When would u like to get together?
They are sitting in Giorgio’s tonight, knee to knee at a table about as big around as a pie tin. She looks pretty nice, he thinks, sort of cute, if you like freckles. She sounds really young, and she can’t spell, but who cares? A lot of people can’t spell. His eye is caught by the sparkly little silver arrow dangling just above her cleavage from a chain. He likes her fuzzy pink sweater and her perfect teeth. She thinks, He may be a brainiac, maybe a little weird, but he’s kinda sweet. I’d like to show him a better way to style his hair. So what the hell? Wait and see.”
“We both know we have nothing in common, Joel,” she said, “ so we won’t be too surprised if it doesn’t work out, right?” He laughed.
“Right you are,” he said, "If you expect nothing, you won’t be disappointed, as they say. Can I buy you another drink?”
Of course they will find out that neither one is entirely what they appear to be tonight. He could be a mildly neurotic germaphobe with a great sense of humor. She could be tenderly supportive of his dreams, or have hidden sadomasochistic tendencies — anything is possible. But here they are, both willing to put themselves out there.
When we are lonely, we see only what we want to see. The truth is always revealed farther down the road. That old loneliness. It dulls our wits; it kindles mountains of delusion. It is a powerful motivator.
If you liked this little little “romance”, then you might like this one as well!
Click: 🍁 Unknown Territory
Loved the dialogue between characters, Sharron! It was very realistic. I also felt I learned some things from them based on what they decided to reveal and how they typed. (Not that spelling is a reflection of someone’s intelligence, but still...)
Great job!
You have a real talent for getting the reader engaged and wanting more of the story.