| �So, aren�t you excited?� �I guess, well, yeah, of course I am,� I respond to Fatsy�s question with what appears to be some doubt, but assurance. �Just, please, don�t freak her out, watch what you say, just--� �Don�t talk about your ex�s?� Ked asks. �Well, that too, and--� �Don�t tell her about when you and Kate--� Sheryl adds in and chuckles. �NO!� I yell at her, but then calm down. �Maybe you guys shouldn�t say anything at all,� �Then why did you invite us?� Juan asks before everyone responds with a wholehearted �yeah� in unison. �Because you want to meet her, right? And I thought since she�d be in town for three days that I can be the least bit tolerant towards your feelings and we�ll have lunch ... SHIT! It�s 9:15--� �Yeah, we opened up 15 minutes ago,� Fatsy reminds us. �Well, if we didn�t lost track of time talking about my love life, and experimenting with those new flavors--� �My God, Jim, it�s always your love life, why is that?� �Well, Juan, you guys play 20 questions with me every damn morning...� �Yeah, I did ask the first one this morning,� Sheryl adds in. �...And if you had a love life, Juan, if any one of you guys did,� �Well, I�ve been with Kay for almost two years now,� Ked reminds me. �and Sheryl�s been with Jerry almost one year,� �Hey, a line of customers,� Fatsy points at the door. �Alright, get to work!� Sam, our loveble manager comes from the back to remind of us of what we�re supposed to be doing. �Is the whole state of Oregon out there?� We all shrug and just let out another �yeah,� with a sigh. This is just another morning for us at The Shop. Later that evening, I�m on the phone with my girlfriend, Kirsten. �I love you so much, Jim,� it�s always out of the blue with Kirsten, number one on my list of favorite things about her. �You too, Kirsten,� she�s so great. Beautiful green eyes, lovely lips, a great hairstyle, and is the love of my life. �I can�t wait to see you Thursday,� Me neither. �So, what are your friends saying?� Oh gee, let�s tell her about The Shop Stalkers. �Nothing,� wait, wait, let�s tell her about Kate and I at Christmas. �Nothing at all. There as anxious as you are,� �Well I don�t think anyone can be as anxious is I am. All I want to do is just see you and give you a great, big hug, and a kiss as well,� she laughs. �Yeah, that sounds great,� I reply. I�m so happy. �So, what are we doing down there in Portland?� �I don�t know, I mean, I do, but ...� �Tell me,� �No, it�s a surprise ..� �TELL ME!!!� This is Kirsten, the anxious one. When I keep a secret, mostly surprises from her, she gets so impatient. �Oh, no, my phone is down to one minute,� I say. �Quick tell me,� she says. �You really want to know?� I ask her, very annoying tone in my voice. �Yes,� �Ok,� I take a deep breath, and I say it. �I love you,� �Ohhh,� it cuts off. The phone card runs short. She�ll write me an e-mail later, or call sometime before we go to bed to say goodnight, or we�ll talk online or something but until then, here I am. Sitting, staring at the pictures of us in the phone booth at the Pine Valley Mall in Salem where she lives. Here�s another good one, Kirsten and I at Christmas, very happy souls. Back then, everything was perfect, the first time we were together. Yes, there was a first time, this is the second time. Well, almost the third time actually. Let me tell you all a little story... |
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