R.V. Roush
�Really?� Kenny said, breathing hard.
She felt a small trepidation before each jogging session with Kenny, not wanting to best him, which she was easily capable of doing if she weren�t careful.
�I always knew you were smart enough for college.� Kenny still ached for her and tortured himself, never failing to tell her that she had his heart, never failing to recognize that she remained aloof to his flirtations. Is there hope, he asked himself.
He remembered telling her once, �I�m useless chasing the ladies, as they say. I think it has to do with not minding being alone, not being too interested in people in general, and too much in the market, but really it�s that women aren�t too interested in me, and that�s too frustrating, so I�ve just stopped approaching women altogether.�
�And who needs the headaches, right, Kenny?� Beth had asked.
�My lame sex drive just isn�t worth it.�
Beth hadn�t been sure whether he�d been offering himself up for her compassion or expressing relief.
They jogged a short distance before Kenny begged for a rest. They sat at the top of a sloping embankment on the south side of the river.
�Yeah,� Beth said. �I can�t remember all the things I said in the team-building exercise, but I had�em hoppin� to it. Made me feel great. There for awhile I was thinking about dropping the management major because it was getting too hairy. I�ll get my professor�s evaluation in the next class, so I�d better feel good about myself while I can.�
�No one would have faulted you for dropping the dual major,� Kenny said. She�d already described the horror of her vacation, being sued, and losing her car. �Remember, I�ll always be there to help you out if the student loan doesn�t go through. I�m not the smartest or the best looking, but I care for you.�
�I appreciate it, Kenny. I don�t know why people never seem to ask me for help.�
�They know they�d never be able to pay you back,� Kenny answered. �You never seem to need help.�
�I need help now.�
�No. I think it�s because they�re afraid I�ll turn them down.�
�That, too.�
�I refuse to feel bad about spreading myself so thin that I start suffering. I might as well do what I think�s right. Screw those people who try to tell me to feel bad for not accepting their help.�
�I missed you while you were in Florida,� Kenny said, and then squirted a stream of water into his mouth.
�I missed you, too, Kenny. You�re a great friend, and I�m working on paying you back for the loan to buy all the new furniture for my bedroom.�
�You know that wasn�t what I meant by missing you. I know we�re friends, albeit friends with a steamy past.�
�Trying to get me back into bed, Kenny, is as futile as group psychotherapy at the Grand Canyon for agoraphobics.�
�I know you can�t chisel your way into a woman�s heart, can�t harness her love. I know that,� Kenny said. �But I�m not using a chisel. You�re a great person, wonderful, smart, beautiful.�
When Kenny offered his usual sleeting of praise, Beth felt like ducking for cover.
�You might break a chisel on me.�
�You remind me of Holly Hunter in Broadcast News,� Kenny said.
�Are you implying that I�d fall for some phony talking head?�
�No, just that you have some of her mannerisms.�
�And her height,� she added.
�I liked her better in Raising Arizona.�
�When�d you see that?�
�I go to movies by myself sometimes,� he said, gazing at her. �You look like a model even with sweaty armpits,� he said.
�I�m too old, too short, and too lacking in vanity and artifice to be a fashion model. If you�re going to compliment me, at least find something true to compliment.�
�I�ve already said you�re fantastically gorgeous and brilliant. And I know you so well.�
�I�m predictable to my friends, and that�s comforting.�
�You�re never predictable,� Kenny refuted.
�With you, when I�m angry, I always look the same. When I�m happy, you have no problem telling. I give off the same look when I�m neutral or feeling sexy, so you know what to expect at all times.�
�Where�s the mystery in that? Need help finding a new car?�
�I appreciate the offer, Kenny, but buying a car is a very personal decision for me.�
�Have any idea what you want?�
�I loved my Tercel. I think a used Mazda GLC or a Nissan Sentra would also fit my needs.�
�You know, they make cars in America.�
�I�ll try to drive a few, but there�s no way I�m getting in an Escort. Those cars are so clunky.�
�How�re Julie and the little girl doing?� Kenny asked, standing and doing light leg stretches.
�They�re a little off, especially Julie. She just sorta zonked out there for awhile after what happened to Wongo. I hope she doesn�t turn to religion.�
�Tragedy tends to reinforce faith,� Kenny said.
�Remember, we agreed not to talk about religion for the sake of remaining friends.�
�Sorry,� Kenny said.
They jogged away together, Kenny finally veering off to his downtown office, promising to call. Beth jogged home.
� 2004 R.V. Roush