Another excerpt from, Home Again. The wedding brunch... (A few moments passed in silence before two of our other friends came into the cafe. Ben and Anthony were two of my oldest friends and we always had a lot of fun together. When I moved away, they eventually got an apartment together. Why the health department hadnt condemned their place yet was a mystery. Ben was a stickler for neatness and Anthony reminded me of Oscar Madison from the great show, The Odd Couple. Ben had his moments of actually leaving a spoon on the table after he used it but those times were few and far between.) BEN: Hello, Gentlemen... did you save us any food? ANTHONY: Yeah... we know how you guys are. (I turned to grab two chairs from another table and placed them on each side of me. Ben and Anthony sat and said thank you at the same time.) NUMBERS (TO ANTHONY): I dont think theres enough for you, Anthony. ANTHONY (TO NUMBERS) : Ill jus have tah make due. Are you gonna to eat your toast? (Anthony grabbed Numbers toast before Numbers could answer and took a bite.) NUMBERS (watching Anthony eating his food): Ev-vid-dently not. ANTHONY (patting Numbers back): Ill get you more. BEN: So, Johnny... how long are you in town... just for Bobbys wedding? ANTHONY (TO BOBBY): Hey... Congratulations, by the way. BOBBY (TO ANTHONY): Thanks. ANTHONY: Katies a great girl. BOBBY (TO ANTHONY): Yes, she is. ME: Ill be here for a day or so after. BEN: Good... maybe we can go shoot some pool before you head back? ME: That sounds good. (Stacey appearred at our table, took Anthony and Bens orders and returned to the counter. When she came back with Bens coffee and Anthonys Orange Juice, Anthony ordered more toast for Numbers and himself. Ben ordered the same thing Bobby was just finishing and Anthony order the same I was still eating, eggs and some fruit.) BEN: Sorry we cant make it to your wedding, Bobby. Well see you at the reception, though. BOBBY: I understand, guys. Thats fine... it will be nice to have you there. (Bobby stood up and walked slowly to the restroom. Anthony, Ben and Numbers looked at me and I watched Bobby talk to Stacey and then walk into the restroom. I took a sip of my coffee and interrupted the silence after putting my coffee cup down on the table.) ME: Hes just nervous. Hell be okay. NUMBERS: Im going to go talk to him. ANTHONY: Numbers, leave him alone. BEN: Yeah, Man... give him some space. NUMBERS: No, no... I wont bother him. I just want to make sure hes okay. ME (TO NUMBERS): Go ahead... but listen instead of saying something for once. Thats the best thing for right now. (Numbers nodded and walked towards the restroom. He stopped at the counter, said something to Stacey and then continued to the rest room.) BEN (TO ME): You sure Bobbys okay? ME: Yes... Numbers pissed him off and now hes thinking about what Numbers was trying to say instead of what he thought he was trying to do. ANTHONY (TO ME): You can tell youre a writer, Man. BEN: Hows that? ANTHONY: Jus the way he talks. ME (PLAYFULLY): You should see what I write. ANTHONY: Oh shit... dont know if I could handle it. (I grinned at Anthony and he smiled. Anthony had a heart of gold and would do anything for me... for any of his friends, for that matter, but he understood things a little bit differently than most people. His patience for comprehending certain things did not extend to the same level as most people and his annoyance meter was usually in the red zone quite soon after some conversations. It was a trait Id grown to deal with and never questioned.) ME: So, Ben... hows Lynn? BEN: Oh, good I guess. ANTHONY: Things have been a bit rocky lately. ME: Yeah? ANTHONY: Uh huh... could be better. ME (TO BEN): Oh, wow... sorry to hear that. BEN: Im thinking of breaking up with her and just seeing someone else... this other girl... ya know, no commitments? ANTHONY: Thats what I do. BEN: What do you think, Johnny? ME: Well, the grass might seem greener on the other side... ANTHONY (TO ME): Seem nothing... it is. She doesnt want any commitments either, right Ben? (Ben nodded but said nothing. For someone that was very particular about neatness and order, he did have a side to him that wished he could break free of that type of behavior. Thinking of ending a relationship, Im sure, was with the help of Anthonys persuasion... since Anthony was answering for Ben and Ben didnt stop him from doing so. I made a decision to see Ben before I left... I wasnt crazy about this conversation.) ME (TO BEN): Okay, the grass might be greener on the other side... but you what? BEN: What? ME: You still have to mow that shit, too! ANTHONY: What do you mean? ME: If you are going to be spending time with someone theres always some type of commitment. ANTHONY: This is jus what I was talkin about. ME: What? ANTHONY: You... your answers are like friggin riddles, Man. BEN (TO ANTHONY): No, no theyre not. I know what hes talking about. ME (TO BEN): What am I talking about? BEN: Youre saying I have to be loyal and devoted when I spend time with someone even if its just for a short time. ANTHONY: You have to be on the same page, ya mean? ME: Yes. ANTHONY: Why didnt you just say that? ME (PLAYFULLY): Because Im a writer. ANTHONY (tossing a napkin at me): Oh, for crissakes! (Bobby and Numbers returned to the table. Bobby looked at me and we exchanged glances to confirm he was okay and nothing needed to be asked. Thats how we were sometimes. I didnt bother asking him something if I had a hint that I had already known the answer. Bobby wasnt too fond of explaining himself and I knew better than to put him in a position where he couldnt be exact with the thoughts and feelings. I knew he was nervous and today was going to be a big day for him. I didnt have any questions to ask and Im pretty sure Bobby appreciated my understanding.) BOBBY: What are you guys talking about? ANTHONY: Ben wants to date other people. NUMBERS: What about Lynn? BEN: She can date other people. NUMBERS (TO BEN): Can I date her? BEN AND ANTHONY (TOGETHER): No!! NUMBERS: Im other people. BOBBY (TO BEN): Why do you want to date other people... whats up with you and Lynn? BEN: I dont want to talk about this anymore. Its your wedding day, Man... you dont need to be thinking about people having problems in their relationships. BOBBY: Its no big surprise when things happen... I have a step-father, remember? ANTHONY (DISGUSTED): Good old Ken. ME ( shaking my head slowly): Anthony. BEN: Some people get lucky and grow together and some people grow and drift apart in the process. Lynn and I seem to be drifting apart. NUMBERS: You might decide to stay together. BEN: Hmm... maybe. ANTHONY: How about you, Johnny? BEN: Are you still seeing that girl from Malden? ME: No... not anymore. NUMBERS: I thought you two were still seeing each other? ME: Nah... we broke up a few months ago. NUMBERS: Oh, thats too bad. ME: Yeah... we wanted different things. It just didnt work out. NUMBERS: Oh, Man... that sucks. ME: I wanted my sanity and she didnt want me to keep it. NUMBERS: Yeah, thats a deal breaker. ANTHONY: You friggin people are driving me nuts. NUMBERS: What? ANTHONY: All this talk about cuttin or mowing the grass and drifting apart... meanwhile my boy here is getting married in a couple of hours. BOBBY: Its okay, Anthony. ANTHONY: No... no its not. ME: Anthony, we have to be honest. We all love Katie and I, for one, truly believe Bobby and Katie will be fine... NUMBERS: Me, too. BEN: Yeah, so do I. ME: Right, okay... Numbers... and Ben do also. Bobby is a big boy and knows there will be times when things seem troubled and hopefully the two of them will deal and conquer the problems. ANTHONY: Its jus seems like bad luck to be talkin about people breaking up and looking over the fence at other people and shit... thats all Im sayin. BOBBY: I know what you mean, Anthony... but its not bad luck. Katie and I talked about the statistics of marriage and we had our doubts whether to do this or not. She told me that I wasnt my father or step-father and she truly believes we will be happy and be able to handle any problems that may come about. I believe it, too. I love her and she loves me and were going to keep our eyes, ears and hearts open so we can have a happy life and be thankful we decided to do this today. ( I took another sip of my coffee and watched Numbers, Ben and Anthony sit in silence. The quietness ended when Stacey arrived at our table and started passing the plates of food. When she asked if anyone needed anything, I smiled and answered her by requesting more coffee. Ben, Numbers and Anthony said nothing but Bobby asked for more coffee, also. The noises of forks hitting the plates and people talking from other tables occupied and replaced the conversation at our table. Bobby glanced at me and I nodded and took the last sip of my coffee. )
Posted on: Sun, 05 Oct 2014 05:04:26 +0000
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