-Arthur Golden
MEMOIRS OF A GEISHA
The Beginnings – Part 45: WOES AND BEAUS
June 22, 1983
I was much too tired to work today. Can you blame me? Therefore, I didn’t do much. I should have taken Tammy’s advice.
Tammy asked, “Why don’t you take the day off? “
I didn’t choose to do that. I didn’t want to ruin my flawless attendance record.
I did take an extensive nap during my lunch hour from 11:45AM until 1PM.
I telephoned Frank during my first break.
I said, “Frank, I just want to tell you that the Ann-Margret engagement is off.”
“But…why?”
“Well, after the events of last night I just think we both need a breather.”
After I hung-up the phone I realized that I would be going to see Ann-Margret with Tammy. I felt I gave Frank a good reason. We have been spending too much time together. When one includes the Los Angeles trip it makes it even seem like more time. Frank’s attitude and overreactions from last night were too much. I do seriously need a break from him. I will see how going out with Tammy works out on Friday.
I drove to Alameda for dinner. Ma and Pa were getting ready to go to Judy Garcia’s wedding. Judy is the youngest daughter of my dad’s half-sister, Esther. I didn’t go. Instead I went home and rode my bike to the bank.
Frank called me. I was much too tired to get into a deep conversation with him.
I said, “Listen…why don’t I call you tomorrow morning. I’m just too exhausted now to ‘get into it’.”
“Okay.”
I slept for the remainder of the night.
Before I knew it the alarm clock rang at 7AM. I was happy I slept the entire time.
Oh, I did neglect to mention that I did call George Jones in San Jose. He was at work (a video store called The Wherehouse). I gave him my telephone number. If he calls me back, then ‘fine’. I don’t plan on calling him again.
Last night George looked at me fondly and suggested, “Maybe we could go out sometime.”
I don’t really know anymore.
I also called Rich (aka Richard Anderson). Some old lady answered the phone, so I refrained from leaving a message. I mean, Rich is okay…but that’s just it (okay).
I do really like Frank’s LEO (astrological) self. In some ways I can live without him. Tammy is an ARIES. I can only compare her to Barbara Reynolds. She is the only other ARIES that I know personally. Rich is a LIBRA (like Helen Wong and Suzy Miller); whereby, that can’t be all bad. We shall see who will become more than an acquaintance. For now, I do believe that Frank will be ‘forever-a-friend’. I trust that will be the case.
June 23, 1983
Well, I took BART to work this morning. There was a cute gal sitting across from me who gave me ‘the eye’.
I thought, “Hell, I’ve experienced that before and the circumstance never seems to pan out in my favor.”
While in the Pacific Telephone PUBLIC OFFICE I telephoned Frank (as promised).
We made an agreement. He will meet me at my apartment in San Leandro at six o’clock this evening. We will talk face-to-face. This is good (I guess).
Doug Siu influenced me by saying, “You know, Mike…you should call that RED ROBIN place and find out the name of that hostess you like so much.”
I did it. I spoke to her manager and gave her a commendation. Her name is Allison. She is A-OK in my book. I already wrote a note with my business card for her. I plan to hand it to her tonight (provided she is at work).
“My latest,” Barbara said, “Robert…went out with another girl.”
“I see.”
She sighed.
I said, “You know, I met a girl named Tammy. She’s an ARIES, like you…but I’m sort of torn because I have a crush on this hostess named Allison.”
Barbara laughed, “I think you should play the field and wait and see.”“You think so?”
“Why tie yourself down to any one person yet?”
“You’re right!”
I was glad we had our little talk. The fresh cherries she shared with me were also quite ‘yummy’.
I ate at the SOUP N’ SUSHI joint. When I returned to the PUBLIC OFFICE the ventilation system had been cleaned out. It made the entire office smell like someone farted. Ugh! How disgusting!
A gentleman by the name of Paul Patterson came over to inquire about the Call Waiting service. His telephone number is 839-4370.
Paul said, “That’s a really nice shirt.”
He made some other remark that sounded like he was trying to pick me up. I couldn’t be sure, so I just played dumb. He was okay but it was all so weird. To top it off I learned that he is a stockbroker at EF HUTTON. I was curious.
When I arrived home after my bike ride Frank was nowhere to be found. He hadn’t arrived.
I called Tammy and asked, “What are you doing Friday night?”
“I haven’t forgotten about our date…if that’s what you mean.”
Frank appeared. He finally showed up.
My phone rang and it was George Jones.
George asked, “Why don’t you come over to my place here in Sunnyvale tonight?”
I didn’t go but I was flattered.
Frank knew it was George and shouted out, “He’s busy…and he’s TAKEN!”
Frank and I ended up going to the Bay Fair Shopping Center. Allison (of the RED ROBIN) was not working tonight. I drove back to my house and Frank was acting quite ‘blah-zay’. He wasn’t very approving about my new Bryan Adams music tape that I bought at THE RECORD FACTORY. I also bought new SONY Walkman headphones at Montgomery-Ward.
Frank and I went out again and we bumped into Tammy and the ‘gross looking guy’ named Michael. We were cordial with our mutual greetings.
Tammy asked me privately, “Drop by after you drop Frank off.”
I didn’t do that though. I went straight home and decided to call George Jones. We never finished our phone call.
I said, “I just wanted to apologize for Frank’s behavior when he yelled out while I was speaking to you earlier.”
“Oh, that’s okay.”
“Frank has some growing up to do.”
“He did seem somewhat immature.”
“Yeah, I think so, too.”
George asked, “So, would you like to come over on Saturday night for a Light Show that they do here?”
“I don’t know. It sounds interesting. I’ll let you know.”
“Okay.”
I doubt if I’ll go. I didn’t want to seem so hard up that I had to drop everything to see him again so soon. I also don’t feel like the long drive to Sunnyvale. My night was over after my nice talk with George.
I smiled as I recalled when Frank said tonight, “I’m trying to fall UNMADLY in love with you and into just liking you a whole lot.”
He’s finding our relationship to be a tad difficult.
Frank said, “I have a surprise in store at Tammy’s party this coming Saturday night.”
“That should be interesting,” I said, wondering what it could be.
He lay back in the leaves with his hands behind his head, watching the thinning foliage of maple above him quiver against the sky, so dark the sky that it was almost purple. He took a deep breath through his nose, and took in the cleansing scent of the forest. The laws of science do not distinguish between the past and the future. Yet there is a big difference between the past and the future in ordinary life: “The increase of disorder or entropy is what distinguishes the past from the future, giving a direction to time.”
-Thomas Harris
HANNIBAL
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