She was homesick, as only the very young and the very old can be.
There are worse fates than to be lonely.
-D.M. Thomas
THE WHITE HOTEL
Twenty-five years ago today:
April 7, 1987
Tuesday
It was not a bad day at the office. I did resent when Steve Adams seemed to be so direct in giving orders today. It’s almost as if he had a management evaluation and was feeling as though he had to change his ‘modus operandi’. Certain phrases stick in my mind.
After Rhoda mumbled some nonsense Steve shouted, “Lock the TRW…it’s very important that it is kept locked!”
Paul Margolis has asked me to do some of his dirty work. I resent that also. I just shrug it off and figure I will finish his requested tasks when I get the chance.
I did speak to Modesto Valderama today. He was okay with me. Everyone has this fear when they hear his name. He’s a very delinquent customer but I actually got somewhere with him (I hope).
Carla and I went to the International Restaurant place and had a good meal. She went to court again this morning. This time it was regarding an unpaid traffic ticket.
After work (4:30PM) I hit the sack and slept.
Frank Vasconcellos telephoned me.
I returned his call straightaway.
“You know, Michael, I’ve decided to go to Mortuary School.”
“What?”
“Yes, I have a close friend who is twenty-five and he does embalming.”
I couldn’t believe my ears. “Are you kidding me?”
“No, they make good money. And he does make-up and the works. I really want to pursue this.”
All I could think to say was, “It sounds morbid, but someone has to do it.”
My dad called a little later.
Dad announced, “You got a package here.”
“I did?”
“Yeah.”
“Oh you know what--it’s probably Ashley’s teddy bear that I got her for her birthday.”
I stopped by to get the package. I had a quick bite and talked to dad for a bit. Then I decided to go to the gym.
I was happy with the work out at the gym. It was really good tonight. There was an awkward moment as I saw Rachelle Davies. When I left for the night I realized that Rachelle had suddenly re-entered my life.
She placed a card on the windshield of my car and wrote: ‘Mike, call me tonight. Rachelle.’
That was a surprise.
PHOTO: Eileen Grabinsky
“Hi.”
“Hi, I got your note.”
“How have you been?”
It was as if no time had passed since our last night of ecstasy.
“Oh, just working and making the best of my days.”
“I was in Miami recently,” Rachelle bragged.
We actually had a nice talk as we began to reminisce about our lives over the last one and a half years.
Rachelle announced, “I have a DATSUN 280Z now and I commute to Santa Clara every day for VIKING FREIGHT.”
“What do you do there?”
“Oh--just office work.”
I broke down and asked, “So, who are you going out with now?”
She did her usual giggle, “I’m seeing a fella named Tim. He’s your age.”
She was hinting that he’s not as fun as me—even though we’re the same age. I didn’t know what fun she meant but I could only think it was in the bedroom department because that’s where we had most of our fun. We finally made arrangements to meet up this Sunday.
I actually had made arrangements to see Frank on Friday. It’s funny how two people from my not-so-distant past have returned. What does it mean? It’s a kind of complement for me. It means they value and remember me well enough to want to touch base again.
I guess the same goes for Chris Cordellos who called and stopped by recently by leaving a note in my mailbox. We have not seen each other for a good while either.
I watched Bette Davis and Joan Rivers tonight.
Bette Davis was promoting her book “THIS N THAT”.
I liked when Joan said, “You don’t think you’re attractive. You’re a very sexy woman.”
“Oh My God,” Bette said, “That makes me think of Miss Walter’s Special when she said ‘Do you like sex’ which rather alarmed me. I said, ‘Why Barbara Walters!’ And maybe I should have added Do You?”
After the show I tried to sleep but called Johnny Schaefer instead. It was after 11PM and the rates are cheaper to call L.A.
Johnny was excited when he said, “I recorded a couple of songs.”
“That’s cool.”
Johnny surprised me when he said, “Michael Thoennes must be lonely because he’s been calling me on a regular basis…almost every night.”
I thought, “Whatever.”
I gave sleeping another shot as I wondered about Rachelle. I recalled the outstanding intercourse we shared. Yet, there is Eileen now.
I whispered silently, “I guess I’ll find out where Eileen and I are headed in terms of a relationship very soon. I need to know from her. She needs to express her feelings…literally.”
“Oh, let’s stay up and play charades. Who wants to go to bed now?”
-Mary Morris
ACTS OF GOD, a novel
0 comments:
Post a Comment