The Beginnings - Part 76: 'HE DOESN'T OWN ME'

What appealed to the young and made them his admirers was his wholesome vigor and still youthful charm which appeared to be resistant to passions, incorruptible and then again boyishly irresponsible—a kind of innocence, that is.
-Hermann Hesse
THE GLASS BEAD GAME

The Beginnings – Part 76: ‘HE DOESN’T OWN ME’

Thursday, August 25, 1983

To my surprise my paycheck for one week of work in San Francisco was $394.53. It was more than I had expected. Hurrah!
In addition, a customer said to me, “You are very helpful and cordial!”
I liked that. I won’t mention what some of the snotty customers said.

I telephoned mom a few times to polish-up our tarnished relationship. I know she was thinking I was ‘one-way’. Ha-ha. That’s the dizzy side of my ‘Jane Russell’ mother. My dad also apologized for his interrogations.

I guess George was right.
George had said, “Parents will believe anything if they don’t want to believe (it) the truth.”
I know my novel will be inspiring to them ‘in the end’.

Scott invited me to George’s farewell party at WHEREHOUSE RECORDS. Scott is George’s boss. I may attend.

Barbara Reynolds sent me a postcard of Joan Rivers that I really liked. What a doll of a woman (meaning Barbara, not Joan).

George was surprised at the party event at Scott’s pad in Los Gatos. It was a very nice social gathering of only fifteen people or so. I liked them all. All of his coworkers were quite nice. I think George was pleasantly surprised that I was there. I know George will miss many of his coworkers. I left by 1PM and drove George home to his mom’s trailer home.

Friday, August 26, 1983

My last day of work in San Francisco was a breeze. David Vigil and I shared the same break periods. At lunchtime we went to the Giovanni ‘such and such’ shop. I found that I got to know David better during the strike period while working in San Francisco (more than when we work together in Downtown Oakland). Dave’s really a nice guy.
David confided in me by saying, “You know, Michael…my brothers and I do strip tease events at bachelorette parties.”
I laughed, although he is a marathon runner and he does have a good looking body (but he’s not my type). When he talks he’s very femme-fatale. I began to wonder if he was hinting for me to join in the strip teasing act. It seemed like it. I didn’t utter a word. I can actually imagine him stripping.
David said, “You know…one night I got about one-hundred and thirty dollars in tips.”
I said, “And I bet they stuffed them all down your drawers.”
“Of course,” he said, smiling, “And I met a couple of girls at the last party. I’m supposed to meet them at LILY’s during Happy Hour tonight.”
“Are you going?” I asked.
“Yes, do you want to go with me?”

“Sure.”
I tagged along. One of them was very pretty but the one I had ‘an eye’ for was extraordinary. Her name is Susan Lowe. She was unique, very delicate on my eyes and so very beautiful. She gave me her telephone number. I gave her my business card after I casually introduced myself. I couldn’t wait to talk to her again. She had to leave LILY’s early. I chose to depart around the same time because I wanted Susan to think I was only interested in her. David left because he was excited about seeing THE OSMONDS concert. I thought that was hilarious.

I cleverly returned to LILY’s because I liked the ambience. Angela, one of David’s redhead girlfriends, gave me her card. She’s a dental hygienist in Concord.
I thought, “Maybe it’s time to get my teeth cleaned.”

My second thought, "Angela seems too old for me."

I was home by 9:30PM. I didn’t bother to call George. I know he wanted me to drive over there but I wasn’t in the mood for the excursion. I hate having to drive all the way down to Sunnyvale all of the time.

Saturday, August 27, 1983

I went to work at 7AM to take advantage of the overtime. It was surprised to see Juanita Lane and management there (no one else). Deborah Smith, one of the Assistant Managers, was ultra-cool. I like her carefree nature when she’s not being so professional. I wrote out a card for her because she’s handling the payroll. Maybe she’ll had a few more ‘hours worked’ on my behalf. I could use the extra bucks.

Apparently, Paige LaBris phoned me.
She left a message: “Hey Mike, I’m planning a trip to San Francisco.”
She hasn’t called me again, so I don’t know what happened.

I made a ‘heavy date’ with Susan Lowe for tomorrow at 4PM. I foolishly told George about my meeting Susan. At first, George didn’t feel it was fair and he felt threatened; however, he now seems to feel she’s an okay non-threatening date. My power of persuasion seemed to help. I knew he still silently wondered if she might be a threat to our relationship though.
I only felt this way because George was urgent when he said, “You will come over here tonight.”
I know George was pissed-off that I didn’t call him the night before.
Then I thought to myself, “Shit! I’m my own man…he doesn’t OWN me!”
As we discussed Susan, George asked me, “Are you bored with me?”
“Of course not,” I answered positively.
I still feel he is unsure; however, it will not stop me from getting to know Susan.

I learned that Susan had been attending Pepperdine University in Malibu. She was actually living in the Malibu area. She seems to be very much ‘my type’, too.

“I thought it was a bit naughty.”
-as heard in the 1998 film
VELVET GOLDMINE