The Beginnings - Part 135: HE WAS NOT ALONE

There’s a nice young apple, just ripe to be plucked.

-Edward Rutherford

LONDON, the novel

Twenty-five years ago today,  November 15, 1987

My brother, Tony, came to visit at the Townhouse today.  He helped with placement of the new ‘hanging blinds’.   He’s such a handyman.  

Mom dropped by to see the finished work and I took a few Polaroid shots.

The Beginnings – Part 135:  

 HE WAS NOT ALONE

November 15, 1983

Work grooved on by and I won a record album of my choice.  I chose an album by THE CLASH.  

I also received my brass lamp and wine caddy set that I had ordered from the office incentive catalog.  

I ate some homemade meat loaf at mom’s house for dinner.   I tried to call Paloma but I guess we missed one another.   Linda, the babysitter, told me that I had just missed her.  

Linda said, “She went out with Lisa…shopping somewhere.”

Who knows?

As I was lifting weights and listening to music I decided to take a break and call Rick Clark to see about our tentative movie outing.   He wasn’t home.   I continued working out and began to wonder if Tammy would be at the skating rink on this Tuesday night.   I thought about going and seeing her.

I could say, “Well…if it isn’t the gal who doesn’t wait on any man.”

I loved that line.   Ironically, as I was thinking this the phone rang and it was Tammy!   How awesome.  

Tammy said, “I just wanted to call to apologize for my behavior.”

“It’s all right,” I said, “I’m actually sorry for breaking off our plans.”

“I’m bored.”

“Why don’t we do something?”

And so…I drove to Hayward to her house and we enjoyed some amaretto-mocha coffee.   After a short chat with Tammy’s sister and mom we decided to go over to the skating rink.  

While at the rink I met a gal named Lea who is from Danville area.   She’s the long-haired blond who wears 501 jeans all the time.   She looks good in those jeans.

I also saw Jim Hartman.   I saw him in the bathroom.  He was NOT alone.  He was in one of the stalls with another guy!  Now that’s ‘slutty’.  

Jim had actually called me at work today.   When I returned his call we actually spoke about Rick Clark.

Jim had said, “Oh that Rick is ‘slutty’.”

He should talk after witnessing his naughty bathroom rendezvous.  

I finally spoke to George Jones.   Of course he was there as well.  

He was at a loss for words but he managed to ask me, “Why don’t you come over tomorrow night?”

I rejected his offer.

I did say, “You can call me though and try to explain things.”

“Well, I was really tee’d off about you calling me in Millbrae that one time!”

The truth comes out.   I guess he wanted some space.  Now I think he regrets it because I could tell he felt attracted to me tonight.   I foolishly explained that I’ve met someone else.

I said, “Her name is Paloma.”

In the end, I believe George and I departed as friends.

Frank was running around the skating rink in a drunkard stupor.   By 11:30PM Tammy and I decided to jump the gun and split-the-scene.   We did.   That summed up the evening.  

I just regret one thing.   I may have missed a call from Paloma tonight.   I really don’t know if she called or not.   I also wondered if there might have been a possibility that Rick Clark may have called me.   It’s unlikely but how can I be sure.

“Please don’t be hard on me.”   

 It was said with such conviction one would almost have believed him.

-Edward Rutherford

LONDON, a novel