\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \snext0 Normal;}{*\cs10 \additive
\ssemihidden Default Paragraph Font;}{*\ts11\tsrowd\trftsWidthB3\trpaddl108\trpaddr108\trpaddfl3\trpaddft3\trpaddfb3\trpaddfr3\trcbpat1\trcfpat1\tscellwidthfts0\tsvertalt\tsbrdrt\tsbrdrl\tsbrdrb\tsbrdrr\tsbrdrdgl\tsbrdrdgr\tsbrdrh\tsbrdrv
\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 \fs20\lang1024\langfe1024\cgrid\langnp1024\langfenp1024 \snext11 \ssemihidden Normal Table;}{\s15\ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0
\f35\fs16\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 \sbasedon0 \snext15 \ssemihidden \styrsid6493976 Balloon Text;}}{*\rsidtbl \rsid12213\rsid136922\rsid360251\rsid538204\rsid882419\rsid999813\rsid1010812\rsid1187216\rsid1336816\rsid1652926
\rsid1708738\rsid1729795\rsid1857183\rsid1908001\rsid2495956\rsid2840893\rsid2969795\rsid3420575\rsid3476522\rsid3633833\rsid3693155\rsid3698494\rsid3764252\rsid3822830\rsid3944163\rsid4021365\rsid4072092\rsid4278278\rsid4325382\rsid4343076\rsid4397254
\rsid4464336\rsid4472569\rsid4481345\rsid4721989\rsid4792888\rsid4864953\rsid4990725\rsid5179617\rsid5263414\rsid5313410\rsid5459142\rsid5508159\rsid5575316\rsid5716963\rsid5780289\rsid5900062\rsid5920231\rsid6493976\rsid6907148\rsid6971351\rsid7085495
\rsid7150391\rsid7233688\rsid7274981\rsid7423778\rsid7804708\rsid8066564\rsid8203802\rsid8284093\rsid8858434\rsid8914794\rsid8944507\rsid9002214\rsid9130308\rsid9373493\rsid9516544\rsid9974230\rsid9987217\rsid10041841\rsid10168252\rsid10833454
\rsid10910641\rsid11471748\rsid11561202\rsid11743973\rsid11868891\rsid12067293\rsid12409797\rsid12522940\rsid12592128\rsid12925746\rsid13054954\rsid13111457\rsid13191375\rsid13699155\rsid13704061\rsid13726228\rsid13791690\rsid13918637\rsid13991111
\rsid14312929\rsid14814614\rsid15077734\rsid15091393\rsid15553571\rsid15994919\rsid16019347\rsid16152497\rsid16282961\rsid16476760}{*\generator Microsoft Word 10.0.2627;}{\info{\title Friends and Benefits}{\author eknight}{\operator eknight}
{\creatim\yr2005\mo7\dy16\hr7\min19}{\revtim\yr2005\mo9\dy7\hr21\min29}{\printim\yr2005\mo7\dy6\hr23\min27}{\version3}{\edmins0}{\nofpages15}{\nofwords3699}{\nofchars21087}{*\company 287 Mafia}{\nofcharsws24737}{\vern16437}}
\widowctrl\ftnbj\aenddoc\noxlattoyen\expshrtn\noultrlspc\dntblnsbdb\nospaceforul\hyphcaps0\formshade\horzdoc\dgmargin\dghspace180\dgvspace180\dghorigin1800\dgvorigin1440\dghshow1\dgvshow1
\jexpand\viewkind1\viewscale100\pgbrdrhead\pgbrdrfoot\splytwnine\ftnlytwnine\htmautsp\nolnhtadjtbl\useltbaln\alntblind\lytcalctblwd\lyttblrtgr\lnbrkrule\nobrkwrptbl\snaptogridincell\allowfieldendsel\wrppunct\asianbrkrule\rsidroot12592128 \fet0\sectd
\linex0\endnhere\sectlinegrid360\sectdefaultcl\sftnbj {*\pnseclvl1\pnucrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{*\pnseclvl2\pnucltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{*\pnseclvl3\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta .}}{*\pnseclvl4
\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxta )}}{*\pnseclvl5\pndec\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{*\pnseclvl6\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{*\pnseclvl7\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}
{\pntxta )}}{*\pnseclvl8\pnlcltr\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}{*\pnseclvl9\pnlcrm\pnstart1\pnindent720\pnhang {\pntxtb (}{\pntxta )}}\pard\plain \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0
\fs24\lang1033\langfe1033\cgrid\langnp1033\langfenp1033 {\insrsid5263414 Friends and Benefits}{\insrsid13918637
}{\insrsid5263414 Chapter Five
by be287m
}{\insrsid5920231 I spent the drive back to my place analyzing Sherri\rquote s motives, while she followed in her own car. I didn\rquote t get it. I wasn\rquote t paying her any}{\insrsid12925746 }{\insrsid5920231 more}{\insrsid6971351
, at least tonight}{\insrsid5920231 , but she wasn\rquote t saying \lquote thank you\rquote and walking away. None of the profe}{\insrsid9516544 ssional shrinks I had heard of}{\insrsid5920231 ever extended their hours for free. I just didn\rquote
t get it.}{\insrsid5263414
}{\insrsid5920231
I didn\rquote t say anything while we got settled. I poured myself a glass of wine and offered Sherri some, but she declined, only wanting water. We settled onto the couch this time, far more comfortable than the kitchen chairs.
\'93So why are you doing this?\'94 I asked.
\'93Because I can,\'94 she answered.
\'93That doesn\rquote t make sense,\'94 I shot back. \'93You could be doing lots of things. Why me? Why for free? Why come back here instead of going to see some other guy who would pay you?\'94
\'93You need me.\'94 Sherri\rquote s face was blank. No, not blank, controlled. I glared at her. It was almost a staring match. Which she then decided to throw.
\'93Tonight, Joe,\'94 she said, \'93it suits me to spend some more time with you. I\rquote ve made the money I need to make this week and I don\rquote t have any other pressing appointments. If I wasn\rquote t here, I\rquote d either be home or wa
iting for the next cold call from the agency. I didn\rquote t feel like going on any new dates tonight.\'94
}{\insrsid1857183 \'93Why?}{\insrsid5920231 \'94 I challenged. My gut was starting to churn and my breathing was getting shallower.}{\insrsid1857183 Sherri noticed.}{\insrsid5920231
}{\insrsid1857183
\'93Why would I want to spend time with you?\'94 she asked. \'93You\rquote re an interesting guy, Joe. You remind me of my baby brother.\'94}{\insrsid7150391 }{\insrsid11561202 For a moment, old pain crossed her face}{\insrsid8944507 .}{
\insrsid1857183
}{\insrsid5920231
}{\insrsid5459142 \'93Besides,\'94 she continued. \'93I can help, and it won\rquote t always be for free.}{\insrsid2969795 I\rquote ll let you know beforehand so you can decide}{\insrsid9516544 what you want to do.\'94}{\insrsid5459142
}{\insrsid9516544
\'93Thanks,\'94 I snorted.
}{\insrsid7423778 \'93C\rquote mon, Joe! }{\insrsid136922 You were just complaining because I }{\i\insrsid136922\charrsid136922 wasn\rquote t}{\insrsid136922 charging you}{\insrsid9516544 !\'94
I glanced over and saw that Sherri was smiling. Teasing me.}{\insrsid1729795 I took a deep breath and smiled back. I could feel my body start to relax.}{\insrsid9516544
}{\insrsid1729795
\'93So where were we?\'94 she asked. \'93In your story?\'94
\'93November of 1991,\'94 I answered. \'93Just a couple of weeks before Thanksgiving, when I got a call tha}{\insrsid8284093 t wasn\rquote t }{\insrsid4343076 from }{\insrsid8284093 Sharon or my parents . . .\'94}{\insrsid1729795
}{\insrsid8284093
}\pard \qc \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0\pararsid8284093 {\insrsid8284093 * * *
}\pard \ql \li0\ri0\widctlpar\aspalpha\aspnum\faauto\adjustright\rin0\lin0\itap0 {\insrsid8284093
}{\insrsid13726228 \'93Hey, bud.\'94 I recognized the voice immediately.
\'93Allen! What\rquote s up?\'94
\'93Not much. My }{\insrsid12925746 m}{\insrsid13726228 om moved to San Diego and she wants me to come visit for Thanksgiving. I thought I\rquote d take a week or two and drive out, stopping in Tucson along the way.\'94
\'93That\rquote s great!\'94 I replied. \'93You\rquote re welcome to crash here.\'94
\'93Good. Tha}{\insrsid6971351 t\rquote s why I\rquote m}{\insrsid13726228 calling.\'94
\'93So when do you think you\rquote ll be here?\'94 I asked.
\'93Mmmm. I\rquote m thinking the Monday before Thanksgiving. I\rquote m g}{\insrsid999813 oing to spend that weekend in La}{\insrsid13726228 s Cruces with this }{\insrsid136922 girl}{\insrsid13726228
I met over Labor Day. When she has to go to work, I\rquote ll get on the road to go see you. It\rquote s what, four hours?\'94
\'93Closer to six.\'94
\'93Okay, I\rquote ll be there mid-afternoon.\'94
}{\insrsid4397254
\'93Sounds good,\'94 I replied. \'93Let me give you directions.\'94
}{\insrsid136922 \'93Let me get a pencil,\'94 Allen rep}{\insrsid3633833 lied. He was back in a minute. }{\insrsid136922
I gave him the information and we discussed logistical issues. My apartment was too small for a couch, but Allen said the inflatable air mattress would be fine for one night.}{\insrsid9516544
}{\insrsid136922
We chatted a little bit more and Allen told me about his job hunt. Apparently bartending wasn\rquote t cutting it anymore, but he hadn\rquote
t figured out what he wanted to do next. I commiserated and told him about my own change of academic plans. I asked him about the girl he was visiting, but he said he\rquote d tell me the whole story in person. We hung up a little while later}{
\insrsid3633833 and }{\insrsid136922 silence again filled my apartment. When I couldn\rquote t stand it, I turned on the TV to catch a rerun of \lquote Night Court.\rquote
}{\insrsid2840893
I talked to Sharon two nights later. My most recent story package hadn\rquote t reached her yet and we mostly talked about our week. }{\insrsid5508159 The conversation started to lull fairly quickly since neither of us had had much excitement.}{
\insrsid8858434 I wracked my brain for newsworthy topics.}{\insrsid2840893
}{\insrsid5508159
\'93Oh, and Allen called. He\rquote s coming to visit,\'94 I said}{\insrsid8858434 .}{\insrsid5508159
}{\insrsid8858434
\'93Really?\'94
\'93Yeah, his mom moved to San Diego. He\rquote s on his way to visit her for Thanksgiving. He\rquote ll be here Monday night.\'94
\'93How\rquote s he doing?\'94 Sharon asked.
\'93Pretty good. We didn\rquote t talk long. I\rquote m sure we\rquote ll talk more when he gets here.\'94
\'93I hope he\rquote s doing well. I worry about him sometimes.\'94
\'93What? Why?\'94
\'93Hey, I still care for him,\'94 Sharon defended. \'93We may not be together, but I still want him to be happy.\'94
}{\insrsid11471748 \'93I think he\rquote s happy,\'94 I answered.}{\insrsid8858434
}{\insrsid11471748
\'93Yeah, well, he\rquote s good at hiding his feelings when he\rquote s unhappy.}{\insrsid3476522 \'94
I bit my tongue. I\rquote d known Allen a while and I\rquote d never had any problem knowing when he was unhappy. But I knew that if I said so, Sharon would just claim that he was successful in hiding his feelings with me. Since I couldn\rquote
t win the argument, there was no point in starting it.}{\insrsid11471748
}{\insrsid3476522
}{\insrsid13054954 \'93Well, maybe he\rquote ll tell me abo}{\insrsid6971351 ut it if he\rquote s not,}{\insrsid13054954 \'94}{\insrsid6971351 I said.}{\insrsid13054954
}{\insrsid8914794 \'93I hope so,\'94 Sharon replied.}{\insrsid13054954
}{\insrsid8914794
\'93Anyway,\'94 I said, \'93it\rquote ll be good to see him. We didn\rquote t really get together often enough my senior year.\'94
}{\insrsid3633833 \'93Y}{\insrsid8914794 ou were always with Alicia.\'94
\'93Yeah.\'94 My heart sank, thinking of}{\insrsid4464336 those times. \'93I wonder what other friendships suffered because I was so wrapped up in my romance.\'94}{\insrsid8914794
}{\insrsid4464336
\'93Well, our friendship hasn\rquote t,\'94 Sharon stated. \'93You\rquote ve become a really great friend.\'94
\'93You too,\'94 I replied.
\'93Thanks.\'94
After a pause, I realized I Sharon hadn\rquote t told me about her Thanksgiving plans. I asked her what she was doing and she told me she was going to Albuquerque. }{\insrsid4472569 We traded a few extended family stories before calling it a night.}{
\insrsid4464336
}{\insrsid4472569
}{\insrsid3944163 The next two weeks flew by. It was getting cooler; the nice part of the year for Tucson. I got back to my apartment by two p.m. the day Allen was due. He arrived at four.}{\insrsid4472569
}{\insrsid3944163
\'93Took you long enough,\'94 I kidded him.
\'93Well, she wanted to go another round this morning,\'94 Allen replied, grinning. \'93She ended up being late to work.\'94 I rolled my eyes.
\'93So tell me about this woman,\'94 I asked. \'93Is it serious?\'94
\'93Nah,\'94 he answered. \'93We\rquote re just \lquote good friends.\rquote \'94 I chuckled.
\'93Must be }{\insrsid4021365 pretty \lquote good\rquote for her to be willing to be late to work,\'94 I quipped.
\'93Oh}{\insrsid3633833 hh}{\insrsid4021365 , yea}{\insrsid3633833 hh}{\insrsid4021365 h,\'94 he replied.
\'93So tell me about her,\'94 I asked.
\'93Her name\rquote s Jenna. She\rquote s a massage therapist, going to school part time at New Mexico State. She was up visiting her sister, who just started at CU, and we met at a party. She\rquote s
got this incredible smile--and a great ass. We hit it off and, well, she gave me her phone number the next morning.\'94
\'93The next morning? Not that night?\'94
\'93Yeah. She gave it to me when I dropped he}{\insrsid6493976 r off back at her sister\rquote s dorm,}{\insrsid4021365 \'94}{\insrsid6493976 he answered.}{\insrsid4021365 }{\insrsid6493976 }{\insrsid4021365 I just chuckled and shook my head.}{
\insrsid12213 }{\insrsid4021365
}{\insrsid12213
}{\insrsid4021365 \'93}{\insrsid1652926 So }{\insrsid4021365 you stayed in touch}{\insrsid1652926 ,\'94 I said.}{\insrsid6493976 He nodded.}{\insrsid1652926
\'93We talked a couple of times. When Mom asked me to come down, I gave her a call and suggested I stop by.\'94
}{\insrsid6493976
\'93And she was all for it,\'94 I mused.
\'93Oh, yeah.\'94
\'93I don\rquote t know how you do it, Allen.\'94
\'93It\rquote s a gift,\'94 he replied with a broad grin. I just started chuckling.
}{\insrsid12213
}{\insrsid6493976 \'93So this is your place?\'94 Allen asked after a pause.
\'93Yeah, let me give you the nick}{\insrsid13704061 el tour. This is the main room--}{\insrsid6493976 kitchenette, table, TV, some space to crash on the floor that will be occupied by the air mattress later.\'94
I led Allen down what tried to pass for a hallway. All five feet of it.
\'93The bathroom,\'94 I said, gesturing through the open door. \'93The towels on the back of the toilet are yours.\'94 Two more steps brought us to the last room.
\'93And the bedroom.\'94
\'93You happy with a single bed?\'94 Allen asked.
\'93It\rquote s the only size that\rquote ll fit,\'94 I answered. Allen didn\rquote t comment, thankfully. We headed back to the main room. Allen glanced around again.
\'93You need to hang something there,\'94 he said}{\insrsid3633833 , pointing to the wall where Melissa Etheridge had once hung}{\insrsid6493976 . \'93It\rquote s too big of a bare spot.\'94
\'93Well, I used to have a poster there, but it was one Alicia gave me, so I took it down. All of the stuff that brought back memories of her is now buried in the closet.\'94
\'93Smart move.\'94
}{\insrsid5313410
\'93So,}{\insrsid6971351 \'94 I said, changing the subject, }{\insrsid5313410 }{\insrsid6971351 \'93}{\insrsid5313410 we have a couple of hours before dinner. How about I show you campus?\'94
Allen gave a non-committal shrug, which I decided to take as a yes. I locked up and we headed over to campus. I tried to point out interesting features as we wandered around, but the truth was, I didn\rquote t really know the campus. I didn\rquote
t know much of Tucson either. }{\insrsid7804708 How I had let that happen?}{\insrsid5313410
}{\insrsid7804708
Because I\rquote d spent last year either getting my brains pounded out by the schoolwork or pining for Alicia. I needed to get out more.
Once we got to the west end of campus, Allen and I wandered into the little shopping area that had grown up }{\insrsid3633833 there}{\insrsid7804708 . A handful of restaurants, all cheap, plus the usual assortment of t-shirt and memorabilia shops.
\'93Hey, a poster store,\'94 Allen pointed out. \'93}{\insrsid13699155 You need one. Let\rquote s go in}{\insrsid7804708 .\'94
\'93Sure.\'94
}{\insrsid6907148
We wandered in, glancing at the framed prints on the wall and occasionally thumbing through}{\insrsid9002214 the bins of unframed posters. Allen stopped at a bin labeled \'93humor\'94
so I pushed on back toward the end of the store. I saw it hanging on the wall just a few feet from the counter.}{\insrsid6907148
}{\insrsid9002214
It was six vertical panels, in blues, greys, and blacks. The left three were of James Spader\rquote s face. The next two were of him with Andie McDowell. The final panel was Andie alone, look}{\insrsid15553571 ing sad. Of course the title, }{
\ul\insrsid9002214\charrsid15553571 sex, lies, and videotape}{\insrsid15553571 ,}{\insrsid9002214 filled the bottom half. I studied the expressions. Both looked haunted. Both looked familiar.
\'93You like it?\'94 a feminine voice asked.
\'93I\rquote ve never seen this version,\'94 I answered, not pulling my eyes off the poster.
\'93It\rquote s the European Quad. They didn\rquote t hang it over here.\'94
\'93Really?\'94 I asked. Then I turned and saw her.
She was standing behind the counter. Dark hair, big wide eyes, Hispanic features. She was grinning at me. I smiled back.
\'93Really,\'94 she said.}{\insrsid4864953 \'93I asked the owner to order it because I liked the movie.\'94}{\insrsid9002214
}{\insrsid4864953
\'93You did?\'94 I exclaimed. \'93I loved it!\'94 She smiled even wider.
\'93Did you know that they rehearsed it, like a play, before they started filming?}{\insrsid3633833 \'94 she asked.}{\insrsid4864953 }{\insrsid3633833 \'93}{\insrsid4864953 That\rquote s}{\insrsid15091393 part of why I liked it.\'94}{\insrsid4864953
}{\insrsid15091393
\'93I thought the script was great,\'94 I replied. \'93}{\insrsid360251 Good characters. }{\insrsid15091393 Incredibly }{\insrsid3633833 tight}{\insrsid15091393 dialogue}{\insrsid360251 .\'94}{\insrsid15091393
}{\insrsid360251
\'93Garbage,\'94 she said, quoting the first line of the movie. \'93}{\insrsid360251\charrsid6971351 I can\rquote t stop thinking about all the garbage.\'94 We gave each other the silly grins that only}{\insrsid360251 newfound mutual fandom inspires.
\'93Hi, I\rquote m Allen.\'94 Somewhere during our dialogue, Allen had appeared at my shoulder.
\'93Oh, and I\rquote m Joe.\'94
\'93Tina,\'94 she replied, giving a small nod of her head to Allen before turning back to me.
\'93I also loved the line about not wanting more keys on his key ring,\'94 she said.
\'93That was a good one,\'94 I added. \'93Not as good }{\insrsid360251\charrsid6971351 as \lquote get your balls in the air and get over here.\rquote \'94 Tina laughed at my exaggerated voice, trying to mimic Laura San Giacomo. }{
\insrsid7233688\charrsid6971351 Allen cleared his throat. Tina gave him a quick glance before turning}{\insrsid7233688 back to me.
}{\insrsid360251
\'93It\rquote s only one hundred and }{\insrsid6971351 fifty}{\insrsid360251 dollars, framed,\'94 she said. My breath caught.
\'93Uh, I\rquote ll have to think about that.\'94
\'93Okay. Feel free to look around.\'94
The phone on the desk rang and Tina picked it up. I turned back to the poster and admired it for a little while longer. Tina\rquote s phone call was taking a while so I started }{\insrsid6971351 thumbing}{\insrsid360251
through a nearby stack of movie posters. Allen was wandering back toward the door. Tina glanced up, but was still busy writing down the order. }{\insrsid11561202 I wanted to talk with her more, but I also didn\rquote
t want to interrupt her. Eventually, }{\insrsid360251 I let the posters drop and followed Allen out.}{\insrsid3633833 He looked at me quizzically, but didn\rquote t say anything. We headed back to my apartment.}{\insrsid360251
}{\insrsid3633833
\'93What are you in the mood for for dinner?\'94 I asked.
\'93Anything but Mexican. I had plenty of that over the weekend.\'94
\'93Yeah, I\rquote ll bet you }{\i\insrsid3633833\charrsid3633833 ate}{\insrsid3633833 well,\'94 I joked. Allen just rolled his eyes.
\'93Well,\'94 I began, \'93the only non-Mexican non-fast food restaurant I\rquote ve been to is the Bluebird Caf\'e9. It\rquote s general American food and it\rquote s pretty good.\'94
\'93The only one? You need to get out more, my man.\'94
\'93Yeah,\'94 I agreed, feeling a little guilty.
We headed out to dinner, which Allen enjoyed. Afterward we found a bar with a pool table and played a handful of games. We got back to my apartment before it got too late.
When we got there, Allen threw his bag against one wall and I dragged the wadded up air mattress out of the closet. We spread it out on the floor and Allen turned to me.
}{\insrsid16476760 \'93So}{\insrsid3633833 ,}{\insrsid16476760 do you have a pump for this thing?\'94 Allen asked.
\'93Yeah, under the bed. Why don\rquote t you get it while I check for leaks?\'94}{\insrsid12213 }{\insrsid4721989 I mentally kicked myself for not checking it earlier. }{\insrsid16476760
Allen scrambled to his feet while I began examining the seams closely. I\rquote d had problems before but knew what to look for now. I\rquote d gotten two sides }{\insrsid3633833 checked }{\insrsid16476760 when Allen came back.
\'93Joe, when did you take these?\'94
\'93Huh?\'94 I scrambled to my feet to see Allen flipping through a s}{\insrsid3420575 tack of photographs. Oh, shit! Sharon\rquote s pictures! I\rquote d just tucked them under my bed after the last time I\rquote
d been looking at them, figuring that was safe enough. I\rquote d forgotten them and then sent Allen . . . shit shit shit.}{\insrsid16476760
}{\insrsid3420575
\'93When did you take these pictures of Sharon?}{\insrsid6971351 \'94 Allen repeated. \'93I assume you took them.\'94}{\insrsid3420575
\'93Oh, uh, after we went out to dinner last summer. I suggested the photos of her in the dress. She . . . uh, suggested the other outfit.\'94
\'93She looks hot.\'94
\'93Well, you should know, you dated her.\'94
\'93Yeah, she did have a great body,\'94 he agreed. }{\insrsid12925746 \'93}{\insrsid3420575 Does, I guess.\'94
\'93Ye}{\insrsid6971351 s}{\insrsid3420575 , she does.\'94
Allen finished thumbing through the photos, looked at a couple of them a second time, almost studying them, and then set the stack down on the table.
\'93Well, I\rquote d certainly sleep with her again, if I could do it without all the rest of her baggage.\'94
\'93I thought you loved her,\'94 I said. Allen gave a non-committal shrug.
\'93Maybe at first. But near the end, I felt like I couldn\rquote t breathe. I had to get out.}{\insrsid10833454 \'94}{\insrsid3420575
}{\insrsid12213
}{\insrsid10833454 \'93So why didn\rquote t you talk to her?\'94
}{\insrsid6971351 \'93I tried,\'94 he said.}{\insrsid10833454 }{\insrsid6971351 \'93}{\insrsid10833454 Anyway, there are plenty of other fish in the sea. Something you should be finding out.\'94
\'93God, I don\rquote t even know how to start down here. It\rquote s not like I can just throw a party like we used to and have them show up in droves.\'94
\'93So ask the girl at the poster shop out. Tina.\'94 I just looked at Allen.
\'93What?\'94
\'93Seriously, man. I saw the way she smiled at you when you were talking about the poster. Ask her out.\'94
\'93I don\rquote t know,\'94 I replied. \'93I don\rquote t feel ready.\'94
\'93You\rquote ll never feel ready. No guy ever does. You just have to ask anyway.\'94
\'93Yeah, well, I\rquote ll think about it.\'94
\'93Good.\'94
Allen yawned and glanced pointedly at the air mattress.
\'93I didn\rquote t get much sleep last night. Let\rquote s get that thing inflated.\'94
\'93Sure.\'94
With that, we got back to work. There weren\rquote t any leaks and the mattress inflated fairly quickly. I got Allen some sheets and one of the pillows from my bed and he started unpacking his overnight bag.
\'93See you in the morning,\'94 I called, heading for my bedroom. Allen nodded but didn\rquote t speak. I snagged Sharon\rquote s pictures on my way out and shoved them in the back of a drawer where they\rquote
d be harder to accidentally stumble across.}{\insrsid3633833 I slept fitfully that night.}{\insrsid10833454
}{\insrsid3633833
The next morning Allen got on the road early. He helped me put the mattress away, grabbed a cup of coffee, and was gone.
The phone rang shortly after I finished dinner that night. It was Sharon}{\insrsid9373493 .}{\insrsid3633833
}{\insrsid9373493
\'93How are you doing, Joe?\'94 she asked.
\'93Fine. What\rquote s up?\'94
\'93Oh}{\insrsid12409797 ,}{\insrsid9373493 I just w}{\insrsid12409797 anted to see how you were doing.}{\insrsid9373493 \'94
\'93Well, like I said, fine. Allen and I had a good visit. He\rquote s doing well.\'94
\'93Good to hear,\'94 Sharon replied.
\'93Yeah, it was a good visit.\'94
\'93So what did you do?\'94 Sharon asked.
\'93Oh, wandered campus. Had dinner, played some pool. Nothing special.\'94 Actually there was. Was I willing to mention it? I gritted my teeth. I really had to.}{\insrsid4721989 While she hadn\rquote t said the pictures were for \lquote
my eyes only,\rquote I was sure she\rquote d be pissed that they hadn\rquote t stayed that way.}{\insrsid9373493
}{\insrsid16476760
}{\insrsid9373493 \'93Sounds like a low}{\insrsid12925746 -}{\insrsid9373493 key time,\'94 Sharon said}{\insrsid6971351 ,}{\insrsid9373493 while I was gathering my courage.
}{\insrsid7423778 \'93Uhh, listen, Sharon, Allen saw the pictures.\'94
\'93}{\insrsid6971351 P}{\insrsid7423778 ictures?\'94
\'93The ones of you, in the teddy.\'94 I let out a deep breath, but was still incredibly tense.}{\insrsid1708738 \'93I had }{\insrsid9373493 them under my bed and I forgot that the air mattress pump was there and . . . well, he found them}{
\insrsid1708738 . I\rquote m sorry.\'94}{\insrsid7423778
\'93Did he like them?\'94 Sharon asked. I was surprised--her tone wasn\rquote t angry at all.
}{\insrsid1708738
\'93Well, uh, yeah. The good ones at least.\'94
Sharon muttered something too low for me to hear.
\'93You\rquote re not mad?\'94 I asked.
\'93What exactly did he say?\'94 she asked.
}{\insrsid9373493
\'93He said you were hot. That you had a great body.\'94
\'93Glad he still thinks so,\'94 she sighed.
\'93I thought you\rquote d want every guy to find you hot,\'94 I commented. Sharon laughed.
\'93Well, sure! Actually, not necessarily every guy. There are some pretty creepy guys out there.\'94
\'93Yeah, but you can avoid them.\'94
\'93True.\'94
\'93And anyway, Allen found you hot. I find you hot. What more do you need?\'94 I asked.
\'93My next boyfriend to think I\rquote m hot,\'94 she answered.
}{\insrsid13791690
\'93How\rquote s that going?\'94 I asked.
\'93Dating? Not well. No interesting guys in any of my classes. I\rquote d really like to get asked out soon.\'94
\'93I\rquote ll ask you out,\'94 I interjected. Sharon laughed.
\'93Thanks, Joe, but I\rquote m not desperate yet.\'94
\'93Hey!\'94
\'93I don\rquote t want to ruin our friendship,\'94 she explained. }{\insrsid12522940 \'93It\rquote s too important to me.\'94}{\insrsid13791690
}{\insrsid12522940
\'93Oh, okay then.\'94 I still felt shot down, but that took a lot of the sting out of it.
\'93Allen said I should ask someone here out,\'94 I continued. \'93A woman we met yesterday.\'94
\'93Go for it!\'94}{\insrsid3822830 Sharon exclaimed.}{\insrsid12522940
}{\insrsid3822830
\'93Well, I dunno. I\rquote m not sure I\rquote m ready.\'94
\'93What have you got to lose, Joe?\'94
}{\insrsid11743973
\'93Not much,\'94 I admitted.
\'93Al}{\insrsid12213 l }{\insrsid11743973 right then,\'94 she replied, as if the decision was now made.}{\insrsid4072092 I decided to change the subject.}{\insrsid11743973
}{\insrsid4072092
\'93When do you leave for Albuquerque?\'94 I asked.
\'93}{\insrsid1187216 Tomorrow}{\insrsid4072092 afternoon. Then back up on Friday, because I have to work Saturday. This is a quick visit.\'94
\'93I\rquote m going to an \lquote orphan}{\insrsid16282961 \rquote }{\insrsid4072092 s Thanksgiving\rquote that one of the other grad students is hosting. I\rquote m supposed to bring wine.\'94
\'93Something you\rquote re good at.\'94
\'93Yeah. I}{\insrsid4990725 t\rquote s not like going home, but it\rquote ll be okay}{\insrsid4072092 .\'94}{\insrsid1187216
\'93I\rquote m not sure I\rquote m going to make it home this time,\'94 Sharon said. \'93My car\rquote s been having problems. I\rquote m hoping it won\rquote t break down on the way.\'94}{\insrsid4072092
}{\insrsid1187216
\'93Oh? Tell me about them.\'94
Sharon started to explain her car\rquote s symptoms, but since I have very little mechanical aptitude, I quickly was reduced to speculations and semi-logical deductions. The conversation then drifted to stories of our old vehicles and learn
ing to drive and a while later, we ended the call. I read some stories online and called it a night.
}{\insrsid4990725
I thought a lot about Allen\rquote s and Sharon\rquote s comments the next day. Maybe I was ready to start dating. It had been six months. Time to get back on the horse?
The problem was, I sucked at asking women out. I got a}{\insrsid12925746 l}{\insrsid4990725 l nervous and my palms got sweaty. I tended to talk too fast and I always said the wrong thing. It was a minor miracle that I\rquote
d had any girlfriends at all.
Of course it wasn\rquote t really miraculous. My high school girlfriend and I had been set up by a mutual friend. Alicia had come to a party that Allen had organized and somehow ended up sitting next to me when Allen had declared it time for }{
\ul\insrsid4990725\charrsid4990725 The Blues Brothers}{\insrsid4990725 . She\rquote d been the one to take my hand before the film ended.
The thought of asking someone like Tina out terrified me. Sharon\rquote s idea of \lquote friends first\rquote held a lot of attraction.
I continued wrestling with the idea of asking Tina out al}{\insrsid6971351 l through Thanksgiving. On Friday}{\insrsid4990725 , I figured I\rquote d at least walk by the poster shop. If she wasn\rquote t there, then I could tell Sharon that I\rquote
d tried and that would be the end of it.
Walking across campus that afternoon, I could feel the adrenaline kick in. My pulse was racing, I had to consciously take deep breaths. I tried to be causal as I strolled by the door, glancing in.
Tin}{\insrsid5575316 a}{\insrsid4990725 was behind the counter, reading a magazine.
A half block beyond the shop, I stopped and took a deep breath. I could ask about the poster. Yeah, that\rquote d get a conversation started. I turned around and strolled back.
\'93Hey!\'94 Tina called, seeing me enter. \'93You back for the poster?\'94
\'93Uh, yeah!\'94 I answered, with a small nod of my head.
\'93Oh, you\rquote ll love it!\'94 she gushed.}{\insrsid15994919 \'93Where are you going to hang it?\'94}{\insrsid4990725
}{\insrsid15994919
\'93Living room,\'94 I answered. \'93Main room, actually. My place is pretty small.\'94 Tina nodded.
\'93I know what you mean about small. My dorm room doesn\rquote t have enough wall space to hang all my posters, even if my roommate let me use her half of the room.\'94
\'93So you live in the dorms?\'94 I asked.
\'93Yeah. I figured that would be a good thing to do for my first year. I may move off campus after that.\'94
\'93Your first year? You\rquote re a freshman?\'94
\'93Sure am!\'94 she answered. I didn\rquote t know what to say to that, so I just stood there.
\'93So how do you want it framed?\'94 Tina asked.
\'93Uhh, don\rquote t we just take it off of the wall?\'94
\'93That\rquote s the display copy,\'94 she explained. \'93You don\rquote t want that one, there\rquote s a scratch in the glass. See.\'94 She pointed to a thin line about three inches long that I hadn\rquote t seen before.
\'93Well we can\rquote t have that,\'94 I joked.
\'93No we can\rquote t!\'94 said Tina. \'93So what would you like?\'94
\'93What are my choices?\'94 I asked.
Tina proceeded to walk me through all the various matting and framing options. I picked and she made notes. After about twenty minutes we had the main part of the order form filled in and she turned to the }{\insrsid15077734 top.}{\insrsid15994919
}{\insrsid15077734
\'93I\rquote m sorry,\'94 she said. \'93What was your name again?\'94
\'93Joe. As in Average Joe. G.I. Joe. Joe Schmo.\'94
\'93And Joe Cool,\'94 she added. I smiled.
\'93And Joe Cool,\'94 I agreed.
\'93Have to be, to like Soderbergh,\'94 she said, glancing down at the poster again, \'93he\rquote s going to be a big director some day. Just wait.\'94 I just smiled.
Tina got my phone number}{\insrsid4325382 for the form}{\insrsid15077734 and did the totals. I gave her my credit card to pay for the deposit and made a mental note to ask Mom and Dad for cash for Christmas this year.
\'93Okay. We\rquote re all done, at least for now,\'94 Tina said. \'93}{\insrsid2495956 It will be ready Wednesday.}{\insrsid15077734 \'94
}{\insrsid3764252
\'93}{\insrsid2495956 Wednes}{\insrsid3764252 day it is,\'94 I agreed. I turned and walked }{\insrsid7274981 to the door}{\insrsid3764252 .
I hadn\rquote t asked her out.}{\insrsid6971351 }{\insrsid2495956 Oh well, I\rquote d see her in a few days}{\insrsid882419 . I could do it then.}{\insrsid3764252
}{\insrsid7085495
Of course, that was Sharon\rquote s first question when we talked on Monday.
\'93Did you ask that woman out?\'94 she asked, a few minutes into our conversation.
\'93The woman from the poster shop? Not yet.\'94
\'93Well, are you going to?\'94
}{\insrsid10168252
\'93I\rquote m not sure. It turns out she\rquote s a freshman. That makes her 18. I\rquote m 24.\'94
\'93So?\'94
\'93That\rquote s a big age difference.\'94
\'93No, it\rquote s not, Joe.\'94
\'93Besides,\'94 I said, \'93I \lquote m trying to get out of Tucson. She\rquote s just starting here.\'94
\'93What difference does that make? You\rquote re not asking her to marry you.\'94
\'93Yeah . . . ,\'94 I admitted.
\'93Ask her out,\'94 Sharon urged.
}{\insrsid7085495
\'93}{\insrsid10168252 Okay, }{\insrsid7085495 I\rquote ll see her again }{\insrsid2495956 Wednesday}{\insrsid7085495 . I can ask her out then.\'94
\'93}{\insrsid10168252 Good}{\insrsid7085495 ,\'94 she replied. \'93So, are you coming back to Colorado for Christmas?\'94
\'93Wouldn\rquote t miss it. I should be there about two weeks.\'94
\'93That\rquote d be great! When do you get here?\'94
\'93I should be there the weekend before Christmas. The 20}{\super\insrsid7085495\charrsid7085495 th}{\insrsid7085495 , I think. My flight back is the weekend after New Year\rquote s.\'94
\'93We\rquote re going down to Albuquerque on the 23}{\super\insrsid7085495\charrsid7085495 rd}{\insrsid7085495 , back on the 28}{\super\insrsid7085495\charrsid7085495 th}{\insrsid7085495
. Do you want to get together before then? Exchange Christmas gifts?\'94 Christmas gifts? We hadn\rquote t exchanged presents the previous year.
\'93Sure! How about Saturday the 21}{\super\insrsid7085495\charrsid7085495 st}{\insrsid7085495 ?\'94
\'93}{\insrsid5716963 It\rquote s a date! And Joe . . .\'94}{\insrsid7085495
}{\insrsid5716963
\'93Yes?\'94
\'93The gift I }{\insrsid10168252 want to ge}{\insrsid5716963 t you is a little risqu\'e9. I hope that\rquote s okay.\'94 I laughed.
\'93It\rquote s okay with me if it\rquote s okay with you!\'94 }{\insrsid10168252 I replied. }{\insrsid5716963 Sharon chuckled.
\'93Oh, it\rquote s okay with me,\'94 she answered.
\'93Great. Can I get you something naughty in return?\'94 }{\insrsid6971351 I asked. }{\insrsid5716963 That brought a full blown burst of laughter.
\'93Sure! As long as it\rquote s not too naughty.\'94}{\insrsid1908001 \lquote Too naughty?\rquote I\rquote d have to spend some time thinking about exactly where that line would be for Sharon. I}{\insrsid6971351 hoped it would be fu}{
\insrsid1908001 rther than I really expected.}{\insrsid5716963
}{\insrsid1908001
\'93Okay, I\rquote ll see what I can think up.\'94
}{\insrsid4481345
\'93You\rquote ve got a great imagination, Joe. I\rquote m not worried!\'94
}{\insrsid10168252
The subject changed and we talked for another half hour before calling it an evening. I spent the rest of the night fantasizing about naughty somethings that weren\rquote t too naughty. And a few that were.}{\insrsid8203802
}{\insrsid14312929
It wasn\rquote t until the next day that I started to wonder about her motives. She\rquote d pushed me to ask a girl out and she\rquote
d also hinted at a sexual Christmas gift. In the same conversation. She enjoyed the erotic stories I was sending her, but had explicitly said she wasn\rquote t desperate enough to date me. That still stung.
I thought about asking her what was going on, but decided against it. She could fix the contradictions by not giving me whatever Christmas present she had in mind. I was curious about that present. I wanted it. Just like I wanted }{\insrsid4721989
to see where things might go after that. It wasn\rquote t the purest of motives, I knew, but after more than six months, the celibacy was starting to get to me.}{\insrsid14312929
}{\insrsid9130308
}{\insrsid6971351 -}{\insrsid11561202 fin}{\insrsid6971351 -
\'a9 2005. All rights reserved. May not be archived or distributed other than for personal use without explicit permission from the author.
}