John walks into his apartment and drops his keys down on the table beside the door. He’s just getting in from an early morning meeting with his publisher. He takes off his shoes at the door something he learned from his friend Sui-Lon. She told him that it was a spiritual practice that she had adopted. “Take your shoes off at the door to keep any negative energy from the day on the streets out of your house.” She had told him. She wouldn’t let anyone in her apartment unless they took off their shoes and now neither would John. He walked over to his cd player and turned it on. Nancy Wilson his favorite jazz singer cd came on . Then he walked over to the mantle and picked up the picture frame of Rebecca and the boy’s. He smiled and cupped his head in his hand and whispered. “How am I doing?” He put the picture frame down and walked into his office, sat down at his desk and moved the mouse on his computer to take it off stand-by mode. He got an alert that he had new email. He opened up his email from Sui-Lon first.

E-mail:

Sui-lonkit – Hi. I had a potential client yesterday at my home instead of my office downtown. No one had anything to eat though. However, they did ask me about my menus. I stayed with my usual menu. You know how hard it is to sway me from my usual menu. I do think that I need to re-think my children’s menu… especially since they asked about it. What do you think? Let’s talk about this. I always appreciate your input. It’s nice to have friends like you to discuss business with. I know that you will always be straight forward with me. It’s also very nice to have good friends in high places too. (lol) As I said let’s talk. Love Sui-Lon.

When John finished reading her email he quickly responded to it and pressed send. He then deletes Sui-Lons email as he deletes it he gets an instant message from an unknown sender. He ignores it at first but it comes back up again. He clicked on the notice to view the sender of the instant message. He still doesn’t recognize it so he blocks it. He then receives another IM this time from Tommy and he accepts and responds to it.

(Instant message conversation)

TuneTomNYC : What’s shaking?

Shadowtimx2 : not much. What’s going on with you?

TuneTomNYC : busy here at the office. Some of us have to work u know…

Shadowtimx2 : Right and what are you trying to say?

TuneTomNYC : ummmm u know.. (lol)

Shadowtimx2 : I’ll let that pass. I work. Writing is work. It must be I get paid for it. I just don’t have to do the rat-race thing anymore and now (wow) I am raising children. 🙂

TuneTomNYC : I know.. I think I’m jealous!!

Shadowtimx2 : No you aren’t. U like the rat-race.

TuneTomNYC :Me don’t likey. I want to be a star.

Shadowtimx2 : You r honey..U are (LMAO)

TuneTomNYC : Meet me for lunch. I need to talk to you about something okay?

Shadowtimx2 : Is it important?

TuneTomNYC : HELLO – I am asking.

Shadowtimx2 : Where???

TuneTomNYC : Regalo’s in Chelsea.

Shadowtimx2 : Time?

TuneTomNYC : 20 mins …. don’t be late…

Shadowtimx2 : Stop being bossy. I’ll be there.

TuneTomNYC : Kewl .. luv u.

Shadowtimx2 : Love u too.

They both sign off and before John leaves his apartment he takes one more look at the picture of Rebecca and the boys and smiles.

Tommy arrived at Regalo’s ten minutes early something he always does. He hates to be late and he hates it even more if someone else is late. He can be a little over the top with it and knows it but he tells people it’s just who he is. One time a guy that he had been chatting with online for two weeks was ten minutes late for their first meeting and Tommy lit into him like something out of hell and left him standing there with his mouth open.

John walked up behind Tommy and tapped him on the shoulder and the first thing out of Tommy’s mouth was -“you’re late.”

“And hello to you too!” John said to him giving him the same attitude that he gave him.  They hugged, did air kisses and walked into the restaurant. They were seated immediatelyand given menus. Tommy picked his up and buried his head in it like it was a novel. “I’m so hungry I could eat the back-end of a pick-up truck.”

“Well I only eat SUV’s myself.” John says to him.

” Child you are 100% bourgie.” Tommy says as he takes his head out of the menu. They look at each other and burst out laughing.

“And I was only three minutes late.” John says to him.

Tommy just waved his hand at him dismissing him. He just did not want to go there he knew that it was his issue and best not to talk about it. He waved his hand again this time to get the waiters attention. “He’s walked by us twice already.” He buried his head back in the menu. “Well if you would get your face out of that menu the waiter would come over here.” John pulled the menu out of his hand, closed it and put it on the table.

“Well he’s  cute.” Tommy said blushing a little bit.

“Who the waiter, you’re flirting with the waiter and you don’t want him to see you?” John said shaking his head at his besty like he was nuts.

“Not until he comes over to the table.” Tommy said to him reaching for the menu again. John quickly stopped his reach. “This is the reason why you and I are friends. I know you. Anyone else sitting here would think that you’re crazy but I know you’re crazy.”  John said with sarcasm in his voice.

“You know me!” Tommy said with a child like smile on his face.

John pointing his index finger at Tommy. “And you better always know it!”

The waiter finally came over to the table and took their order. The whole time that he was doing it Tommy acted as though he wasn’t interested in the waiter by totally ignoring him while he was giving him his order he didn’t even make eye contact with him. ” And we’re in a hurry can you get that to us as soon as possible.” He said to him still not looking at him. The waiter smiled and looked at John and said, “Yes right away. Will there be anything else?” John winked at the waiter. “No thanks that’ll be it.” The waiter winked back at John and walked away.

John picked up his glass of water and took a sip. He shook his head at Tommy again and smiled.

“What?” Tommy said trying to sound innocent.  John just looked into Tommy’s eyes knowing better than to even go there. He just never understood Tommy’s mating rituals. “So whats up and what was the rush to meet me for lunch?”  Tommy sighed almost hesitating before he spoke. “Well remember that guy that I met online?”  John playfully snapped his finger in Tommy’s face like he was trying to snap him back into reality. “HELLO!! which guy?” Tommy had to laugh because he knew what John was saying was at least half-true even though he would never admit it. “Ha-Ha very funny. I’m trying to talk here!”  John pulled back a little bit from the sarcasm and laughing at Tommy’s expense. “Okay, I’m sorry go on.”  Tommy continued. “The guy that sent me that nasty email.”

“The one that stopped calling you and emailing you after what – he paused. Tommy you guys went out on what 2 or 3 dates?” A bit of the playful sarcasm had come back in Johns voice.

Tommy ignoring it, “4 dates! But that’s not the point. Anyway, I was just pissed that he stopped communicating with me.”

John who was still having fun with this conversation said. “Yeah I know, you and your control issues.”

Tommy was starting to get annoyed at John thinking that he wasn’t taking him seriously in this conversation. “Listen to me okay!” John pointed his finger at him making his point. “See!”

“Whatever! Anyway, he sent me an email last night saying that he was sorry for not getting back to me. He claims that he had a family emergency out-of-town. He wants to meet me for dinner tonight. Plus he’s called me a couple of times. I just haven’t called him back.” As Tommy was about to continue the waiter walked over with their food and sat it down on the table. Tommy who was still playing his crazy mating ritual with the waiter didn’t make eye contact with him.  John thanked the waiter while Tommy  threw him some attitude. “I’d like another diet coke.”

“Certainly!” The waiter said smiling at Tommy. Tommy caught the smile but refused to smile back.

“You’re such a tease.” John said to him.

“Whatever! So what should I do about this guy?”

“Well first of all Tommy, since I know that you are going to do what you always want to do in the end, let me just ask you this. What do you want from him?”

“Some attention!” Tommy said without hesitation.

“Exactly and he hasn’t been giving it to you. So why even bother? I mean come on, what a lame excuse for not responding to your emails and not calling…. family emergency or anything be damned! If someone is interested in you, they are interested!”

While John was talking Tommy was already devouring his food in the middle of chewing his food he said. “I guess but..”

“But since I know you so well, you want to be the dumper not the dumpee right?”

Tommy still chowing down on his food. “Am I twisted?”

John shook his head no. “You’re human! And as for now it appears that you haven’t been dumped. So now is your chance. If that is what you want to do?” John starts to eat his salad.

Maybe but he is cute in that Mario Lopez – Mark Consuelos kind of way. I think that I want to go out on one more date with him and then I’ll see.”

“That’s your choice but once he stops giving you attention, I am here for you as usual.” John looked over at Tommy’s plate and it was completely clean. “I swear Tommy you eat like the ants are coming.”

They both laughed then Tommy looked towards the door of the restaurant and stopped laughing his whole face changed. He saw a man and woman waiting to be seated and while they were waiting he saw the man kiss the woman and they were holding hands. He looked as though he was going to lose his shit. John looked at The color just drain from Tommy’s face. “What’s the matter with you? You look like a ghost or like you just saw one!”

“Would you look over there at that bastard!”

“Who is it?”  John turned around in his chair to see who it was.

“Don’t stare! It’s the guy that I met online.”

John kept looking and then he said. “Who that guy – Ramon?”

Shocked and surprised that John knew who he was talking about. “You know him, you know Ramon?”

John who was just as shocked and surprised as Tommy said. “Ramon! That’s the guy that you been going out  with? No – No way!!”

Tommy almost yelling. “Yes it is! How do you know him? You better not have gone out with him too!

John laughed. “No darling I don’t do 21 flavors!”

” He never said that he was bi-sexual! How do you know him?”

“His father owns my apartment building and several other building in New York, California, Florida and in Europe. He’s a billionaire.”

“You’re kidding me! Oh my God! I can’t believe this!” He jumped up from the table and walked right over to Ramon. John tried to stop him but it was too late. He followed him hoping that Tommy wouldn’t lose it.

“Ramon!! How are you? Small world. He said sarcastically.

Ramon who was of course taken by surprise. “Yes it is. How are you?” He hesitated because he couldn’t remember Tommy’s name. And Tommy knew it and it made him even angrier.

“Tommy! My names Tommy!”

Embarrassed but trying to maintain his cool Ramon says, Tommy yes. It’s been a long time.”

“I guess it has been! And who is your friend?” What he really wanted to say he was holding back but it was hard for him.

“This is Leah.”

Leah reached out to shake Tommy’s hand. “I’m his girl-friend nice to meet you.”

Tommy didn’t shake her hand instead he put his hands on his hips and said. “Girl–friend. Hmm, last time we talked you were single weren’t you! How long have you been dating her?” He refused to say her name.

Leah who was obviously confused by his comment and the attitude that he was so obviously throwing at both of them and not appreciating it said. “Well how long has it been since you guys last spoke?”

Before Tommy could respond to her John thought he better step in and diffuse this bomb. “Hi Leah my names John. Tommy and I are friends. It’s very nice to meet you. (He shakes her hand) – Ramon nice to see you again. How’s your father?”

Ramon who was very happy that John stepped in. “It’s good to see you John. My father is fine. You know him, business as usual. (he turns to Leah) – John lives in one of my fathers building the one at 348 West.”

“Very pleased to meet you John” Leah said as she was able to shake Johns hand.

Tommy is still standing there fuming with his arms folded so tightly across his chest like he was in a straight jacket.

“John is a published author many times over. You’ve probably read a couple of his books – John Childs!”

Smiling and very impressed. “Yes of course. It’s truly a pleasure to meet you and I am reading one of your books now.”

“I hope you are enjoying it. Well we better get back to our table. My best to your father Ramon.”

” Thank you John. I’ll let him know that I ran into you.”

John grabbed Tommy’s hand and gently but firmly pulled him back to the their table. Leah gently called out to Tommy as he was being pulled away. “It was nice meeting you too Tommy.”

“Yeah Right! Talk to you later Ramon.” There was so much sarcasm in his voice that it sound like he was breathing fire.

John released Tommy’s hand and gently pushed him in front of him. He tried to add a little levity to the situation. “It sure is a small world after all.”

“Small world my ass. He’s going to think he’s a Disney character when I’m finished with him.”

“Who Daffy or Donald?”

They both laughed even though Tommy didn’t want to. “Stop it don’t make me laugh. I’m pissed.” He looked around to see where Ramon and Leah were sitting and just glared at them.

“Look let’s get the check and get out of here. Besides you have to get back to your office.”

Tommy pulled out his cell phone and started typing .

“What are you doing?

“I’m sending him a text message.”

“What ever for Tommy?”

“To work his nerves.” He kept on typing.

“Yeah right like that’s going to happen. Trust me, he looks perfectly content sitting over there with–what’s her name?”

“Leah! I’d be surprised if he could “lay-her.” Tommy smiled proud of his play on words with her name.

“Hey that’s pretty good. Now get it all out of your system so that we can get out of here.”

The waiter brought over the check. John looked at it and pulled out his credit card and immediately gives it to the waiter. Tommy is not even aware of the check or that John has already paid. ” Look over there. He’s not even responding to my text.”

Perhaps he doesn’t have his cell phone on.”

“Oh I am pretty sure that he has it on.”

“What did you text him?”

With a wicked smile on his face Tommy say’s, “I told him to turn around.”

“That’s original! Come on let’s get out of here.

Tommy reluctantly gets up. “Yeah okay – this has been the lunch from hell.” He takes one last glaring look but Ramon’s back is to him so Leah receives the look. This gets Tommy even more annoyed. John walked behind Tommy to make sure that he doesn’t go over to Ramon’s table. John nudges him lightly on his back to hurry him out the door. When they get outside Johns cell phone rings. He answers it talks for a moment and hangs up.

“I need to run. That was the principal at my kid’s school.”

“What’s the matter?” Tommy said sounding concerned for his besty.

“I don’t know. She wouldn’t say. She just said that it was important that I come by now and that she needed to speak with me.”

“Go – go on John. I’ll be fine.”

“You sure?

“Yes – now go. I said I’d be fine.” Tommy reaches into his wallet to hand John some money for his half of the lunch but John doesn’t accept it.

“Please keep it. Next time it’s on you. And please make sure it’s some place nice and oh yeah some place where your “pieces” don’t hang out.”

“Funny!” Tommy said with a smile.

They gave each other a hug.

“I love you!”

“I love you too.” Tommy said back to him.

John hailed a taxi while Tommy walked back to work.